PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andriy Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kersikov has chosen Russian Roulette as his entrance music. Andriy Kersikov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kirk
vs
Kersikov

180 cm
29
176 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

175 cm
26
175 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, James Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andriy Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirk misses with a hook.
A jab from Kirk misses.
Kersikov staying out of range there.
Kersikov thuds his shin into the meat of Kirk's side.
Kirk misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kersikov throws a sloppy head kick and Kirk moves out of range easily.
Kersikov throws a shot from downtown. Kirk moves away and avoids it.
Kirk throws a series of punches but Kersikov moves out of range.
Kirk lands a head shot.
Kersikov dodges the punch combination from Kirk.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kersikov. Kirk shrugs it off though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kersikov.
Kirk missing with a left hand there. Kersikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk takes a jab right on the kisser.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kersikov. That's going to slow Kirk down.
Kirk takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kersikov. Kirk shrugs it off though.
Kersikov is looking to slow Kirk down with leg kicks.
Andriy Kersikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kersikov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Kersikov.
Kirk is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov misses with a low kick as Kirk jumps back.
A combination from Kirk does no damage.
A big left from Kirk misses.
Kirk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk looks to land a right hand but Kersikov moved out of range.
Kersikov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kersikov tries to clinch up.
Kersikov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
Kersikov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kersikov. That's going to slow Kirk down.

Kersikov moves into the clinch.
Kersikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kirk tries to throw a body punch but Kersikov avoids it by throwing Kirk back against the cage.
Kersikov is struggling to control the position.
Kirk stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov misses with a knee to the head.
Kersikov managing to block the knees to the body from Kirk.
The referee calls for Kersikov to work.
Kirk stalling.
Kersikov with a knee to the head.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kirk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kirk is trying to break the clinch but Kersikov is controlling him.
Kersikov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kersikov is trying to maintain a safe position but Kirk gets an underhook and turns Kersikov into the cage.
Kersikov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kirk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kersikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kirk misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Kersikov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kirk lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov connects with a knee to the head.
Kirk working hard to break the clinch.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kirk misses with a punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirk lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kirk tries to land a knee to the head but Kersikov blocks with his arms.
Kirk tries to pull guard but Kersikov won't allow it.
Kersikov tries a knee to the head but Kirk blocks it.

Kirk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kirk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kersikov wants to improve his position but Kirk is controlling well.
Kersikov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kirk.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kersikov is trying to maintain the position but Kirk is very close to passing his half guard.
Kersikov is looking for a sweep. Kirk is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andriy Kersikov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kirk scores with a nice right hand.
Kersikov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kirk is out of range and Kersikov settles back down.
Kersikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kirk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kersikov throws a leg kick that misses.
Kersikov lands a leg kick that knocks Kirk off balance momentarily.
Jab by Kirk.
Kersikov throws a low kick but Kirk avoids it.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kirk throws a body kick that misses
and Kersikov counters with an inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kersikov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kirk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short uppercut from Kirk.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kirk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kersikov blocks an uppercut.
Kirk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kersikov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but Kirk blocks with his arms.
Kersikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kirk blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kirk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kersikov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kirk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kirk lands a shoulder strike.
Kersikov taking a breather.
Kersikov lands a nice knee to the body.
Kirk throws a punch but it's blocked by Kersikov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kersikov crunches a lovely knee into Kirk's ribcage.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kirk has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but Kirk blocks with his arms.
Kersikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Kirk avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk misses with a punch to the body.
Kersikov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kirk is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kirk leaning against his opponent.
Kirk struggles to land a body shot inside as Kersikov controls his hands.
Kersikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kersikov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kersikov scores with a knee to the head.
Kirk is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kersikov is keeping busy.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but Kirk blocks with his arms.
Kersikov misses with a knee strike.
Andriy Kersikov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kersikov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kirk tries to pull guard but Kersikov holds him up against the cage and eventually Kirk drops back down to his feet.
Kersikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kirk blocks it with crossed arms.
Kirk can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kersikov is looking to control Kirk's arms but Kirk gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kersikov has his back to the cage.

Kirk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kersikov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kersikov misses with an uppercut. Kirk saw that one coming.
Kirk thuds his right hand into Kersikov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kirk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kersikov counters with a nice body kick.
Kirk looks for a takedown but Kersikov sprawls well.
Kirk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kirk. Kersikov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a nice inside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kersikov.
Kirk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kersikov throws a looping overhand right but Kirk ducks down to avoid it.
Kersikov misses with a hook.
Kirk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kersikov. That did some damage!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kersikov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kersikov throws a head kick that Kirk semi-blocks.
Kersikov checks a low kick from Kirk.
Kirk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andriy Kersikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kirk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kersikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirk manages to avoid it.
Kersikov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kirk lands a jab.
Kersikov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kersikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Kirk.
Kirk misses with a low kick as Kersikov jumps back.
Kersikov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kersikov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kirk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kirk misses with an uppercut. Kersikov saw that one coming.
Kersikov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk misses with an uppercut. Kersikov saw that one coming.
Kersikov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kirk takes a step back to recover.
Kersikov throws a chopping leg kick but Kirk manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kirk tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kersikov.
Kersikov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kersikov thows a body kick. Kirk tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kirk will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A leg kick checked by Kersikov.
Kersikov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kersikov throws a push kick but Kirk slaps the foot to one side.
Kersikov connects with a solid leg kick.
Kersikov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kersikov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kersikov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kirk.
Kersikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kersikov.
Kersikov defending well as Kirk loads up on a big left hand.
Kersikov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kersikov counters with a thumping low kick.
Kersikov looks to land a body kick but Kirk moved away.
Kirk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheers as Kersikov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kirk doesn't seem phased though.
Andriy Kersikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kersikov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kirk. That did some damage!
Kersikov throws a front kick aimed at Kirk's knee but Kirk avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirk gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kersikov.

Kirk is rocked!
Kersikov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Oh Kirk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kersikov lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kersikov. That's going to slow Kirk down.
James Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kirk crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kersikov - the referee stops the clock and Kirk gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kersikov. Kirk manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kersikov drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Kirk right on the button. Kirk goes down! Kersikov follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Kersikov gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andriy Kersikov!
Andriy Kersikov looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Efficiency '.