PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kibbe Sly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sly
vs
Joseph

195 cm
29
247 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
269 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Fight Night Nutrition

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kibbe Sly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kirk Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sly moves in looking to clinch but Joseph pushes him off.
Sly misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sly tries a head kick but it misses.
Joseph avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joseph slips under a jab from Sly.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Joseph!
Sly stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sly wants it to stay on the feet.
Sly throws a head kick that misses.

Joseph throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sly was covering up waiting for the punch and Joseph finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Sly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Joseph can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Sly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sly preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Joseph trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sly is looking for a triangle but Joseph pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joseph sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sly's guard.
Sly throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sly wants to improve his position but Joseph is controlling well.

Joseph is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Joseph lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Joseph throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sly wants to control but Joseph is keeping busy.
Joseph wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sly keeps working.
Joseph lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joseph pulls his head out easily.

Joseph is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sly sees it coming and defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Joseph seems to be working for a kimura but Sly defends the submission attempt.

Joseph is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sly has managed to free his arm - good work.

Joseph is looking for a kimura here.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.
Sly wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joseph is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sly is trying to control but can't.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.
Sly is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Joseph is looking for a kimura but Sly is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Joseph to get the leverage.

Joseph wants to work for an arm triangle but Sly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Joseph is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sly defends it well.

Joseph is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sly doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Joseph.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joseph is working for a submission of some sort.

Sly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sly is not content to let Joseph control the position.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joseph trying to pass the guard but Sly defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Joseph dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sly drives through with a takedown into guard.

Joseph has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Joseph escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sly gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Sly is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sly postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joseph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joseph swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sly wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.
Joseph not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sly got a little sloppy there for a moment and Joseph has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sly has managed to get both his arms back between Joseph's legs - danger averted.
Kirk Joseph has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sly forces his way into half guard.

Sly looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Sly is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joseph manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Sly from controlling successfully.
Joseph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sly won't allow Joseph to sweep him here.
Joseph looking to control.
Sly tries to free his leg and advance position but Joseph is retaining full guard.
Sly won't allow Joseph to sweep him here.
Joseph avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sly trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sly working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joseph wants to sweep here but Sly controlling him for the moment.
Sly stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joseph swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sly stopping the sweep attempt from Joseph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Sly from controlling successfully.

Kibbe Sly has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Joseph lands a nice shot that snaps Sly's head back.

Joseph shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Joseph was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sly is trying to get back to half guard.
Joseph working the body and head with strikes.
Joseph lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sly is working to avoid the ground and pound but Joseph connects with a decent elbow.

Joseph is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sly is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph working away.
Sly is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Joseph off and has taken his back!
Joseph trying to control the action but Sly just sinks the hooks in.
I really don't envy Joseph right now.

Sly working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Sly controlling well, preventing Joseph from escaping the position.
Joseph rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph trying to control here.
Sly seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Joseph does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Joseph showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Joseph.
Sly looks to land a left hand but Joseph moved out of range nicely.

Sly looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Joseph gets full guard.
Sly tries to free his leg and advance position but Joseph is retaining full guard.

Joseph has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sly can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sly pushing down on Joseph's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Sly is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Joseph sees it coming and defends easily.
Joseph wants to control but Sly is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sly is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Joseph is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Joseph has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joseph trying to control but Sly is working from the bottom.

Sly is looking for a triangle but Joseph pushes his legs off easily.

Sly has his foot on Joseph's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joseph works his way back into a safe position though.
Joseph lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sly working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joseph doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Joseph manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sly keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph connects with a couple of short punches.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Sly.
Joseph advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sly is defending against the submission attempts here by Joseph.

Joseph is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sly defends it well.
Sly has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Joseph is working away from the top position though.
Joseph is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joseph is looking for a kimura here.
Joseph wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sly keeps working.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.
Joseph missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Joseph is looking for a kimura but Sly is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Joseph to get the leverage.

Sly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Joseph is trying to control. Sly wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sly actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Joseph.
Joseph working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Joseph is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Joseph is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sly sees it coming and defends easily.
Sly wants to get back to full guard.
Kirk Joseph is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Sly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Joseph in particular looking to stall.
Kibbe Sly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sly looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirk Joseph comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joseph has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Joseph!
Kirk Joseph decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.