PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Israel Kirzner (ranked 1918 p4p, 2017 weight class) and Eddie Bravo (ranked 217 p4p, 230 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirzner
vs
Bravo

170 cm
23
158
3 - 5 - 0

176 cm
29
155
8 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 3 - 5 - 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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eddie Bravo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Bravo wants to clinch but Kirzner slips to the side
and Kirzner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bravo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kirzner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bravo defending well as Kirzner loads up on a big left hand.
Bravo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bravo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kirzner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirzner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirzner works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kirzner takes a swing at Bravo's ribcage but misses.
Bravo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kirzner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bravo.
Bravo needs to keep his hands up - Kirzner had a free shot at his head there.
Kirzner throws an off balance right hand

and Bravo counters with a single leg into guard. Kirzner didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bravo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirzner is keeping the position for now.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Kirzner keeps moving.
Bravo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bravo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kirzner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bravo throws a big right hand that misses.
Kirzner looking for a sweep. Not yet Kirzner, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bravo throwing strikes from guard but Kirzner blocks nicely.
Bravo trying to control but Kirzner is working from the bottom.
Kirzner is adopting a defensive guard.
Bravo passes into half guard.

Bravo is working for a submission of some sort.
Kirzner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bravo is working away from the top position though.

That's four 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.
Kirzner tries to roll over but Bravo keeps him under control.
Kirzner trying to control but Bravo postures up.

Bravo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bravo is pressing down on Kirzner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kirzner is holding on for now.
My spies in Mapinguari Guerreiro inform me that Bravo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bravo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bravo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirzner defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eddie Bravo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kirzner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kirzner tests Bravo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kirzner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bravo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bravo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bravo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kirzner misses with a right hand

so Bravo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bravo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bravo wants to control from the top but Kirzner keeps moving.
Bravo passes Kirzner's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Bravo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirzner defends it well.

Bravo seems to be looking for submissions.

Bravo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirzner defends it well.
Bravo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bravo wants to control but Kirzner is keeping him busy.
Bravo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kirzner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
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 starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bravo misses with a head shot. Kirzner uses the momentum to regain guard.

Bravo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kirzner looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kirzner looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kirzner!

Bravo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Kirzner politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kirzner prefers to stall for the moment though.
Bravo is looking to regain half guard here but Kirzner keeps moving and retains side control.
Kirzner working away.
You can see the frustration on Bravo's face as Kirzner controls the position.
Kirzner wants to stand but Bravo is controlling his arm.
Bravo is letting Kirzner control him for a moment.
Bravo is looking for a sweep.
Bravo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Bravo wants to control but Kirzner is keeping busy.
Bravo is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner not doing much here.
Kirzner is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bravo!
Kirzner controlling the position easily from mount.
Bravo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bravo is squirming around, avoiding Kirzner's attempts to control the action.
Kirzner tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Eddie Bravo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bravo wants to control but Kirzner is having none of it.
Kirzner looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kirzner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Israel Kirzner will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kirzner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Good leg kick by Kirzner.
Bravo wants to slow Kirzner down by chopping away at his legs.
Bravo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bravo appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirzner throws a series of punches but Bravo moves out of range.
Kirzner connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirzner shoots in looking for a takedown. Bravo tries to sprawl out of it but Kirzner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bravo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bravo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bravo tries to clinch
and Kirzner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kirzner lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kirzner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bravo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kirzner, as that shot connected.
Kirzner misses the jab.
Kirzner misses with an uppercut.
Bravo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Bravo slips a jab from Kirzner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirzner scores with a sloppy right hand. Bravo should have avoided that one.
Bravo slips a jab and a cross from Kirzner.
Bravo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kirzner defends it well.
Israel Kirzner is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice shot by Kirzner.
Kirzner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kirzner throws a hook but Bravo avoids it easily.
Israel Kirzner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bravo moves away from the strike by Kirzner.
Bravo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kirzner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kirzner scores with a nice right hand.
Bravo walks into a stiff left hand from Kirzner.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirzner throws a series of punches but Bravo moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Kirzner showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kirzner has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Israel Kirzner!