PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Van Putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kirby
vs
Van Putin

193 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Kirby!
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, Roger Van Putin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Putin tries to clinch but Kirby moves out of range.

Van Putin drives through and clinches with Kirby against the cage.

Van Putin pulls guard effortlessly.
Kirby won't allow Van Putin to sweep him here.
Van Putin trying to control the position.

Van Putin looking for a guillotine here but Kirby defends easily.
Van Putin trying to strike off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirby prevents Van Putin from getting back to his feet.
Kirby is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kirby fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Putin with the counter takedown but Kirby avoids it easily.
Kirby with a lazy takedown attempt

and Van Putin moves into the clinch.

Kirby has Van Putin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kirby pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Van Putin tumbling to the mat - Kirby dives into Van Putin's guard.

Van Putin working for a triangle but Kirby defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Putin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirby is one step ahead there.
Van Putin 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.
Kirby wants to control from the top but Van Putin keeps moving.
Van Putin wants to get back to his feet but Kirby is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Van Putin is wriggling around but Kirby manages to pass to half guard.
Van Putin wants to improve his position but Kirby is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Putin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Van Putin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirby scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kirby winds up and cracks Van Putin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Van Putin wants to control but Kirby passes into side.
Van Putin dodges the ground and pound from Kirby.
Kirby creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Van Putin taking a bit of punishment here - Kirby scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Putin tries to bench press Kirby off him but Kirby keeps the position.
Van Putin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kirby presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Van Putin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kirby lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Van Putin hang on?

Kirby is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Van Putin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Van Putin shrugs it off.
Van Putin tries to hold on but Kirby postures up.
Van Putin looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kirby is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Van Putin has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Kirby wants to finish this one by submission but Van Putin is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kirby.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirby tries to clinch up.
Van Putin throws a leg kick that misses.
Van Putin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Putin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kirby feinted with a counter takedown.

Kirby instigates a clinch.

Kirby manages to break the clinch.

Van Putin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Putin trying to control from half guard but Kirby is working away.
Kirby is looking for a sweep. Van Putin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kirby is trying to maintain the position but Van Putin is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Van Putin jumps into side control!
Kirby manages to get back to half guard.
Van Putin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Van Putin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kirby is just riding it out for now. Van Putin eventually gives up the hold.
Kirby is looking to improve his position.
Van Putin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kirby is pressing down on Van Putin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Van Putin drops back looking for a leg! Kirby is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kirby manages to kick Van Putin off! Van Putin jumps back into Kirby's guard.
Van Putin is breathing heavily.
Kirby has a closed guard, preventing Van Putin from standing up.
Van Putin won't allow Kirby to sweep him here.
Kirby is trying to keep Van Putin in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kirby is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Putin can do to turn this around?

Kirby has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirby gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bernard Kirby overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Putin keeping moving, preventing Kirby from controlling successfully.
Kirby postures up.

Kirby avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirby postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Putin wants to sweep but no luck.
Kirby stands up over Van Putin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kirby is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Van Putin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirby is concentrating on defense, preventing Van Putin from advancing position.
Kirby trying to control from the bottom.

Van Putin seems to be working for a kimura but Kirby defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roger Van Putin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kirby wants to clinch.
And Van Putin tries to counter it with a takedown but Kirby pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Van Putin takes the fight into the clinch.

Van Putin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Putin rushes Kirby and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kirby is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Putin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kirby backwards.

Van Putin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Van Putin manages to end up in side control.
Kirby gets back to half guard.
Kirby wants to improve his position but Van Putin is controlling well.
Kirby punching from the bottom.
Kirby wants to get back to full guard.
Van Putin trying to control from half guard but Kirby is working away.
Kirby moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kirby bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Van Putin's guard.

Van Putin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirby postures up in Van Putin's guard and throws a big left but Van Putin blocks it.

Kirby drops back, looking for a kneebar! Van Putin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Van Putin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Van Putin!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kirby is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Van Putin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kirby wants to get back to full guard but Van Putin has mounted him!
Kirby gets back to half guard.
Van Putin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirby keeps working.
Van Putin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Putin is keen to just control but Kirby is a slippery customer.
Kirby tries to roll over but Van Putin keeps him under control.

Van Putin is working for a kimura but Kirby is defending it quite comfortably.
Van Putin is looking to advance position but Kirby won't allow it.
Van Putin wants to stand up but Kirby is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kirby is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirby is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Van Putin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Van Putin's back!

Kirby looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Van Putin taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Bernard Kirby!