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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Kirkland comes into the arena with DJ Vadim - The Terrorist blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 180 cm
37
164 lbs
33 - 20 - 0 |
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180 cm
36
168 lbs
24 - 24 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
33 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vladimir Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
24 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Rua!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Van Kirkland wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rua is looking to chop away at Van Kirkland's legs.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Van Kirkland feints a jab promting Rua to slip. Van Kirkland then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rua slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Van Kirkland moves out of range of the leg kick from Rua.
Rua throws a looping overhand right but Van Kirkland ducks down to avoid it.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rua moves out of range as Van Kirkland throws a body kick.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rua scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Van Kirkland has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Kirkland.
Rua avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rua attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rua slips under a jab from Van Kirkland.
A jab from Van Kirkland misses.
Rua throws a leg kick but Van Kirkland sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Van Kirkland.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rua throws a low kick but Van Kirkland moves out of range easily.
Van Kirkland lands with a hook. Rua tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Van Kirkland tries a head kick but it misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Van Kirkland throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nice cross by Rua.
Van Kirkland scores with a one two! Rua had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Van Kirkland scores with the left hand. Rua knows he should have avoided that one.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Van Kirkland checks a leg kick.
Van Kirkland swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Van Kirkland misses with an uppercut.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook
and Rua counters with an inside leg kick.
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!
Rua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A jab from Van Kirkland misses.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua throws a low kick but Van Kirkland avoids it.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Van Kirkland lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rua doesn't seem phased though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Van Kirkland misses.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping right.
Rua misses with a leg kick.
Rua walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Van Kirkland misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good shot there by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rua tries to clinch up but Van Kirkland circles away and keeps his distance.
A counter left hand to the body from Van Kirkland misses its target.
The crowd cheers as Van Kirkland lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rua doesn't seem phased though.
Rua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rua walks into a left hand.
Van Kirkland misses with a low kick.
Rua scoring well with a low kick there.
A big left from Van Kirkland misses.
Rua throws a body kick that misses.
Rua misses with a low kick as Van Kirkland jumps back.
Van Kirkland on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rua. Rua obviously looking to wear him down.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua blocks a jab.
Rua throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Kirkland ducks right into an uppercut from Rua.
A left lands for Van Kirkland.
Rua slips a jab from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rua momentarily.
Van Kirkland lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rua jabs Van Kirkland to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rua.
Van Kirkland throws an overhand right that lands on Rua's shoulder, as Rua tries to avoid the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A leg kick checked by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws a leg kick but Rua checks it.
Van Kirkland dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Kirkland throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Van Kirkland.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rua.
Van Kirkland connects with a jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook.
Van Kirkland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Van Kirkland connects with an inside leg kick.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Van Kirkland.
Rua feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Kirkland's calf.
Van Kirkland is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Rua uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Kirkland fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rua just manages to avoid it.
Van Kirkland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rua.
Rua was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Van Kirkland checks a leg kick.
Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Kirkland is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua defending well as Van Kirkland loads up on a big left hand.
Van Kirkland's corner calls for a 1-2. Van Kirkland obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Van Kirkland swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Kirkland counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Vladimir Van Kirkland dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Rua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rua uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Kirkland.
Rua tries a low kick but Van Kirkland avoids it.
Van Kirkland throws a combination that misses
and Rua counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping left.
Rua steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Van Kirkland.
A solid body kick from Van Kirkland.
Rua takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rua closes the distance looking to clinch
and Van Kirkland counters with a stiff right hand.
Van Kirkland throws a hook to the side of Rua's head but Rua sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rua moves away from the strike by Van Kirkland.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Van Kirkland.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Kirkland throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Rua keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping left.
Rua misses with a hook to the body
and Van Kirkland makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Van Kirkland throws a front kick aimed at Rua's knee but Rua avoids it well.
Rua tries a quick counter leg kick but Van Kirkland is wise to it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Kirkland. Van Kirkland obviously looking to wear him down.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Rua might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Van Kirkland has got the better of the exchanges.
Van Kirkland tries to land a front kick but Rua steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Kirkland throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Van Kirkland looks to land a left hand but Rua moved out of range nicely.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Van Kirkland lands an overhand right.
A jab from Rua misses.
Van Kirkland avoids the head kick by Rua.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rua.
Rua jabs Van Kirkland to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rua keeps Van Kirkland at a distance using the push kick.
Rua scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Van Kirkland takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rua swings away with a body shot that misses
and Van Kirkland counters with a two punch combo.
Rua throws a low kick but Van Kirkland moves out of range easily.
Rua throws a chopping leg kick but Van Kirkland manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vladimir Van Kirkland is winning the standup battle so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws a hook to the side of Rua's head but Rua sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rua throws a half hearted mid kick.
Van Kirkland fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rua has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rua in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rua lands a nice looking kick to the body. Van Kirkland takes a step back to recover.
Van Kirkland misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crunch! Rua slams his shin into Van Kirkland's torso.
Rua is looking to clinch.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rua slips under a jab.
Van Kirkland misses with a low kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rua fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rua slips a jab and a cross from Van Kirkland.
Rua looks to throw the jab but Van Kirkland is out of range.
Van Kirkland looks for the body kick but Rua saw that one coming.
Rua slips a jab from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A clash of legs there as Van Kirkland blocks the low kick.
It looked like Van Kirkland wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rua tries to score with a low kick but Van Kirkland moves his leg out of the way.
Van Kirkland checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A counter left hand to the body from Van Kirkland misses its target.
Van Kirkland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rua.
Van Kirkland misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Kirkland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Van Kirkland misses with a double jab.
Rua tries to score with a low kick but Van Kirkland moves his leg out of the way.
Rua will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Kirkland feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rua's calf.
Rua lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rua moves away from the strike by Van Kirkland.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rua blocks a head kick by Van Kirkland.
Despite the aggression on Rua's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua lands a leg kick that knocks Van Kirkland off balance momentarily.
Rua blocks a jab.
Van Kirkland wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
Van Kirkland feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rua's calf.
Rua fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Kirkland checks it well.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook. Rua ducked under it nicely.
Rua throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A jab from Van Kirkland misses.
Rua misses with a low kick.
Van Kirkland cracks the inside of Rua's front leg.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A leg kick checked by Van Kirkland.
Rua tries to clinch but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Good work by Van Kirkland as he checks the leg kick.
Van Kirkland pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Vladimir Van Kirkland dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Rua avoids the head kick by Van Kirkland.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland misses with a wild combination.
A little jabbing left from Rua on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Van Kirkland scores with a kick to the body.
Van Kirkland throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Van Kirkland lands the left hand.
Van Kirkland clobbers Rua with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Van Kirkland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rua.
Rua only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Rua wants to land a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Van Kirkland.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Kirkland looks to land a right hand but Rua moved out of range.
Van Kirkland backing away here, and Rua unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Van Kirkland throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rua wants to slow Van Kirkland down by chopping away at his legs.
Van Kirkland uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rua has time to react.
Van Kirkland throws out a loose jab but Rua uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rua checks a leg kick.
Rua flicks out a counter leg kick but Van Kirkland steps away.
Rua swings for the body but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Van Kirkland saw it coming and moves away.
Rua slips under a jab from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland lands the left hand.
Rua throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Kirkland scores with a jab. Rua acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Van Kirkland wants to land a leg kick but Rua is out of range.
Rua has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rua fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Van Kirkland checks it well.
A low kick from Van Kirkland misses
and Rua counters with a three punch combo that has Van Kirkland backing up. Van Kirkland nods at Rua to acknowledge the strikes.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Rua blocks it.
Van Kirkland throws a shot from downtown. Rua moves away and avoids it.
Van Kirkland stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rua.
Van Kirkland throws a head kick that Rua semi-blocks.
Rua cracks the inside of Van Kirkland's front leg.
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!
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Kirkland.
Rua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gabriel Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua motions for Van Kirkland to come forward. Rua throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Van Kirkland misses with a wild body shot.
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rua misses with an attempted mid kick.
Van Kirkland lands a jab-cross combination.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Rua throws a chopping leg kick but Van Kirkland manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Van Kirkland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Kirkland scores with a nice strike.
Van Kirkland scores with a leg kick.
Van Kirkland moves out of range of the leg kick from Rua.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Van Kirkland crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rua - the referee stops the clock and Van Kirkland gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rua. Van Kirkland manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Rua blocks it.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rua crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Van Kirkland - the referee stops the clock and Rua gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Van Kirkland. Rua manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rua throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Kirkland sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab lands there for Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua slips a jab from Van Kirkland.
Rua tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Van Kirkland crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rua - the referee stops the clock and Van Kirkland gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rua. Van Kirkland manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Van Kirkland scoring well with a low kick there.
A low kick from Rua is predictable there
and Van Kirkland makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rua wants to land a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range.
Rua lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rua misses with a leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Van Kirkland tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Kirkland throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Van Kirkland scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rua doesn't seem bothered though.
Van Kirkland lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rua throws a low kick, looking for Van Kirkland's leg but Van Kirkland calmly moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Van Kirkland on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A low kick from Rua misses
and Van Kirkland connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Van Kirkland connects with an inside leg kick.
Rua dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Kirkland. That did some damage!
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!
A clash of legs there as Van Kirkland blocks the low kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rua counters with a nice body kick.
Van Kirkland lands with a nice combination. Rua backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A low kick from Rua misses
and Van Kirkland counters with an inside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Kirkland.
Rua throws a chopping leg kick but Van Kirkland manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rua looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vladimir Van Kirkland is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Van Kirkland scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rua.
Van Kirkland connects with a solid leg kick.
Van Kirkland lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Good leg kick by Rua there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rua goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Kirkland tries to bum rush Rua with a series of wild strikes but Rua uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rua takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rua throws a leg kick but Van Kirkland sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rua tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Van Kirkland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Van Kirkland 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Van Kirkland!
After winning the bout, Vladimir Van Kirkland thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Gabriel Rua spoke after the fight, saying 'For Fucks sake.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
87% |
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