PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Calum Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Michael Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirby has chosen Go Hard as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henderson
vs
Michael Kirby

187 cm
26
207 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

194 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calum Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Michael Kirby!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson tries to keep at a distance but Kirby has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kirby lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kirby throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kirby with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kirby's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Henderson is not content to let Kirby control the position.
Kirby not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is staying active underneath Kirby, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Matthew Michael Kirby has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kirby closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Henderson has Kirby pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kirby manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Henderson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kirby just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Calum Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kirby shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Henderson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Henderson is trying to control Kirby's posture but Kirby avoids it.
Henderson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kirby wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kirby in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kirby prevents Henderson from escaping the position.
Henderson wants to control but Kirby postures up.
Kirby controls the position.
Kirby wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
Kirby controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Matthew Michael Kirby hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kirby looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirby misses with a two punch combination.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Kirby sprawls well.
A combination from Henderson does no damage.
Kirby defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.
Henderson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Henderson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kirby tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Henderson is in Kirby's guard.
Henderson is breathing heavily.

Henderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirby is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson won't allow Kirby to get back to his feet.

Henderson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Henderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kirby tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Henderson drops back looking for a leg! Kirby is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kirby manages to kick Henderson off! Henderson jumps back into Kirby's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henderson is pushing down on Kirby's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kirby is fighting to maintain full guard but Henderson has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henderson is working away from the top position though.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura but Kirby is defending well.
Henderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Henderson decides to stand and escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Henderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Michael Kirby will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirby pushes Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.

Kirby manages to break the clinch.
Henderson tries for a takedown but Kirby circles away easily

and Kirby counters by moving into the clinch.

Kirby manages to break the clinch.

Henderson gets a takedown into half guard.

Henderson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kirby is just riding it out for now. Henderson eventually gives up the hold.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Kirby is defending well.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirby is defending against the submission attempts here by Henderson.

Henderson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kirby doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Henderson.
Calum Henderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to take a break and control but Kirby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson is pressing down on Kirby's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kirby is holding on for now.
Kirby avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henderson.

Henderson is trying for a kimura here. Kirby looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Henderson wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Calum Henderson!