PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stuart Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chad Rekje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chad Rekje will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kirkland
vs
Rekje

162 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

179 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stuart Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chad Rekje!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kirkland prevents Rekje from breaking the clinch.
Kirkland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kirkland blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rekje wants to break free but Kirkland has control.

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

Rekje darts in and clinches Kirkland up against the cage.
Rekje working hard to break the clinch.

Kirkland drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirkland trying to control the position here.
Rekje loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kirkland has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rekje wants to get up but he can't break Kirkland's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kirkland pulls Rekje in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rekje accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kirkland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rekje is one step ahead there.
Kirkland is controlling Rekje's posture.
Rekje tries to stand but Kirkland is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rekje moves into the clinch.
Rekje is trying to push Kirkland away but Kirkland has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rekje is trying to break free.

Kirkland breaks from the clinch.
Rekje misses with a head kick.
Kirkland avoids the head kick by Rekje.

Rekje drives through and clinches with Kirkland against the cage.

Rekje is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kirkland can't fight it off and eventually Rekje manages to take the fight to the floor. Kirkland looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kirkland wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekje trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirkland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rekje pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirkland is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirkland controlling Rekje's posture.
Rekje wanted to stand there but Kirkland had control of the position.
Kirkland seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kirkland is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rekje sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rekje tries to sprawl but Kirkland drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kirkland maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Rekje could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Kirkland has cracked it and Rekje is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Kirkland!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Stuart Kirkland!