PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wilson Kirk (ranked 25174 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Ham (ranked 5557 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kirk
vs
Ham

175 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

225 cm
23
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wilson Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeff Ham!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirk gets caught flat footed, as Ham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ham is standing up over Kirk. Kirk looks to escape but Ham dives into side control.

Ham throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kirk regains half guard, as Ham was trying to land strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ham is looking to take a break and control but Kirk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kirk is trying to maintain the position but Ham is very close to passing his half guard.
Kirk really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ham is looking to advance position but Kirk won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk wants to get back to his feet.
Ham keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ham wants to free his trapped foot but Kirk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ham wants to take a breather but Kirk is having none of it.
Kirk pushes Ham off looking to stand but Ham dives back in and keeps control.
Ham wants to stand up but Kirk manages to regain full guard.
Ham is looking to pass into half guard but Kirk pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kirk is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ham has his foot on Kirk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kirk works his way back into a safe position though.
Ham controlling the position.
Ham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirk is one step ahead there.

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

It looks like Wilson Kirk has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ham moves into the clinch successfully.

Ham lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Ham decides to stand and escape the position.

Kirk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ham to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ham engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Kirk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ham is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kirk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ham has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Ham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wilson Kirk's cut.
That's time! Kirk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kirk gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kirk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ham throws a big right hand that misses.
Ham throws a strike but Kirk rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ham looking for a guillotine here but Kirk defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kirk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jeff Ham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirk preventing the sweep.
Ham wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two 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.
Ham is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirk is controlling him.
Kirk lands a couple of elbows.
Kirk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kirk got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kirk has managed to get both his arms back between Ham's legs - danger averted.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ham looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kirk keeping moving, preventing Ham from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk wants to stand up but Ham is controlling him.
Ham sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kirk's guard.
Ham is trying to control the action in half guard but Kirk is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ham tries to stand and escape but Kirk actually recovers to full guard.
Kirk being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kirk looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ham is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirk shoots in but no luck this time.
Ham lands with a kick to the temple. Kirk shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Ham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Wilson Kirk's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ham looks to land a combination. Kirk sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Jeff Ham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ham misses with a body kick.
Wilson Kirk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ham clinches.
Ham is pressed up against the cage. Kirk has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ham down to the mat. Ham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ham is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ham tries to clinch up.

Ham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ham working the ground and pound but Kirk is defending the strikes.

Ham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ham working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ham swings around for an armbar but Kirk sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ham's guard.
Ham looking to control but Kirk passes into half guard.
Kirk prevents Ham from improving his position.
Ham is concentrating on defense, preventing Kirk from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ham is trying to control but can't.

Kirk is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ham defends it well.
Ham tries to roll over but Kirk keeps him under control.
Ham moves into full guard.
Ham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk landing with the ground and pound.
Ham looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kirk puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ham trying to control but Kirk postures up.
Ham wants to sweep but Kirk has passed to side control!
Ham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kirk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ham has escaped the position, nice work there.

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.
Kirk wants to control but Ham is keeping him busy.

Kirk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kirk moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wilson Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeff Ham is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ham darts in and clinches Kirk up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeff Ham.
I've got Ham winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Ham!