PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Greg St Petersburgh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St Petersburgh's entrance music is "ne compare pas (Does Not Compare)" by STREET LOURD. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

St Petersburgh
vs
Kirby

185 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
29
199 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Greg St Petersburgh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Kirby!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St Petersburgh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kirby pinned against the cage. Kirby gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St Petersburgh misses with a series of wild punches.
Kirby clobbers St Petersburgh with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
St Petersburgh walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kirby lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kirby.
St Petersburgh walks into a left hand.
Kirby digs a good body shot into St Petersburgh's ribs.
St Petersburgh shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kirby but Kirby pushes him off and we're back to square one.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirby stuffs the takedown attempt from St Petersburgh. St Petersburgh gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg St Petersburgh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
St Petersburgh misses with a head kick.
Kirby ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby lands with a hook. St Petersburgh tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
St Petersburgh tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kirby swivels and escapes.
John Kirby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirby cracks St Petersburgh with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
St Petersburgh misses with a takedown
and Kirby counters with a stiff right hand.
St Petersburgh takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
St Petersburgh looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
St Petersburgh is breathing heavily.
Kirby lunges at St Petersburgh with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by St Petersburgh's hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirby cracks St Petersburgh with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
St Petersburgh looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
John Kirby is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
St Petersburgh takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
St Petersburgh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Kirby.
Kirby jabs St Petersburgh to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kirby moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Kirby as he connects with a hook.
Kirby connects with a looping right hand.
Kirby connects with the punch.
Kirby might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kirby wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kirby lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kirby is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! St Petersburgh had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A shot to the liver by Kirby. Beautiful body shot.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for St Petersburgh. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
St Petersburgh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kirby circles away.
Kirby lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nice uppercut lands for Kirby. That snapped St Petersburgh's head back.
Kirby fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. St Petersburgh looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirby connects with the punch.
Kirby throws a one two combo.

St Petersburgh is rocked!
St Petersburgh looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice cross by Kirby.
Oh St Petersburgh is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kirby scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
St Petersburgh's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kirby connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! St Petersburgh scrambles back to his feet.
St Petersburgh seems to have got his legs back now.
St Petersburgh walks into a left hand.
St Petersburgh shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kirby pinned against the cage. Kirby gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kirby darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kirby scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kirby lands a jab to St Petersburgh's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby scores with a jab.
St Petersburgh tries to close the distance and clinch but Kirby swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kirby throws out a powerful jab.
Kirby scores with a nice head shot.
Kirby scores with a punch to the head.
St Petersburgh walks into a straight right hand from Kirby.
Kirby getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kirby fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. St Petersburgh looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kirby tests St Petersburgh's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kirby lands a lovely overhand right.
A lazy left from Kirby finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kirby dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kirby circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kirby lands the left hand.
Greg St Petersburgh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kirby cracks a nice hook into St Petersburgh's ribs.
John Kirby seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A combination from Kirby does no damage.
Nice uppercut there from Kirby.
Kirby clobbers St Petersburgh with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kirby thuds a left hand into St Petersburgh's body.
St Petersburgh looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kirby has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kirby digs a good hook to St Petersburgh's body.
St Petersburgh tries to bum rush Kirby with a series of wild strikes but Kirby uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kirby works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Kirby. Beautiful body shot.
A left and a right from Kirby both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Petersburgh looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kirby is fending him off so far but St Petersburgh persists. Nope, Kirby circles away and we're back to standing.
Kirby misses with the combination.
St Petersburgh misses with a double jab.
St Petersburgh misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
St Petersburgh fails with a takedown attempt.
Kirby dips to his left and cracks St Petersburgh with an uppercut!
Kirby works St Petersburgh's body with a nice hook.

St Petersburgh closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kirby scores with a nice hook to the head.
St Petersburgh wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kirby has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Petersburgh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Kirby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

St Petersburgh shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kirby napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kirby can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kirby tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but St Petersburgh wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kirby managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by St Petersburgh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirby managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by St Petersburgh.
St Petersburgh working the head with strikes.
Kirby tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Petersburgh advances to full mount.
St Petersburgh throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kirby is working to get back to half guard.
Kirby is trying to escape the mount but St Petersburgh keeps good control and instead manages to take Kirby's back.
Even with his hooks in, St Petersburgh manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Kirby looking very determined here, making life difficult for St Petersburgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Petersburgh not allowing Kirby to control his hands.
St Petersburgh throwing sloppy strikes.
Kirby trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
St Petersburgh misses with an elbow to the head.
St Petersburgh thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Kirby will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kirby lands a jab to St Petersburgh's midsection.
Kirby lands a right hook to the body.
St Petersburgh throws a right and a left that Kirby avoids nicely.
St Petersburgh dives in and grabs Kirby's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirby pushes down on St Petersburgh's head and hops out.
Kirby lunges at St Petersburgh with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by St Petersburgh's hand.
St Petersburgh on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
St Petersburgh is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kirby sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kirby feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits St Petersburghs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kirby closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kirby scores with a nice right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirby scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kirby fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches St Petersburgh on the side of the head.
Kirby's corner calls for a 1-2. Kirby obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
St Petersburgh changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kirby tries to avoid it but St Petersburgh manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kirby to the ground. Kirby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg St Petersburgh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirby with a nice cross.
Kirby connects with a right hand. St Petersburgh shakes it off.
St Petersburgh takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kirby lands a right hook to the body.
St Petersburgh dives in and grabs Kirby's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirby pushes down on St Petersburgh's head and hops out.
St Petersburgh takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kirby ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kirby connects with a nice looking jab.
Kirby is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kirby ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
St Petersburgh doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirby with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kirby scores with a body shot.
Kirby scores with a hook to the body. St Petersburgh takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
St Petersburgh has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kirby paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kirby scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
St Petersburgh doesn't manage to clinch there - Kirby circles away.
Kirby fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
St Petersburgh takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from St Petersburgh is defended easily by Kirby.
Kirby lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Petersburgh takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
St Petersburgh gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kirby lunges at St Petersburgh with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by St Petersburgh's hand.
Kirby throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kirby lands a right hook to the body.
St Petersburgh with a poor takedown
and Kirby connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kirby connects with a looping right hand.
St Petersburgh fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby digs a good body shot into St Petersburgh's ribs.
Kirby lands with a shot to the body.
A punch lands to the side of St Petersburgh 's head but he takes it in his stride.
John Kirby is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kirby digs a good hook to St Petersburgh's body.
St Petersburgh shoots in for a double leg but Kirby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
St Petersburgh needs to keep his hands up - Kirby had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirby lands with a shot to the body.
St Petersburgh takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
St Petersburgh tries to clinch but Kirby moves out of range.
Greg St Petersburgh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirby scores with a hook.
Kirby works over St Petersburgh's head and body with a nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kirby comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kirby winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kirby!