PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bass Rotten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Kirby told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rotten
vs
Kirby

185 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

166 cm
21
214 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

The Exiled Clothing

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bass Rotten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jim Kirby!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rotten throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rotten misses the jab.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rotten or perhaps it was just good defense by Kirby, which made it look bad.
Rotten stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rotten wants it to stay on the feet.
Kirby shoots in for a takedown but Rotten shows good takedown defense.
Rotten looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kirby is fending him off so far but Rotten persists. Nope, Kirby circles away and we're back to standing.
Kirby moves in looking to clinch but Rotten pushes him off.

Rotten dives in and scores a takedown into Kirby's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Rotten drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kirby manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rotten has Kirby in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirby is stalling in the full guard.

Rotten is looking for a triangle but Kirby pushes his legs off easily.

Rotten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rotten has momentary wrist control but Kirby slips an elbow through the middle.
Kirby trying to control but Rotten is working from the bottom.
Kirby is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Rotten looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rotten has an active guard here but Kirby has managed to pass into half guard.
Kirby seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotten definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kirby prevents Rotten from improving his position.
Kirby thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rotten's head.

Rotten looking for submissions off his back.
Rotten knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kirby on the ground.
Kirby passes to full mount!
Rotten on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rotten tries to get out of the position.
Rotten really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kirby has eaten all the pies!
Kirby misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotten is bucking up trying to escape but Kirby cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kirby looking to control but Rotten is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kirby is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Rotten defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kirby.
Kirby has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rotten is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kirby manages to capitalize on a mistake by Rotten to take his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kirby's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Kirby might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rotten haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rotten breaks Kirby's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Rotten postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kirby is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rotten, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rotten isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kirby stacks Rotten on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kirby!
Rotten is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kirby gets to mount! Rotten was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kirby 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.
Rotten is trying desperately to improve position.
Kirby pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Kirby dominated that round.
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.

Nice sprawl there from Kirby as Rotten shoots in.
Rotten dives in and grabs Kirby's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirby pushes down on Rotten's head and hops out.

Rotten closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kirby is trying to control Rotten's posture but Rotten avoids it.

Rotten looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rotten goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kirby has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rotten but great work by Kirby.
Jim Kirby has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirby tries to stand but Rotten is controlling his head.
Rotten is looking to regain half guard here but Kirby keeps moving and retains side control.
Kirby trying to control the position but Rotten is working away.

Kirby thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotten manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kirby's best efforts.
Rotten tries to get to full guard but Kirby has control of the leg.

Rotten looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirby sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rotten defending well though.

Rotten looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirby sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotten looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirby wants to free his trapped foot but Rotten is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kirby prevents Rotten from improving his position.

Rotten is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kirby pulls his head out easily.

Rotten looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rotten looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirby wants to stand but Rotten has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Rotten makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rotten.

Rotten looking for a guillotine here but Kirby defends easily.

Rotten throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kirby escapes and throws Rotten's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kirby tries to stand but Rotten is controlling his head.
Kirby wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rotten keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotten tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kirby wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kirby tries to stand but Rotten is controlling his head.
Rotten looks to move to half guard but instead Kirby has passed into mount! Damn!
Rotten blocking the ground and pound.
Rotten regains half guard.

Rotten looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirby prevents Rotten from improving his position.

Rotten actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bass Rotten dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rotten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kirby swivels and escapes.
Kirby slips a jab and a cross from Rotten.
Kirby tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rotten sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kirby somewhat.
Kirby tries to clinch up.
Rotten throws a series of punches but Kirby avoids them all with ease.

Rotten fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kirby sprawls well initially but Rotten persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kirby is defending against the submission attempts here by Rotten.
Kirby is trying to control but can't.

Rotten is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rotten is looking for a kimura but Kirby is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rotten to get the leverage.

Rotten is looking for a kimura but Kirby is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rotten to get the leverage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kirby is defending against the submission attempts here by Rotten.

Rotten is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Rotten is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kirby trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirby desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Rotten is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kirby is pressing down on Rotten's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kirby controlling Rotten's posture.
Rotten preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotten looking to pass the guard.
Rotten postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rotten has gone for a leg lock! Kirby slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rotten's guard.

Rotten working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kirby doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kirby manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rotten looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rotten has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kirby is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rotten.
Kirby is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rotten will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotten managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kirby.
Rotten looks to move to half guard but instead Kirby has passed into mount! Damn!
Rotten is squirming around, avoiding Kirby's attempts to control the action.
Rotten sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Rotten looking for subs from the bottom but Kirby mounts him!
Kirby lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rotten is working to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bass Rotten.
Well Rotten 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bass Rotten!