PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bobo Baggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Vankirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baggins
vs
Vankirk

192 cm
25
272 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobo Baggins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joey Vankirk!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baggins shoots in for a takedown but Vankirk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick from Vankirk lands but Baggins takes it in his stride.
Nice takedown defense from Baggins. No joy for Vankirk on that attempt.
Horrible takedown by Baggins or perhaps it was just good defense by Vankirk which made him look bad.
Vankirk throws a head kick that misses.
Vankirk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baggins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vankirk throws out the jab.
Vankirk tries to clinch up.

Baggins manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Vankirk on his heels. He'll look to pass Vankirk's guard now, I'm sure.
Baggins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vankirk trying to keep a closed guard but Baggins is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Baggins is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobo Baggins wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vankirk stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vankirk wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobo Baggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Baggins scores a takedown into full mount!
Baggins controlling from mount.
Baggins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vankirk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Baggins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vankirk keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Baggins unloading with bombs!
Baggins controlling from the full mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vankirk is looking to improve his position but Baggins isn't that keen on the idea.
Baggins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bobo Baggins.
Vankirk bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Baggins tries for a takedown but Vankirk sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vankirk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vankirk throws a head kick that misses.
Vankirk throws a head kick but Baggins moves out of range.
Vankirk delivers a nice body kick.
Vankirk looks gassed!

Baggins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vankirk's guard.
Baggins throwing strikes but missing.
Vankirk is looking to stand up but Baggins isn't so interested in that idea.
Vankirk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Baggins controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baggins seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vankirk for as long as he can get away with.
Baggins tries to free his leg and advance position but Vankirk is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bobo Baggins just wasn't active enough.
Baggins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Baggins takes a kick to the side of the head.
Baggins looks for a takedown but Vankirk sprawls well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baggins fails in his attempt to clinch.

Baggins drives through with a takedown into Vankirk's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobo Baggins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vankirk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baggins.
Vankirk should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Vankirk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Joey Vankirk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vankirk missing with a left hand there. Baggins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Baggins avoids the head kick by Vankirk.
Vankirk tries a head kick but it misses.
Vankirk throws a head kick that misses.
Vankirk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vankirk leaves Baggins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Baggins misses with a takedown attempt - Vankirk sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobo Baggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vankirk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vankirk is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baggins keeps the fight on the outside.

Baggins looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vankirk!
Baggins controlling his opponent.
Baggins's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Bobo Baggins wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Baggins shoots in looking for a takedown. Vankirk tries to sprawl out of it but Baggins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vankirk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baggins moves out of range as Vankirk throws a body kick.
Vankirk throws a sloppy head kick and Baggins moves out of range easily.
Vankirk throws a right and a left that Baggins avoids nicely.
Vankirk wants to clinch.

Baggins looking to score a takedown here. Vankirk is defending well but Baggins drives through and ends up in Vankirk's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baggins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baggins looking to pass the guard.
Baggins's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bobo Baggins.
Baggins takes a kick to the side of the head.
Joey Vankirk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vankirk tries to clinch up but Baggins circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Vankirk.
Vankirk shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baggins sprawls well. Baggins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vankirk gets slowly back to his feet.
Vankirk misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baggins moves out of range of the body kick.

Baggins closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vankirk's guard.
Baggins is pushing down on Vankirk's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vankirk is fighting to maintain full guard but Baggins has managed to sneak the leg through.
Still in half guard, Baggins seems content to control.
Baggins moves into full mount! Vankirk won't be happy about that!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baggins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobo Baggins dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Baggins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Vankirk trying to remain calm as Baggins controls from the top position.
Vankirk manages to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Baggins there.
Vankirk is pressing down on Baggins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Baggins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baggins slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Baggins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vankirk is keeping the position for now.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vankirk wants to stand but Baggins is controlling the position.
Baggins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vankirk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobo Baggins wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Baggins shoots in and bounces Vankirk off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Baggins content to stall in guard here.
Baggins passes Vankirk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Baggins looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Vankirk is trying to stand.
Baggins controlling the action here.
Vankirk is trying to stand up here but Baggins is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Baggins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobo Baggins wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Baggins darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baggins sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Baggins has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bobo Baggins wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Baggins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baggins wants to stand up but Vankirk is controlling the position.
Bobo Baggins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vankirk moves into full guard.
Baggins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Baggins controlling from the top position.
Vankirk wants to stand and escape but Baggins is having none of it.
Baggins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baggins controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bobo Baggins just wasn't active enough.
Vankirk looks to land a body kick but Baggins moved away.
Vankirk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Baggins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Baggins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Baggins controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joey Vankirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vankirk is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobo Baggins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Baggins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobo Baggins!