PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Blaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Kirkland has chosen DJ Vadim - The Terrorist as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Blaze
vs
Van Kirkland

185 cm
26
159 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

180 cm
26
164 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brute

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyson Blaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Van Kirkland!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Van Kirkland slams his shin into Blaze's torso.
Van Kirkland finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Blaze throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Van Kirkland.

It looks like Vladimir Van Kirkland has been cut.
Blaze takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Blaze listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Van Kirkland fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blaze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Blaze moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Kirkland has a couple of punches blocked by Blaze.
Van Kirkland looking to stall.
Van Kirkland misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Van Kirkland.
Blaze misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Blaze tries to work over Van Kirkland's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Blaze as Van Kirkland tries to tie him up.
Blaze blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Kirkland.
Blaze swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Kirkland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Kirkland blocking some punches.
Van Kirkland lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland wants to break free but Blaze has control.
Blaze lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Kirkland backwards.
Blaze blocks a body shot from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Blaze lands a shot to the body.
Blaze lands a left hand that snaps the head of Van Kirkland backwards.
A body shot lands from Blaze.
Blaze tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Blaze breaks from the clinch.
Van Kirkland looks to land a body kick but Blaze moved away.
Blaze takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
No joy there for Blaze, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blaze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Kirkland manages to avoid it.
Blaze tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Van Kirkland is able to avoid easily.
Nice straight punches there by Blaze. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blaze.
Van Kirkland chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Kirkland throws a body kick that misses.
Blaze moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Kirkland.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze checks a leg kick nicely.
Van Kirkland checks a leg kick nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Blaze, as that shot connected.
Blaze looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Blaze lands with a shot to the body.
Van Kirkland wants to land a leg kick but Blaze is out of range.
Blaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Kirkland scores with a nice body kick.
Van Kirkland on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blaze. Blaze obviously looking to wear him down.
Van Kirkland scores with a three punch combo!
Blaze walks forward, straight into a front kick from Van Kirkland.
Blaze throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Van Kirkland stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Blaze ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Kirkland moves away.
Van Kirkland throws a front kick aimed at Blaze's knee but Blaze avoids it well.
Blaze digs a good hook to Van Kirkland's body.
Blaze misses with a series of wild punches.
Blaze steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Van Kirkland. That one must have hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blaze checks a leg kick.
Blaze with a nice cross.
Van Kirkland tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blaze moves out of range of the body kick.
Tyson Blaze seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Blaze blocks it.
Blaze throws a half hearted mid kick.
Blaze tries to land a body kick
and Van Kirkland counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Blaze fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Kirkland manages to avoid it.
Van Kirkland thuds his shin into the meat of Blaze's side.
Van Kirkland staying out of range there.
Van Kirkland walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Blaze checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Blaze feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Kirkland's calf.
Blaze thuds his shin into the meat of Van Kirkland's side.
Van Kirkland lands with a slapping head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Kirkland throws a solid leg kick but Blaze takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Van Kirkland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Blaze. Those never looked like landing.
Blaze misses with an uppercut.
Blaze scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Blaze plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Blaze on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Kirkland. Van Kirkland obviously looking to wear him down.
Blaze has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Van Kirkland finds it's way round the side to connect with Blaze's head.
Van Kirkland takes one to the chin there.
Blaze throws a head kick that misses.
Van Kirkland tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Blaze takes a swing at Van Kirkland's ribcage but misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van Kirkland, right into the meat.
Blaze will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big left from Blaze misses.
Blaze throws a wild body kick that Van Kirkland sees coming a mile off.
Van Kirkland connects with an inside leg kick.
Van Kirkland throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Blaze dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Van Kirkland's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Kirkland throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Van Kirkland fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Van Kirkland scores with a shot to the body.
Blaze tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blaze swings for the body but Van Kirkland moves out of range.

Blaze fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Kirkland, pushing him back against the cage.
Blaze scores with a nice hook to the head.
Van Kirkland misses with some punches.
Van Kirkland softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with an uppercut but Blaze uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blaze controlling the action here for a moment.
Van Kirkland lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Blaze.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blaze blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The referee calls for Van Kirkland to work.
Blaze lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Van Kirkland.
A short left from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with an uppercut but Blaze uses good head movement to avoid it.

Blaze breaks the clinch.
Van Kirkland 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.
Van Kirkland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blaze manages to avoid it.
Van Kirkland steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Blaze. That one must have hurt.
Van Kirkland avoids the body shot from Blaze.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Blaze is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice straight punches there by Blaze. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blaze.

Blaze has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Kirkland tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.
Blaze lands an uppercut.
Blaze working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blaze goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Van Kirkland swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaze working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland is looking to control Blaze's arms but Blaze gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Kirkland has his back to the cage.
Van Kirkland prevents a body shot from Blaze.
Van Kirkland working aggressively here.
Blaze is looking to control Van Kirkland's arms but Van Kirkland gets an underhook and turns him. Now Blaze has his back to the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blaze.
Van Kirkland lands a nice uppercut.
Van Kirkland scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Van Kirkland blocking some punches.
Van Kirkland lands a right hand that snaps the head of Blaze backwards.
Blaze misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Van Kirkland fails to land.
Blaze throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Van Kirklands head.
Blaze pushes Van Kirkland back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Come on Van Kirkland - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Van Kirkland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Kirkland cracks the inside of Blaze's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze blocks a head kick by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Van Kirkland misses with a low kick as Blaze jumps back.
Blaze scores with a kick to the midsection.
Van Kirkland lands the left hand.
Van Kirkland moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Blaze thows a left - swing and a miss!
Blaze walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Van Kirkland checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blaze checks a leg kick.
Blaze connects with a looping right hand.
Blaze misses with a looping right.
Van Kirkland dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Blaze. That did some damage!
Van Kirkland takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A good leg kick by Van Kirkland.
Blaze moves away from the strike by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blaze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blaze fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range.
Blaze throws a big shot that misses.
Blaze lands with a shot to the body.
Van Kirkland works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Blaze fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Blaze throws a nice looking combination but Van Kirkland bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Van Kirkland takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Kirkland throws a head kick that misses.
Van Kirkland lands a nice leg kick that just misses Blaze's sensitive parts.
Blaze misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blaze keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blaze throws a lazy right hand but Van Kirkland sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tyson Blaze is winning the standup battle so far.
Decent striking displayed by Blaze there.
Van Kirkland attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Blaze takes a swing at Van Kirkland's ribcage but misses.
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 Tyson Blaze will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Van Kirkland's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Van Kirkland throws out a powerful jab.
Blaze misses with a looping left.
Van Kirkland moves away from the strike by Blaze.
Van Kirkland moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Blaze keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Blaze swings for the body but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Van Kirkland fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Van Kirkland slips under a jab from Blaze.
Van Kirkland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Kirkland avoids the body shot from Blaze.
Van Kirkland on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Blaze moves out of range as Van Kirkland strikes.
Blaze throws a leg kick
and Van Kirkland counters with a leg kick.
That kick from Van Kirkland tenderised Blaze's leg. Blaze is trying to keep his angry face on.
Blaze is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blaze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Blaze. That did some damage!

Blaze pushes Van Kirkland up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Kirkland is trying to stall.
Blaze doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Kirkland's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Blaze is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Van Kirkland lands with a right to the head.
Van Kirkland lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Blaze or not.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Blaze.
Van Kirkland misses with the head strike.
Blaze lands a nice uppercut.
Van Kirkland misses with some punches.
Blaze blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Van Kirkland has a couple of punches blocked by Blaze.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Blaze.
Van Kirkland has Blaze pressed against the cage, preventing Blaze from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vladimir Van Kirkland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland misses with some punches.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Blaze lands a shoulder strike.
Blaze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Van Kirkland tries a body shot but Blaze blocks it.
Blaze keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Kirkland's efforts to push away.
Blaze tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Van Kirkland's elbow.

Blaze breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blaze slips under a jab.
Van Kirkland avoids the body shot from Blaze.
Blaze walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Van Kirkland checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Van Kirkland connects with an inside leg kick.
Blaze lets loose with a powerful body kick. Van Kirkland will feel that in the morning.
Blaze scores with a nice body kick.
Blaze thows a body shot but no joy.
Van Kirkland throws a right and a left that both miss.
Blaze throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland lands with a nice body kick.
Van Kirkland checks a low kick from Blaze.
Van Kirkland ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Blaze chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blaze tries to work over Van Kirkland's front leg with a kick but Van Kirkland checks it.
Blaze throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Van Kirkland plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Van Kirkland throws a leg kick but Blaze sees it coming and moves out of range.
Blaze looks for the body kick but Van Kirkland saw that one coming.
Blaze misses with a hook.
Blaze avoids the body shot from Van Kirkland.
Blaze throws an overhand right that lands on Van Kirkland's shoulder, as Van Kirkland tries to avoid the shot.
Van Kirkland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Kirkland blocks a head kick by Blaze.
Van Kirkland fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Tyson Blaze is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blaze throws a series of punches but Van Kirkland avoids them all with ease.
Blaze is looking to score with low kicks.
Blaze displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Kirkland stuns Blaze with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Kirkland throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Blaze connects with a nice looking jab.
Blaze lands a head shot.
Van Kirkland fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blaze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Blaze blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland fakes the leg kick and cracks Blaze in the body.
Van Kirkland looks to score with a jab to the body but Blaze is just out of range.
Van Kirkland misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Van Kirkland.
Well Blaze has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Blaze!
Tyson Blaze thanked the fans post fight for their support.