PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Israel Kirzner (ranked 23306 p4p, 4035 weight class) and Grant Dukes (ranked 0 p4p, 477 weight class). Grant Dukes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kirzner
vs
Dukes

170 cm
22
158
2 - 3 - 0

168 cm
28
157
7 - 4 - 2

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Israel Kirzner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 2, fighting out of New York, Grant Dukes!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dukes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dukes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kirzner.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Dukes! But no joy.
Kirzner takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Grant Dukes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirzner tries to move into range but Dukes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kirzner walks into a stiff left hand from Dukes.
Kirzner throws a big shot that misses.
Dukes looks to land a left hand but Kirzner moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Kirzner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dukes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dukes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kirzner moves away.
Kirzner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dukes lands with a right hand.
Dukes throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dukes lands a jab to the nose.
A shot to the liver by Dukes. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirzner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dukes scores with a jab to the jaw.

Kirzner is rocked!
Kirzner on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Oh Kirzner is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A big left from Kirzner misses.
Kirzner seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice straight punches there by Dukes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dukes.
Dukes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dukes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kirzner rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dukes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dukes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kirzner looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Dukes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kirzner was well out of range. Poor timing from Dukes.
A left lands for Dukes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dukes cracks Kirzner with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Dukes lands with an uppercut that bounces Kirzner off the cage and back into range.
Kirzner misses with a hook to the body

and Dukes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kirzner!
Dukes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Ramirez Dojo Of Excellence. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Dukes works to advance to full mount. Kirzner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dukes tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dukes seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kirzner is holding on tight.
Dukes controlling from the full mount.
Kirzner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kirzner tries to get out of the position.
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.
Dukes fails to advance to Kirzner's back.
Dukes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dukes moves to the back position.
Kirzner is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Dukes.
Well, with Dukes on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Kirzner is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Dukes 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, Kirzner has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dukes is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kirzner has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Dukes biding his time, looking for the opening.

Kirzner is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Dukes gets his way!
Dukes slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Dukes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kirzner slips a jab and a cross from Dukes.
Dukes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Kirzner on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Dukes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kirzner.
Dukes misses the shot to the body.
Kirzner half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kirzner takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dukes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dukes lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirzner drops his hands momentarily and Dukes takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dukes tests Kirzner's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dukes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirzner.

Dukes gets a double leg takedown into Kirzner's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes wants to control from the top but Kirzner keeps moving.
Dukes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dukes wants to control from the top but Kirzner keeps moving.
Kirzner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dukes controls the pace.
Dukes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dukes slips nicely into half guard.
Dukes moves into full mount! Kirzner won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Dukes is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kirzner has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kirzner!

Dukes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dukes is trying to control the position but Kirzner postures up.
Kirzner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dukes swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukes working a defensive guard here.
Grant Dukes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kirzner has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Dukes to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Kirzner is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Dukes pulls down on the head and he's put Kirzner to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Grant Dukes!
Grant Dukes thanked the fans post fight for their support.