PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Kirk (ranked 23902 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boxidar Franjic (ranked 3389 p4p, 0 weight class). Boxidar Franjic is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kirk
vs
Franjic

189 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tommy Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Boxidar Franjic!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franjic is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kirk's half guard.
Kirk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franjic working Kirk over with strikes.
Kirk has his hands clasped together around Franjic's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirk manages to get to full guard.
Kirk managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franjic is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franjic defends well.
Kirk is pulling down on Franjic's head to control his posture.
Kirk continues to stall.
Kirk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franjic is one step ahead there.
Franjic trying to control but Kirk is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kirk is controlling Franjic's posture.
Franjic wants to control from the top but Kirk keeps moving.
Kirk controlling the position.
Franjic postures up in Kirk's guard and throws a big left but Kirk blocks it.
Kirk wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boxidar Franjic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Franjic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kirk!
Kirk is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk can't do much from the bottom here.
Kirk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kirk gets full guard.
Kirk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franjic manages to get himself to full guard.

Kirk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kirk really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kirk seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Franjic for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Franjic's head.
Kirk is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kirk stopping the sweep attempt from Franjic.
Kirk wants to control from the top but Franjic keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirk works over Franjic with some ground and pound from guard.
Kirk throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Boxidar Franjic will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Franjic to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kirk pulls Franjic in close to prevent any damage.

Kirk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franjic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Franjic landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franjic avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Franjic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk pulls Franjic in close to prevent any damage.

Kirk working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franjic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franjic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kirk pulls Franjic in close to his closed guard and prevents Franjic from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kirk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kirk trying to control the position here.
Franjic preventing the sweep.

Kirk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franjic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Kirk controls Franjic momentarily but Franjic frees himself.
Franjic won't allow Kirk to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franjic scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kirk lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Franjic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kirk controls the pace.
Franjic wants to sweep but no luck.
Franjic keeping moving, preventing Kirk from controlling successfully.
Kirk throws a big elbow that misses.
Kirk postures up in Franjic's guard and throws a big left but Franjic blocks it.
Kirk slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kirk landing some decent shots from guard.

Kirk gets to his feet. Franjic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Franjic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kirk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirk trying to control here.
Franjic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kirk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Franjic trying to pass the guard but Kirk defending well.
Kirk is trying to get back to full guard.
Boxidar Franjic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirk moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boxidar Franjic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Franjic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kirk is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Franjic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Franjic's back!
Franjic tries to escape the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Kirk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk cracks Franjic with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Franjic from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Kirk is hanging on to Franjic's back as he tries to escape.

Kirk working for a choke but Franjic is defending well.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk is punishing Franjic with some ground and pound.
Franjic is really stuck here.
Kirk scores with strikes from the back.

Kirk has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Franjic has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kirk controlling the position well here. Franjic rolled but Kirk kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Franjic is having to fend off submission attempts from Kirk, who is looking to sink in the choke. Kirk doesn't have the hooks in though and Franjic manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franjic with a nice head shot there.
Kirk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franjic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirk is adopting a defensive guard.
Kirk tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk pulls Franjic in to control the position.
Kirk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kirk pulls Franjic in close to prevent any damage.
Kirk is trying to keep Franjic in close.
Franjic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirk is keeping the position for now.
Franjic being controlled here momentarily.
Kirk tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kirk keeping full guard, as Franjic tries to pass.

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

Kirk looking to score a takedown here. Franjic is defending well but Kirk drives through and ends up in Franjic's guard.
Kirk content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kirk won't allow Franjic to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Kirk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franjic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boxidar Franjic!