PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between DJango Ibakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Ibakka
vs
Van Kirkland

195 cm
20
225 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
285 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, DJango Ibakka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Kirkland fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ibakka avoids it really well and circles away.
Van Kirkland misses with a wild combination.

Ibakka tries to keep at a distance but Van Kirkland has taken the fight into the clinch.
Van Kirkland misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibakka lands a nice uppercut.
Ibakka has a couple of punches blocked by Van Kirkland.

Ibakka breaks from the clinch.
Van Kirkland throws a leg kick but Ibakka moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibakka throws a poor cross that misses
and Van Kirkland counters with a low kick, right behind Ibakka 's knee.
Van Kirkland looks for a takedown but Ibakka sprawls well.
Van Kirkland slips a straight right by Ibakka.
Van Kirkland misses with a takedown attempt - Ibakka sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
DJango Ibakka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Van Kirkland.
A big left from Van Kirkland misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland has a takedown stuffed.
Ibakka throws a looping overhand right but Van Kirkland ducks down to avoid it.
Ibakka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Van Kirkland takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibakka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Kirkland.

Van Kirkland scores a takedown into full mount!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Van Kirkland landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibakka is trying to escape the mount.
Van Kirkland looking to control but Ibakka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Van Kirkland scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ibakka?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Van Kirkland.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Kirkland throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ibakka because Van Kirkland loaded up on that one.
Ibakka tries to lock up and control but Van Kirkland gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland punching from mount but Ibakka doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Van Kirkland jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ibakka is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ibakka and Van Kirkland has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ibakka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ibakka tries to get out of the position.
Ibakka tries to improve position but can't.
Ibakka struggling a bit here.
Van Kirkland throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Kirkland in side control, throwing shots but Ibakka defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Van Kirkland dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Van Kirkland scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Kirkland is defended easily by Ibakka.
Mikhail Van Kirkland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Kirkland throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ibakka counters with a nice uppercut.
Van Kirkland slips a jab from Ibakka.
A head kick misses from Ibakka.
Van Kirkland tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ibakka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Van Kirkland somewhat.
Ibakka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Kirkland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland is looking to clinch.
Ibakka fails to land with a series of punches.
Van Kirkland dives in and grabs Ibakka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ibakka pushes down on Van Kirkland's head and hops out.
DJango Ibakka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Van Kirkland.
Nice shot by Ibakka.
Ibakka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Van Kirkland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibakka stuffs the takedown attempt from Van Kirkland. Van Kirkland gets slowly back to his feet.
Ibakka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Kirkland manages to avoid it.
Van Kirkland lands a slapping body shot.
Ibakka throws a right hand that misses

and Van Kirkland counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Check out the look on Van Kirkland's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Van Kirkland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Van Kirkland is looking to take a break and control but Ibakka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mikhail Van Kirkland has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland tries to advance to mount but can't.
Van Kirkland throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ibakka being controlled for a moment.
Van Kirkland working the ground and pound but Ibakka is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Van Kirkland creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ibakka is not content to let Van Kirkland control the position.
Van Kirkland in side control, throwing shots but Ibakka defends.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Kirkland misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Van Kirkland has hold of Ibakka's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Ibakka tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Van Kirkland cranks the arm and Ibakka screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Ibakka, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Mikhail Van Kirkland!