PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leopold Stotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Van Kirkland
vs
Stotch

194 cm
26
285 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

212 cm
24
275 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leopold Stotch!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stotch wants to clinch.
Stotch tries to clinch

and Van Kirkland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Van Kirkland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stotch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Van Kirkland is fending him off so far but Stotch persists. Nope, Van Kirkland circles away and we're back to standing.
Van Kirkland keeps the fight on the outside.
Stotch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Kirkland paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stotch looks to clinch
and Van Kirkland counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Leopold Stotch has been cut.
Van Kirkland steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stotch.
Stotch moves in looking to clinch but Van Kirkland pushes him off.

Stotch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Kirkland, pushing him back against the cage.
Van Kirkland gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stotch.

Van Kirkland gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland postures up.

Stotch working for a triangle but Van Kirkland defends it easily.
Stotch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stotch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Van Kirkland cracks Stotch with a solid left hand.
Van Kirkland lands a couple of elbows.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Stotch keeps moving.
Stotch wants to sweep here but Van Kirkland controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Kirkland showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Stotch keeps moving.
Stotch trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stotch shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Kirkland sprawls well. He's pushed Stotch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mikhail Van Kirkland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leopold Stotch.
Van Kirkland circles away from the clinch attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stotch.
Van Kirkland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stotch moves away.
Van Kirkland keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Kirkland chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stotch closes the distance looking to clinch

and Van Kirkland counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stotch wants to improve his position but Van Kirkland is controlling well.
Van Kirkland stops Stotch from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stotch tries to get to full guard but Van Kirkland has control of the leg.
Van Kirkland wants to control but Stotch is keeping him busy.
Stotch is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stotch gets full guard.
Van Kirkland slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Stotch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Van Kirkland manages to get himself to full guard.

Stotch stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stotch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stotch tries to clinch up

and Van Kirkland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stotch looking for a takedown.
Stotch tries to break free but Van Kirkland pushes him back against the cage.

Van Kirkland has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Stotch clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Kirkland is looking to control Stotch but Stotch is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Stotch tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stotch is looking to improve his position but Van Kirkland isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland breaks from Stotch's wrist control and lands an elbow.
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 Leopold Stotch's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stotch moves to clinch but Van Kirkland breaks away

and Van Kirkland counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stotch's guard now.
Stotch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Van Kirkland looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Van Kirkland trying to control the position from guard on top but Stotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Van Kirkland circles away from the clinch attempt.
Leopold Stotch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stotch is looking to clinch.
Stotch fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stotch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Kirkland counters by moving into the clinch.

Van Kirkland breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mikhail Van Kirkland is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stotch is looking to clinch but Van Kirkland is avoiding it.
Stotch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van Kirkland manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stotch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van Kirkland makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stotch lands a jab.
Stotch moves in looking to clinch but Van Kirkland pushes him off.
Stotch wants to clinch but Van Kirkland slips to the side

so Van Kirkland counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Kirkland postures up.
Van Kirkland is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland trying to control the position from guard on top but Stotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Van Kirkland is fighting to break Stotch's control of his arms but Stotch is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stotch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stotch tries to clinch up.
Stotch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Kirkland counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stotch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Van Kirkland to keep the fight standing.

Van Kirkland has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stotch uses from the top position.
Stotch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland keeping full guard, as Stotch tries to pass.

Stotch drops back, looking for a kneebar! Van Kirkland looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Van Kirkland looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Van Kirkland!
Stotch wants to control but Van Kirkland postures up.
Van Kirkland working the ground and pound.
Stotch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stotch pushes Van Kirkland away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Van Kirkland gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Stotch wants to control but Van Kirkland postures up.
Van Kirkland tries to move into full mount but can't pass Stotch's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stotch gets back to half guard.
Van Kirkland wants to take a breather but Stotch is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Kirkland looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Van Kirkland is thwarting Stotch's attempts to control the position.
Stotch might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Van Kirkland haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Stotch wants to improve his position but Van Kirkland is controlling well.
Van Kirkland is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland wants to control but Stotch is keeping him busy.
Stotch is trying to stand up here but Van Kirkland is controlling him well.
Van Kirkland 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Van Kirkland dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Leopold Stotch's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stotch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stotch has a takedown stuffed.
Stotch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Kirkland counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Van Kirkland.

Van Kirkland wants the takedown. Stotch is fighting it off but Van Kirkland persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stotch's guard against the cage.

Stotch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Kirkland defends well.
Van Kirkland's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Stotch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Kirkland is aware though and is defending well.
Stotch looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van Kirkland puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Stotch wants to get back to full guard.
Van Kirkland not doing much here.
Van Kirkland lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stotch keeps working.
Van Kirkland stops Stotch from getting back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Van Kirkland takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Stotch is looking to escape.
Stotch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Van Kirkland trying to control the action but Stotch is working from the bottom.
Van Kirkland perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mikhail Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland fails to land the takedown.
Stotch tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van Kirkland counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Leopold Stotch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stotch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Kirkland counters with a left to the body.
Stotch darts in trying to clinch
and Van Kirkland counters with a nice low kick that buckles Stotch's knee momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stotch tries to clinch up

and Van Kirkland counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Van Kirkland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stotch trying to keep a closed guard but Van Kirkland is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland chips away with some ground and pound.
Stotch is controlling Van Kirkland's posture.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Stotch is working from the bottom.
Van Kirkland's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mikhail Van Kirkland wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stotch wants to clinch.
Van Kirkland avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Kirkland scores with a nice strike.
Stotch is looking to clinch but Van Kirkland is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stotch darts in trying to clinch

and Van Kirkland counters by clinching up.
A head punch on the inside from Stotch fails to land.

Stotch turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Kirkland tries to escape but Stotch is in control.
Van Kirkland is trying to control Stotch's posture but Stotch avoids it.
Van Kirkland holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Mikhail Van Kirkland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stotch looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Van Kirkland is avoiding damage well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Stotch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Van Kirkland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stotch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Kirkland's head.
Van Kirkland is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Van Kirkland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Kirkland 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Van Kirkland!