PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Kirkland has chosen DJ Khaled - I'm On One 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.

Rogers
vs
Van Kirkland

194 cm
21
286 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

194 cm
21
285 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

KAISER
Stonewall

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Rogers!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Kirkland slips a straight right by Rogers.

Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rogers is trying to get back to full guard.
Van Kirkland looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Van Kirkland throwing shots but Rogers is blocking nicely.
Van Kirkland sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rogers defending well though.
Van Kirkland is trying to control the action in half guard but Rogers is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Van Kirkland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Van Kirkland.

Van Kirkland seems to be working for a kimura but Rogers defends the submission attempt.
Van Kirkland throwing shots but Rogers is blocking nicely.
Rogers makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rogers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rogers is keeping the position for now.
Van Kirkland is looking to advance position but Rogers has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Kirkland can't escape the position.
Van Kirkland is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Van Kirkland can do anything to dispel that myth.
Van Kirkland manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland wants to improve his position but Rogers is controlling well.
Van Kirkland is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rogers's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rogers's back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Van Kirkland misses with a punch to the head.
Rogers wants to escape the position.

Van Kirkland is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rogers is defending well though. Van Kirkland let's go of the attempt for now.

Van Kirkland looking to break Rogers's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rogers remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Van Kirkland will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland throwing damaging strikes from the back! Rogers could be in trouble here!
Rogers breaks Van Kirkland's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Kirkland is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Kirkland is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Van Kirkland doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rogers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Van Kirkland is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Van Kirkland is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Van Kirkland working Rogers over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Van Kirkland dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Van Kirkland throws a poor cross that misses
and Rogers counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mikhail Van Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rogers ducks under a wild hook from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rogers lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Van Kirkland jabs at Rogers's body.
Rogers misses with a low kick.
Van Kirkland swings for the body but Rogers moves out of range.
Van Kirkland throws an overhand right that lands on Rogers's shoulder, as Rogers tries to avoid the shot.
Rogers just misses with a punch to the body.
Rogers jabs Van Kirkland right on the nose. Van Kirkland blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rogers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rogers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers misses with a wild body shot.
Rogers throws a shot to the body.
Rogers smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That has opened up Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut even more.
Van Kirkland thows a body shot but no joy.
Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping left.

Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Van Kirkland unloads with some shots from mount but Rogers bucks and avoids them well.
Van Kirkland landing strikes, looking to finish!
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!
Van Kirkland putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Van Kirkland throws some wild stikes that Rogers manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Van Kirkland there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rogers is trying desperately to improve position.
Van Kirkland throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rogers is bucking up trying to escape but Van Kirkland cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Van Kirkland misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Van Kirkland wants to control the pace but Rogers is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Kirkland throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland landing strikes, looking to finish!
Van Kirkland throwing strikes here but Rogers is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Van Kirkland unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Rogers wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Van Kirkland celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Van Kirkland!
Mikhail Van Kirkland is the new super heavyweight champion!
Our winner, Mikhail Van Kirkland, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.