PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gorge Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samir Al Romenik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gorge Kirk has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirk
vs
Al Romenik

185 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gorge Kirk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Samir Al Romenik!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirk avoids a kick to the body.
A punch combination from Kirk misses.
Kirk tries to clinch up but Al Romenik circles away and keeps his distance.

Al Romenik moves into range and clinches up with Kirk.
Kirk fails to pull guard.
Kirk tries to pull guard but Al Romenik holds him up against the cage and eventually Kirk drops back down to his feet.
Al Romenik with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Al Romenik jumps guard and drags Kirk to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Al Romenik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Al Romenik really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Al Romenik is trying to control the position but Kirk postures up.
Kirk looking to pass the guard.
Kirk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kirk throwing strikes but missing.
Al Romenik is trying to keep Kirk in close.
Kirk is in close to Al Romenik's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Al Romenik working a defensive guard here.
Kirk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Al Romenik is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirk is controlling him.
Kirk looking to pass the guard.
Kirk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Al Romenik can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kirk controls the pace.
We've been hearing that Kirk has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Al Romenik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Al Romenik is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kirk makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kirk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Al Romenik wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Al Romenik swats away the attempt to clinch by Kirk.

Kirk scores with a takedown into Al Romenik's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirk postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al Romenik looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirk passes Al Romenik's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kirk 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.

Kirk is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Al Romenik tries to get to full guard but Kirk has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al Romenik has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kirk is working away from the top position though.
Kirk prevents Al Romenik from standing back up.
Kirk working the head and body with strikes.
Kirk controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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. Kirk connects with a nice short shot to Al Romenik's temple.
Kirk drops an elbow to the side of Al Romenik's head.
Al Romenik moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Romenik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kirk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kirk drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kirk jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Al Romenik can do anything to dispel that myth.

Al Romenik escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kirk gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kirk connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kirk tries to free his leg and advance position but Al Romenik is retaining full guard.
Kirk stopping the sweep attempt from Al Romenik.
Al Romenik wants to hit a switch here but Kirk passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Al Romenik there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirk raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gorge Kirk dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Al Romenik misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kirk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gorge Kirk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kirk working over Al Romenik with some ground and pound. Al Romenik looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Al Romenik is rocked!
Kirk slows the pace down in half guard.
Al Romenik is still in real trouble! Can Kirk finish him?

Kirk has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Al Romenik defend it? Kirk steps over the head and cranks it - Al Romenik is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Kirk!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gorge Kirk!
Gorge Kirk is the new featherweight champion!
Gorge Kirk decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.