PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Odda Nabonaga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirkland comes to the cage accompanied by My Life Be Like- by GRITS. Nabonaga has chosen Thief's Theme by Nas as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kirkland
vs
Nabonaga

192 cm
23
264 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

195 cm
29
258 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Odda Nabonaga!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirkland lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A combination from Kirkland does no damage.
Nabonaga uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirkland.
Nabonaga ducks under a wild hook from Kirkland.
Kirkland looks to throw the jab but Nabonaga is out of range.
Kirkland shoots in and drives through. Nabonaga sprawls well.
Kirkland closes the distance and clinches up with Nabonaga, looking for a takedown. Kirkland pushes Nabonaga against the cage but Nabonaga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nabonaga slips a jab from Kirkland.
Kirkland throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kirkland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nabonaga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirkland manages to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kirkland.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kirkland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kirkland tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirkland wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nabonaga, who protects the arm well.
Kirkland tries to move into full mount but can't pass Nabonaga's legs.

Kirkland wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nabonaga, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kirkland tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Kirkland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nabonaga is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nabonaga can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabonaga is trying to improve his position.

Kirkland is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nabonaga is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nabonaga tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kirkland wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Nabonaga dodges the ground and pound from Kirkland.
Nabonaga really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirkland. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kirkland tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kirkland has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kirkland goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Nabonaga rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kirkland's guard! Nice work there by Nabonaga!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirkland is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nabonaga wants to stand but Kirkland is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kirkland working for a triangle but Nabonaga defends it easily.

Kirkland had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nabonaga defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nabonaga trying to control but Kirkland is working from the bottom.
Kirkland punching to the body, from the bottom.
Nabonaga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kirkland had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nabonaga defends it easily.

Nabonaga stands up from guard. Let's bang!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nabonaga uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kirkland.
Kirkland throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
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!
A jab from Kirkland misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kirkland dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirkland throws a shot from downtown. Nabonaga moves away and avoids it.
Kirkland throws a poor cross that misses
letting Nabonaga counter with a right hand.

It looks like Josh Kirkland has been cut.
Kirkland takes one to the chin there.
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!
Nabonaga lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kirkland tries for a takedown but Nabonaga sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nabonaga blocks a head kick by Kirkland.
Kirkland misses with the combination.
Kirkland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kirkland swings widly with a right hand
and Nabonaga counters with a left to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nabonaga.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nabonaga jabs Kirkland to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kirkland takes one on the button.
Kirkland on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kirkland there as he acknowledges the shot.

Kirkland is rocked!
Nabonaga is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Kirkland hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Odda Nabonaga!