PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Heath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Heath has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jim Kirby's chin.

Kirby
vs
Heath

166 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Kirby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Heath!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirby shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kirby is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Heath.

It looks like Jim Kirby has been cut.

Kirby feints and as Heath raises his hands in defense, Kirby changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kirby sitting in guard here, content to control.
Heath is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kirby really is a fat lump.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Heath darts in and clinches Kirby up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heath tries for a takedown. No joy.
Heath is looking to control Kirby's arms but Kirby gets an underhook and turns him. Now Heath has his back to the cage.

Heath's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heath fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kirby, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Kirby shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Heath manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kirby is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kirby advances to half guard.
Kirby perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kirby wants to stand up but Heath is controlling the position.

Heath kicks off Kirby and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Heath rushes Kirby and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Heath tries to circle away but Kirby has him pinned against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heath.

Kirby gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kirby is pressing down on Heath's thigh, looking to free his foot. Heath is holding on for now.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Heath wants to control but Kirby is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kirby postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Heath to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirby throws a right and a left that both miss.
Heath shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Heath looks winded!

Kirby shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kirby showed some decent athleticism there.
Heath is trying to get back to full guard.
Kirby tries to stand but can't do so whilst Heath controls his leg.
Kirby is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kirby.
Heath blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kirby.
Kirby controlling the pace.
Heath really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirby. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jim Kirby just wasn't active enough.

Kirby manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Heath on his heels. He'll look to pass Heath's guard now, I'm sure.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Heath preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kirby looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Kirby dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Kirby's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Heath tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kirby manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kirby keeps the fight on the outside.

Kirby gets the takedown into side control.
Kirby staying calm.
Heath is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Heath's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kirby wants to stand but Heath has his arm trapped.
Kirby slows the pace down.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jim Kirby just wasn't active enough.
Kirby dives in for a single leg takedown but Heath sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kirby tries to pull guard but Heath forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Heath lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kirby.
Kirby is trying to push Heath away but Heath has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kirby tries for a takedown but Heath manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Kirby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A hook to the body from Heath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heath tries to break free but Kirby pushes him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Heath as Kirby tries to tie him up.
Kirby blocks a body shot from Heath.
Heath tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Kirby's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kirby fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heath misses with a head kick.
Kirby shoots in and drives through. Heath sprawls well.
Heath dives in for a single leg takedown but Kirby sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Heath taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Heath breaks the clinch.

Heath clinches up with Kirby and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kirby jumps guard but Heath stands there with Kirby around his waist. Kirby gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kirby blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kirby is looking to control Heath's arms but Heath gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kirby has his back to the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Heath's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Heath changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kirby fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kirby fails with the takedown.
Heath tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kirby paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby fails to land the takedown.
Jim Kirby is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Heath shoots in for a double leg but Kirby sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown by Heath or perhaps it was just good defense by Kirby which made him look bad.

Kirby drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kirby wants to control from the top but Heath keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirby slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Kirby dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jim Kirby's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kirby circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Heath. Kirby does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kirby throws a head kick but Heath moves out of range.
Andrew Heath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Heath gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kirby gets control of Heath's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kirby will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Heath wanted to stand there but Kirby had control of the position.
Kirby is adopting a defensive guard.
Heath wants to stand and escape but instead Kirby has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Heath takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kirby is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Jim Kirby has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kirby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Heath's waist but Heath gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kirby off to one side.
Heath moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Heath shoots in and drives through. Kirby sprawls well.
Heath tries to score with a low kick but Kirby moves his leg out of the way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirby tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Heath keeps the fight on the outside.

Kirby moves into the clinch.

Kirby breaks the clinch.
Kirby fails with a takedown attempt.

Heath gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Heath tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirby is trying to break the clinch but Heath is controlling him.

Heath breaks the clinch.
Heath is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Heath misses with a combination
and Kirby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirby drives through with a takedown into Heath's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Heath is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kirby is stalling in the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kirby shoots in and bounces Heath off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Heath is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kirby controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jim Kirby wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A clash of legs there as Kirby blocks the low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirby avoids the head kick by Heath.

Kirby shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kirby showed some decent athleticism there.
Andrew Heath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim Kirby is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirby wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Kirby showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kirby, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Kirby!