PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gunthark Firebrand (ranked 1854 p4p, 2421 weight class) and Kiso Kisei (ranked 237 p4p, 297 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Firebrand
vs
Kisei

200 cm
26
215
6 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
215
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Hardcore Alchemy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunthark Firebrand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kiso Kisei!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Firebrand.
Kisei scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kisei misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Firebrand.
It looked like Firebrand wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kisei throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Firebrand throwing a counter right hand but Kisei manages to avoid it.
Firebrand looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Firebrand takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kisei slips a jab from Firebrand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kisei paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Gunthark Firebrand has been cut.
Firebrand on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Kisei drives through with a takedown into Firebrand's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kisei trying to control but Firebrand is working from the bottom.
Kisei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Firebrand is keeping the position for now.
Kisei trying to control but Firebrand is working from the bottom.
Kisei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Firebrand is keeping the position for now.
Kisei trying to control but Firebrand is working from the bottom.
Firebrand on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Firebrand tries to get out of the position.

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.

Kisei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kisei drops back looking for a leg! Firebrand is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Firebrand manages to kick Kisei off! Kisei jumps back into Firebrand's guard.
Firebrand keeping full guard, as Kisei tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kisei drops back looking for a leg! Firebrand is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Firebrand manages to kick Kisei off! Kisei jumps back into Firebrand's guard.

Kisei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kisei pushing down on Firebrand's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Kisei is trying to work for a kimura but Firebrand is defending well.
Firebrand is not content to let Kisei control the position.

Kisei 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kisei wants to pass to mount but Firebrand is defending the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiso Kisei dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gunthark Firebrand's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The crowd cheers as Kisei lands an impressive looking overhand right. Firebrand doesn't seem phased though.
Kisei rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Firebrand counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kisei misses with a hook.
Kisei misses the jab.
Kisei throws a lazy right hand but Firebrand sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Firebrand throwing a counter right hand but Kisei manages to avoid it.
Kisei throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Firebrand stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kisei throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Firebrand counters with a nice uppercut.
Kisei chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kisei throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Firebrand sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Firebrand on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kisei swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Firebrand.
Kisei slips a jab from Firebrand.
Kisei now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kisei throws a shot to the body.
Kisei looks to land a right hand but Firebrand moved out of range.
Kisei lands a jab.
Kisei misses with an uppercut. Firebrand saw that one coming.
Firebrand ducks under a wild hook from Kisei.

Kisei lands a big head kick that sends Firebrand tumbling to the mat! Kisei takes a step backwards and waves Firebrand back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Firebrand is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kisei misses with a hook.
Firebrand is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Oh Firebrand is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kiso Kisei seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Kisei misses the target.
Firebrand seems to have got his legs back now.
Kisei throws a shot from downtown. Firebrand moves away and avoids it.
Firebrand tests Kisei's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A low kick from Kisei is predictable there
and Firebrand counters with a straight right hand.
A big left from Kisei misses.
Kisei throws an off balance right hand
and Firebrand counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kisei just misses with a punch to the body.
Firebrand swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kisei tests Firebrand's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Gunthark Firebrand's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Firebrand takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kisei lands a nice hook to Firebrand's body. Firebrand takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Firebrand has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Firebrand there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kisei cracks a nice hook into Firebrand's ribs.
Kisei throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Firebrand stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kisei scores with a jab to the body.
Kisei swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kisei uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firebrand swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kisei counters with a straight right hand.
Kisei throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kisei throws a right hand that misses
letting Firebrand counter with a right hand.
Firebrand misses with a hook. Kisei ducked under it nicely.
Firebrand keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kisei.
Firebrand swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kisei misses with an uppercut. Firebrand saw that one coming.
Firebrand throwing a counter right hand but Kisei manages to avoid it.
Firebrand is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kisei lands a big shot that drops Firebrand! Can he finish him?

Gunthark Firebrand's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Kisei drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kisei jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiso Kisei showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gunthark Firebrand's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kisei rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Firebrand counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kisei scores with a body shot.
Kisei throws a head kick that misses.
Firebrand throws a jab when Kisei was well out of range.
Firebrand loads up on a big right hand but Kisei slips the punch.
A nice side step and Kisei releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kisei thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kisei has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Firebrand throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kisei counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kisei is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Firebrand.
Kisei works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kisei misses with a double jab.
Firebrand throws a looping overhand right but Kisei ducks down to avoid it.
Firebrand misses the shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Kisei. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kisei.
Firebrand walks into a jab.
Kisei walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Firebrand drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Kisei swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Firebrand's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kiso Kisei!
After the fight, Kiso Kisei was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.