PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henri Kirchen (ranked 2751 p4p, 0 weight class) and Black Belt Two (ranked 7433 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kirchen
vs
Belt Two

192 cm
19
237 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
245 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Henri Kirchen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Black Belt Two!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Belt Two misses

and Kirchen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kirchen not doing much here.
Kirchen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belt Two keeps working.
Belt Two punching from the bottom.
Belt Two misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirchen is keen to just control but Belt Two is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirchen tries to pass to full mount but Belt Two defends it.
Belt Two wants to get back to full guard.
Kirchen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Belt Two on the ground.
Kirchen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Belt Two!
Kirchen tries to control but Belt Two wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirchen blocks Belt Two's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Belt Two tries to reverse the position but Kirchen maintains control.
Kirchen tries to control but Belt Two wriggling away.
Belt Two tries to hold on but Kirchen pushes him away.
Kirchen blocks Belt Two's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Kirchen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Belt Two throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kirchen prevents Belt Two from getting the reversal.
Kirchen controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belt Two tries to improve his position but instead Kirchen has taken his back!
Kirchen keeps control of the position easily here as Belt Two tries to buck him off.
Kirchen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Belt Two has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kirchen is persistently looking for the submission but Belt Two is defending it well.

Kirchen looking for the RNC.
Belt Two can't escape the position.
Kirchen avoiding Belt Two 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt Two tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Belt Two is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Kirchen wants to finish this one by submission but Belt Two is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kirchen.
Belt Two tries to hold on but Kirchen postures up.
Belt Two swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Belt Two swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Belt Two is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Kirchen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Kirchen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Belt Two manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirchen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belt Two keeps working.
Belt Two throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Belt Two manages to get back to half guard.
Belt Two is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirchen moves nicely into side control.
Kirchen wants to control but Belt Two is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirchen tries to move to mount but Belt Two blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henri Kirchen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Belt Two feints and as Kirchen raises his hands in defense, Belt Two changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belt Two postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kirchen wants to sweep but no luck.

Belt Two avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirchen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Belt Two can do to turn this around?
Belt Two is looking to work some ground and pound but Kirchen has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Belt Two accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belt Two postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kirchen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kirchen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kirchen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Belt Two is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belt Two throwing shots but Kirchen is blocking nicely.
My spies in Island Sparring inform me that Belt Two has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kirchen is looking to improve his position.
Belt Two wants to stand up but Kirchen manages to regain full guard.
Kirchen keeping moving, preventing Belt Two from controlling successfully.

Kirchen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Belt Two doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Belt Two manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kirchen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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.
Kirchen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kirchen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kirchen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kirchen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belt Two can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Belt Two trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirchen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Belt Two trying to control but Kirchen is working from the bottom.
Kirchen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kirchen tries to get out of the position.
Belt Two postures up in Kirchen's guard and throws a big left but Kirchen blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirchen looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kirchen scores with a takedown into Belt Two's guard.
Belt Two striking off his back but it's not causing Kirchen any problems.
Belt Two trying to keep a closed guard but Kirchen is proving a slippery customer.
Belt Two looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirchen trying to control the position from guard on top but Belt Two is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belt Two throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Belt Two trying to control the position.
Belt Two will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belt Two doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Belt Two fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kirchen sprawls well initially but Belt Two persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Belt Two not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Belt Two seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirchen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Belt Two sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kirchen defending well though.
Kirchen tries to roll over but Belt Two keeps him under control.
Belt Two throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirchen wants to get back to full guard.
Belt Two not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Belt Two wants to control but Kirchen is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Black Belt Two showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kirchen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Belt Two napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kirchen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belt Two keeps working.
Belt Two misses with a strike from the bottom.
Belt Two tries to buck Kirchen off but Kirchen is having none of it.
Belt Two is trying to control Kirchen's posture but Kirchen avoids it.

Kirchen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Belt Two is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Belt Two is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belt Two tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kirchen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belt Two misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belt Two throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Belt Two missing with punches from the bottom.
Belt Two flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kirchen moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Belt Two.

Kirchen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kirchen tries to advance position but instead Belt Two slips a leg back in to half guard.
Belt Two throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kirchen is thwarting Belt Two's attempts to control the position.
Kirchen wants to take a breather but Belt Two is having none of it.
Kirchen prevents Belt Two from improving his position.
Belt Two flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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

Kirchen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Belt Two tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Belt Two tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Kirchen manages to move to mount!
Kirchen controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt Two tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Belt Two throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kirchen wants to take his opponent's back but Belt Two doesn't allow it.
Belt Two swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Belt Two tries to control Kirchen's body but Kirchen pushes him off. Belt Two squirms to his side and now Kirchen has his back!
Belt Two turns into Kirchen and is now in his guard.
Belt Two throwing strikes from guard but Kirchen blocks nicely.
Belt Two is looking to work some ground and pound but Kirchen has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirchen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Belt Two defends it easily.
Belt Two throws an elbow that misses. Kirchen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belt Two's guard. Nice move by Kirchen!

Kirchen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Belt Two thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belt Two throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Belt Two thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henri Kirchen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kirchen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henri Kirchen!