PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Kivela (ranked 3049 p4p, 131 weight class) and Callan Elijah (ranked 3161 p4p, 61 weight class). Daniel Kivela has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kivela
vs
Elijah

185 cm
25
275 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Daniel Kivela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Callan Elijah!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivela misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Elijah misses its intended target.
Elijah fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Elijah throws out a loose jab but Kivela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kivela shoots in and drives through. Elijah sprawls well.
Elijah slaps away a takedown attempt from Kivela, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kivela defending well as Elijah loads up on a big left hand.
Kivela throws out a loose jab but Elijah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Elijah misses with a straight right.

Kivela fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Elijah sprawls well initially but Kivela persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivela is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Elijah tries to roll over but Kivela keeps him under control.

Kivela is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elijah wants to get back to full guard.

Kivela seems to be working for a kimura but Elijah defends the submission attempt.
Kivela looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Elijah is looking for a sweep. Kivela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kivela is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Elijah is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elijah is pressing down on Kivela's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kivela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Elijah tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kivela wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kivela tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kivela has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Elijah is not content to let Kivela control the position.

Kivela wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Elijah, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Elijah tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kivela wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Elijah is not content to let Kivela control the position.
Elijah is trying to improve his position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivela wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elijah keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kivela happy to just control the position for now.
Kivela trying to control the position but Elijah is working away.
Elijah looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Elijah is looking to reverse the position.

Kivela looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Elijah tries to improve position but can't.
Kivela taking a breather here.

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.
Elijah is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kivela is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Kivela working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Elijah is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kivela trying to control the position but Elijah is working away.
You can see the frustration on Elijah's face as Kivela controls the position.
Kivela wants to lay and pray for a moment but Elijah keeps working.

Kivela working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Kivela dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kivela changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elijah tries to avoid it but Kivela manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elijah to the ground. Elijah escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kivela misses with a hook

and Elijah decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kivela's guard.

Elijah drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Elijah jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Elijah sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kivela's guard.

Elijah is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kivela defends it well.
Kivela moves into full guard.
Kivela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kivela lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Daniel Kivela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivela trying to control the position from guard on top but Elijah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Elijah looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kivela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Elijah has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kivela has managed to get both his arms back between Elijah's legs - danger averted.
Elijah keeping moving, preventing Kivela from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elijah looking for a guillotine here but Kivela defends easily.
Kivela trying to control the position from guard on top but Elijah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kivela is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kivela thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Elijah is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kivela is aware though and is defending well.

Elijah looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kivela drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kivela jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kivela trying to control the position from guard on top but Elijah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elijah keeping full guard, as Kivela tries to pass.

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.
Elijah keeping moving, preventing Kivela from controlling successfully.

Elijah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kivela doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kivela manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kivela advances position into side control!
Elijah manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kivela trying to control here.
Kivela looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Elijah looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Elijah is breathing heavily.

Elijah is looking for a kimura but Kivela is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Elijah to get the leverage.
Kivela makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kivela.
Elijah pushing down on Kivela's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elijah is working for a kimura but Kivela is defending it quite comfortably.
Kivela is pressing down on Elijah's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Elijah is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kivela has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Elijah is looking to defend but Kivela has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Elijah! Kivela pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Elijah taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Daniel Kivela!
A relieved looking Daniel Kivela thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.