PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Kirk (ranked 23689 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Suntszu (ranked 5259 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kirk
vs
Suntszu

189 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 3 - 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, Joe Suntszu!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid body kick from Kirk.
Suntszu misses with a right hand
letting Kirk counter with a right hand.
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.
Suntszu throws a leg kick
and Kirk counters with a body kick.

Kirk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Suntszu!
Kirk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Suntszu keeps working.
Sloppy strikes there by Kirk.
Kirk scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kirk working away.
Suntszu takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kirk tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Suntszu regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Suntszu manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suntszu has momentary wrist control but Kirk slips an elbow through the middle.
Suntszu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kirk wants to get up but he can't break Suntszu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Suntszu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kirk's guard.

Suntszu postures up in Kirk's guard and throws a big left but Kirk blocks it.
Kirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Kirk knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Suntszu on the ground.
Suntszu trying to control but Kirk is working from the bottom.

Suntszu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kirk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kirk has escaped and now he's on top!

Suntszu managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk trying to control but Suntszu is working from the bottom.
Suntszu looking to control.

Suntszu working for a triangle but Kirk defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Suntszu controls Kirk momentarily but Kirk frees himself.
Kirk stays in close to Suntszu's body and controls the position.
Suntszu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suntszu pulls Kirk in to control the position.
Kirk wants to get up but he can't break Suntszu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
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.

Suntszu looking for a guillotine here but Kirk defends easily.

Suntszu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Suntszu trying to control the position.
Suntszu working a defensive guard but Kirk manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk tries to stand but Suntszu is controlling his head.
Kirk working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kirk scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Suntszu to see if he's OK.
Kirk wants to control but Suntszu is keeping him busy.

Kirk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Suntszu is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kirk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kirk wants to stand but Suntszu has his arm trapped.
Suntszu tries to buck Kirk off but Kirk is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Suntszu gets back to half guard.
Kirk is looking to pass Suntszu's guard but actually Suntszu recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Kirk dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Suntszu is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kirk's half guard.
Kirk trying to control here.

Suntszu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kirk doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Suntszu.
Suntszu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suntszu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kirk's head.
Kirk wants to improve his position but Suntszu is controlling well.
Suntszu throwing shots but Kirk is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suntszu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Suntszu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kirk's head.
Suntszu throwing shots but Kirk is blocking nicely.
Kirk throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kirk keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Suntszu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Suntszu 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.
Suntszu is thwarting Kirk's attempts to control the position.
Suntszu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Suntszu thows a huge punch but Kirk dodges it nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Suntszu misses with a lunging right hand
and Kirk counters with a head kick. That will keep Suntszu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Suntszu misses with a right hand
enabling Kirk to counter with a crisp jab.
Kirk lands a nice looking body kick.
Joe Suntszu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kirk counters with a big head kick but Suntszu shrugs it off.

Suntszu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Suntszu stands up over Kirk, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kirk has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Suntszu throwing strikes from guard but Kirk blocks nicely.
Suntszu throwing strikes from guard but Kirk blocks nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kirk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Suntszu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suntszu throwing strikes but missing.
Kirk keeping moving, preventing Suntszu from controlling successfully.
Kirk keeping full guard, as Suntszu tries to pass.
Kirk utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joe Suntszu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Suntszu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Suntszu misses with a left hand
and Kirk counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Suntszu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kirk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Suntszu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kirk was covering up waiting for the punch and Suntszu finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suntszu lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Suntszu postures up in Kirk's guard and throws a big left but Kirk blocks it.
Kirk wants to sweep but no luck.
Suntszu throwing strikes from guard but Kirk blocks nicely.
Kirk trying to control the position.
Suntszu is in close to Kirk's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Suntszu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kirk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Suntszu.
Suntszu is pushing down on Kirk's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kirk is fighting to maintain full guard but Suntszu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kirk controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Suntszu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kirk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Kirk.
Suntszu throws a poor cross that misses
and Kirk counters with a big head kick but Suntszu shrugs it off.
Suntszu is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Suntszu misses with a lunging right hand
letting Kirk counter with a right hand.
Kirk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kirk fails with an attempt to clinch.
Suntszu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Suntszu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Suntszu scores with a decent looking hook.
Kirk lands with a kick to the ribs.
A jab lands there for Suntszu.
A big left from Suntszu misses.
Suntszu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kirk connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Suntszu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirk shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Suntszu as he avoids it easily.
Tommy Kirk is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suntszu digs a good body shot into Kirk's ribs.
Kirk moves out of range of the strikes.
Kirk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Suntszu.
Kirk blocks a leg kick.
Suntszu tries to clinch but Kirk moves away
and Kirk counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Suntszu throws a right hand that misses
and Kirk counters with a head kick. That will keep Suntszu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kirk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Suntszu throws out the jab.
Suntszu throws an overhand right that lands on Kirk's shoulder, as Kirk tries to avoid the shot.
A left lands for Kirk.

Kirk takes the fight into the clinch.

Kirk's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Suntszu throws a combination that misses
and Kirk connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suntszu misses with a straight right.
Kirk seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Suntszu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Kirk counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirk tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Suntszu defends well and Kirk ends up having to push Suntszu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Suntszu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kirk swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Suntszu misses with a double jab
and Kirk counters with a series of strikes. Suntszu will be more careful next time no doubt.
Suntszu misses with a hook. Kirk ducked under it nicely.
Suntszu misses with an uppercut.
Kirk dives in for a single leg takedown but Suntszu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Suntszu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kirk was covering up waiting for the punch and Suntszu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kirk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk keeping moving, preventing Suntszu from controlling successfully.
Kirk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Suntszu.
Suntszu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kirk trying to control the position.
Suntszu postures up in Kirk's guard and throws a big left but Kirk blocks it.

Suntszu drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Suntszu seems to have locked his on tight now - Kirk screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Suntszu, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Joe Suntszu!