PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and blake vanderwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kiel
vs
vanderwood

188 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
223 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Kiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, blake vanderwood!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
vanderwood doesn't manage to clinch there - Kiel circles away.
vanderwood shoots in for a takedown but Kiel shows good takedown defense.
Kiel throws a nice looking combination but vanderwood bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

vanderwood scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

vanderwood tries for a kimura but Kiel is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiel is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but vanderwood has just dragged him back down to the mat.

vanderwood decides to stand back up. vanderwood steps back and let's Kiel get back to his feet.
vanderwood throws a sloppy head kick and Kiel moves out of range easily.
Kiel misses with a wild combination.
Mark Kiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab-cross combination lands for Kiel and sends vanderwood crashing to the mat! Kiel follows him down to the mat - vanderwood regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

vanderwood is rocked!
Kiel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kiel tries to stand and escape but vanderwood is controlling the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kiel connects with a nice short shot to vanderwood's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vanderwood flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
vanderwood really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kiel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
vanderwood taking some punishment here, with Kiel in his half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if vanderwood can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kiel tries to stand and escape but vanderwood is controlling the position.
Kiel prevents vanderwood from improving his position.
Kiel seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Kiel is breathing heavily.
vanderwood is looking for a sweep. Kiel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

vanderwood decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
vanderwood looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kiel with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
vanderwood is keen to just control but Kiel is a slippery customer.
Kiel wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiel tries to push off, looking to stand up, but vanderwood manages to move to mount!

vanderwood is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kiel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
You get the feeling that Kiel really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Kiel is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kiel is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kiel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
You get the feeling that Kiel really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kiel bucks up and throws vanderwood to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kiel pushes off an throws an elbow but vanderwood leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

vanderwood manages to break the clinch.
Kiel stuffs the takedown attempt from vanderwood. vanderwood gets slowly back to his feet.
Kiel has a takedown stuffed.
Kiel throws a right and a left that vanderwood avoids nicely.

vanderwood has managed to clinch.
Kiel lands with a right to the head.
vanderwood prevents the takedown attempt.

Kiel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kiel shoots in for a takedown and gets it, with a heavy slam. That will score well with the judges.
vanderwood is still in real trouble! Can Kiel finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
vanderwood has a closed guard, preventing Kiel from standing up.
vanderwood wants to stand up but Kiel is controlling him.
vanderwood seems to have recovered his senses.
vanderwood working a defensive guard here.
Kiel trying to stand up but can't free himself from vanderwood's guard.
Kiel won't allow vanderwood to sweep him here.
Kiel wants to stand and escape but instead vanderwood has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
vanderwood trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kiel fails to land with a series of punches.
vanderwood doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kiel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kiel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

vanderwood fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
vanderwood changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kiel tries to avoid it but vanderwood manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kiel to the ground. Kiel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kiel misses with a series of wild punches.
vanderwood closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kiel circles away.
Mark Kiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of blake vanderwood.
A punch combination from Kiel misses.

vanderwood has Kiel up against the cage in a clinch.

vanderwood breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
vanderwood dodges the punch combination from Kiel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiel throws a nice looking combination but vanderwood bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

vanderwood rushes Kiel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
vanderwood is working for takedown but Kiel is calmly controlling the position for now.
vanderwood wants a takedown but no success here.
Kiel lands a damaging elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
vanderwood throws a knee to the head but misses.
vanderwood keeps control of Kiel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Kiel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

vanderwood looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
vanderwood stops Kiel from standing up.

Kiel wriggles free and stands up.

vanderwood closes the distance and clinches.
vanderwood avoids the elbow strike from Kiel, against the cage.
Kiel looking to slow down the pace here.
Kiel has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. vanderwood is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kiel throws an elbow but misses.

vanderwood breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
vanderwood misses with a series of wild punches.
Kiel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from vanderwood. That one must have hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiel misses with a double jab

and vanderwood counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by vanderwood.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
vanderwood trying to control but Kiel is working from the bottom.
Kiel being controlled here, momentarily.
vanderwood's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kiel wants to get back to his feet but vanderwood is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kiel keeping moving, preventing vanderwood from controlling successfully.
vanderwood is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
vanderwood trying to control but Kiel is working from the bottom.
vanderwood not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

vanderwood drops back looking for a leg! Kiel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kiel manages to kick vanderwood off! vanderwood jumps back into Kiel's guard.
Kiel wants to stand and escape but vanderwood is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
vanderwood shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kiel as he avoids it easily.
Kiel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

vanderwood gets to his feet. Kiel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Kiel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kiel scores with a shoulder strike.
vanderwood using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kiel lands an elbow inside.
vanderwood goes for a takedown attempt but Kiel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kiel falls off balance throwing a combination

and vanderwood counters with a shoot takedown. Kiel fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst vanderwood is controlling him.
Kiel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for vanderwood!
Kiel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kiel is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Kiel drops vanderwood with a nice combination! Kiel dives into vanderwood's guard, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

blake vanderwood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

vanderwood throws a head kick that half lands.
Kiel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kiel misses with a wild combination.
Kiel misses with a double jab

and vanderwood counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
vanderwood tries to score a body lock takedown but Kiel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

vanderwood manages to break the clinch.
Kiel swinging wilding here.

vanderwood looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
vanderwood stops Kiel from getting back to his feet.

vanderwood is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kiel pushes vanderwood off looking to stand but vanderwood dives back in and keeps control.
vanderwood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
vanderwood not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kiel pushes vanderwood off and gets back to his feet.
Kiel misses with a combination

so vanderwood counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
vanderwood stops Kiel from standing up.

vanderwood stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kiel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

vanderwood forces Kiel back against the cage and clinches.
vanderwood is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch on the inside from Kiel fails to land.

vanderwood manages to break the clinch.
Kiel misses with a two punch combination.

vanderwood looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kiel!
Kiel is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kiel is wriggling around trying to escape.
vanderwood tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
vanderwood lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kiel is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kiel is trying to escape the mount.
vanderwood controlling his opponent.
Kiel is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiel regains half guard.
Kiel looks like he's trying to stand up.

Kiel makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kiel tries to bum rush vanderwood with a series of wild strikes but vanderwood uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kiel misses with a jab, cross combination.
vanderwood moves out of range as Kiel strikes.
vanderwood throws a lazy head kick
and Kiel counters with a left and a right that stings vanderwood.

vanderwood shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
blake vanderwood has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kiel is trying to stand up.
vanderwood wants to control the pace but Kiel is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiel wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
vanderwood landing shots from mount.
vanderwood in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
vanderwood won't let Kiel get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
vanderwood fails to take his opponent's back.
vanderwood trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kiel is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
vanderwood looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
vanderwood scoring with strikes but Kiel is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
blake vanderwood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think vanderwood has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... blake vanderwood!