PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kirkland might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lightwork - by Lupe Fiasco. Josh Kirkland had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kirkland
vs
Rogers

192 cm
28
264 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

190 cm
30
255 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anthony Rogers!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirkland.
Kirkland swinging wildly here.
Kirkland thows a leg kick but Rogers checks it
and Rogers counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kirkland's knee momentarily.
Kirkland throws a head kick that misses

and Rogers counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kirkland!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kirkland tries to buck Rogers off but Rogers is having none of it.

Rogers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kirkland has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rogers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kirkland has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rogers controlling from side mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rogers is trying to get an arm triangle but Kirkland is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rogers wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Kirkland is right now.
Kirkland tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers advances to full mount.
Kirkland is looking to improve his position but Rogers isn't that keen on the idea.
Kirkland tries to hold on but Rogers postures up.
Rogers content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kirkland hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kirkland slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rogers is taking a breather. Kirkland says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kirkland wants to get back to full guard.
Rogers is pressing down on Kirkland's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kirkland is holding on for now.
Rogers is thwarting Kirkland's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kirkland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Kirkland is having none of it.
Kirkland tries to get to full guard but Rogers has control of the leg.
Kirkland trying to control from the bottom.
Rogers seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kirkland is looking for a sweep. Rogers is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rogers has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rogers controlling from mount.
Kirkland bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kirkland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rogers's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kirkland.
Rogers working a defensive guard here.
Kirkland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirkland wants to pass the guard but Rogers is keeping the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rogers bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kirkland's guard.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
Rogers looking to pass the guard.
Kirkland keeping moving, preventing Rogers from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rogers wants to pass the guard but Kirkland is keeping the position.
Rogers preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Rogers dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Rogers.
Kirkland throws a right hand that misses
and Rogers counters with a thumping low kick.
Kirkland throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kirkland scores with a hook.
Kirkland misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kirkland misses with a wild combination.
Kirkland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rogers dodges the punch combination from Kirkland.
Kirkland throws a right and a left that Rogers avoids nicely.
Kirkland falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rogers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kirkland's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Kirkland keeps moving.
Rogers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kirkland controls Rogers momentarily but Rogers frees himself.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Kirkland.
Rogers is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Rogers was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kirkland throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland swings widly with a right hand
and Rogers makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kirkland swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rogers counters with a shoot takedown. Kirkland fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Kirkland looking for subs off his back but Rogers has passed one foot through into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rogers looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kirkland wants to control but Rogers is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rogers in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rogers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirkland is trying to get back to full guard.
Rogers controlling the action here.
Anthony Rogers has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anthony Rogers wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kirkland lands a jab.

It looks like Anthony Rogers has been cut.
Kirkland throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rogers makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kirkland tries to bum rush Rogers with a series of wild strikes but Rogers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rogers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirkland.
Kirkland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kirkland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Josh Kirkland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
That kick from Rogers tenderised Kirkland's leg. Kirkland is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kirkland throws a sloppy head kick

and Rogers counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kirkland's guard now.
Rogers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirkland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kirkland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rogers is one step ahead there.
Rogers sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Rogers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anthony Rogers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rogers moves out of range of the strikes.
Kirkland misses with a looping left.
Kirkland throws a right and a left that Rogers avoids nicely.
Rogers moves out of range of the strikes.
Kirkland looks to land a left hand but Rogers moved out of range nicely.
Josh Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheers as Kirkland lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rogers doesn't seem phased though.

Kirkland lands a left and a right that send Rogers crashing to the mat, dazed. Kirkland thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Rogers is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rogers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rogers is still on wobbly legs! Can Kirkland finish him?
Kirkland swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rogers counters with an inside leg kick.

Kirkland drops his shoulder and cracks Rogers with a huge uppercut! Rogers goes down! Can Kirkland finish him?
Kirkland throwing strikes from guard but Rogers blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirkland throws a big elbow that misses.
Rogers has control of Kirkland's left arm, preventing Kirkland from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers wants to sweep here but Kirkland controlling him for the moment.
Rogers seems to have recovered his senses.
Rogers is pulling down on Kirkland's head to control his posture.
Kirkland throws a big right hand that misses.
Rogers controlling Kirkland's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rogers is on top in guard.
Kirkland trying to keep a closed guard but Rogers is proving a slippery customer.
Rogers controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Kirkland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kirkland loads up on a big right hand but Rogers slips the punch.
Kirkland misses the jab.
Josh Kirkland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirkland lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good shot there by Kirkland.
Kirkland drops Rogers with a huge uppercut! Rogers drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Kirkland is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Josh Kirkland!
A relieved looking Josh Kirkland thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.