PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Kirshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Silk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kirshaw
vs
Silk

180 cm
29
166 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

173 cm
32
158 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Kirshaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Casey Silk!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirshaw lands with a straight right. Silk didn't see that one coming.
The fighters circling - Silk throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kirshaw catches Silk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kirshaw lands a nice leg kick that just misses Silk's sensitive parts.
Silk scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Silk fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kirshaw sprawls well initially but Silk persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Silk is thwarting Kirshaw's attempts to control the position.
Silk thows a huge punch but Kirshaw dodges it nicely.
Silk is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kirshaw reverses the position - he's now on top in Silk's guard.

Silk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kirshaw defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silk looking for a sweep. Not yet Silk, not yet.

Kirshaw avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirshaw won't allow Silk to sweep him here.
Silk has a closed guard, preventing Kirshaw from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silk wants to control the position but Kirshaw says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Silk has his hands clasped together around Kirshaw's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirshaw wants to stand but Silk has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Kirshaw escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw misses with a straight right.
Kirshaw bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Silk's head backwards.
Kirshaw lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Silk circles away quickly and effectively.
Kirshaw slips a jab and a cross from Silk.
Kirshaw throws a right and a left that both miss.
Silk looks to throw the jab but Kirshaw is out of range.
Kirshaw lands with a straight right. Silk didn't see that one coming.
Kirshaw throws a leg kick but Silk sees it coming and moves out of range.
Silk misses the jab.
Silk throws a nice looking combination but Kirshaw bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Silk throws a lazy right hand but Kirshaw sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kirshaw. That's going to slow Silk down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Silk fails to land the takedown.
Kirshaw bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kirshaw throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kirshaw fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silk looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirshaw connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kirshaw throws a body punch but Silk moves out of range.
Kirshaw scores with a jab to the head.
Kirshaw fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Silk has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Silk misses.
Silk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kirshaw throws a leg kick which misses Silk's front leg but catches the back leg as Silk tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirshaw connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silk momentarily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kirshaw ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Silk moves away.
Kirshaw scores with a body shot.
A jab lands there for Kirshaw.
Kirshaw throws an off balance right hand
and Silk connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kirshaw scores with a nice body kick.
Kirshaw misses with a jab to the body
and Silk counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kirshaw throws a leg kick
and Silk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kirshaw throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Silk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kirshaw swivels and escapes.
Kirshaw tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silk was well out of range. Poor timing from Kirshaw.
Silk scores with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirshaw stuns Silk with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kirshaw misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirshaw keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Silk.
Kirshaw uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silk.
Kirshaw throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kirshaw fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Silk misses with a hook. Kirshaw ducked under it nicely.
No luck for Silk with that takedown attempt.
Kirshaw is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kirshaw connects with a solid leg kick.
Kirshaw getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Silk misses with a straight left.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kirshaw. That's going to slow Silk down.
Kirshaw lands a body shot.
Thomas Kirshaw is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice uppercut there from Kirshaw.
Silk with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kirshaw to score with a decent uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw falls off balance throwing a combination

so Silk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirshaw is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Silk trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirshaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirshaw bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Silk's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirshaw stands up from Silk's guard - Kirshaw perhaps looking for a knockout.

Silk decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kirshaw slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kirshaw pulls Silk in close to prevent any damage.
Kirshaw keeping moving, preventing Silk from controlling successfully.
Silk is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kirshaw working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Silk.
Silk throws an elbow that misses. Kirshaw uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Silk's guard. Nice move by Kirshaw!
Silk is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirshaw is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thomas Kirshaw will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kirshaw's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Silk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kirshaw moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Silk takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Silk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirshaw.
Kirshaw throws a body punch but Silk moves out of range.
Kirshaw throws out a loose jab but Silk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kirshaw fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Silk checks it well.
Kirshaw works Silk's body with a nice hook.
Kirshaw changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Silk misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silk's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kirshaw will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A shot to the liver by Kirshaw. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Silk with that takedown attempt.
Casey Silk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Silk on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Silk on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kirshaw. Kirshaw obviously looking to wear him down.
Kirshaw tests Silk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thomas Kirshaw is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirshaw throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kirshaw pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kirshaw.
Kirshaw lands a front kick.
Kirshaw misses with a body shot.
Silk takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Silk blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silk falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Kirshaw counter with a right hand.
Silk 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.
Kirshaw is looking to score with low kicks.
Kirshaw throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Silk.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silk tries to move into range but Kirshaw moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Silk slips under a jab from Kirshaw.
Silk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Silk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kirshaw misses the jab.
Kirshaw slips a jab from Silk.
Silk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kirshaw defends it nicely.
Thomas Kirshaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Casey Silk.
Silk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kirshaw. That's going to slow Silk down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirshaw feints a jab promting Silk to slip. Kirshaw then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Silk slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Kirshaw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kirshaw misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silk throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Casey Silk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirshaw waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silk.
Silk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kirshaw comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Silk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kirshaw lands with a hook. Silk tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Silk misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kirshaw defends it nicely.
Kirshaw scores with a nice strike.
Kirshaw lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kirshaw misses with a straight right.

Silk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Silk lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Silk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirshaw is looking to stand up but Silk isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Kirshaw showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kirshaw, 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Kirshaw!
A determined Thomas Kirshaw didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!