PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kokkoro Kirin (ranked 896 p4p, 1161 weight class) and Franck Kodjia (ranked 40 p4p, 58 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kirin
vs
Kodjia

203 cm
28
275
14 - 7 - 0

195 cm
38
275
32 - 25 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads
Voodoo Nutrition

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kokkoro Kirin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Franck Kodjia!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kodjia lands a jab to Kirin's midsection.
Some bone on bone action there as Kirin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kodjia throws a right hand that Kirin ducks under and follows up with a left that Kirin also avoids with ease.
It looked like Kirin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kirin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Kokkoro Kirin has been cut.
Kodjia lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kodjia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kirin lands with a shot to the body.
Kodjia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kirin was well out of range. Poor timing from Kodjia.
Kodjia scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kirin throws a solid leg kick but Kodjia takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kirin.
Kodjia let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kirin throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Kodjia to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Kirin avoids the body shot from Kodjia.
Kirin is looking to counter punch.
Kodjia misses with a body shot
enabling Kirin to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Franck Kodjia has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kodjia.
Kodjia lands with a shot to the body.
Kirin slips a jab from Kodjia.
Kodjia moves out of range of the strikes.
Kodjia throws a lazy head kick
and Kodjia takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kodjia lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kodjia looks to land a combination. Kirin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kodjia throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Kirin to counter with a crisp jab.
Kirin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kodjia makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kodjia swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kirin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kirin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Kirin misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kodjia throws a head kick but Kirin moves out of range.
Kirin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kirin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kodjia.
Kirin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kodjia tries to work over Kirin's front leg with a kick but Kirin checks it.
Kirin is looking for a counter combo.
Kirin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kodjia was well out of range. Poor timing from Kirin.
Kodjia looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kirin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kodjia.
Kodjia cracks a nice hook into Kirin's ribs.
Kirin misses with a looping left.
A shot to the body from Kodjia misses
and Kirin counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kodjia.
Kodjia takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kirin looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kirin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kodjia throws out the jab.
Kirin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kirin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kirin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Decent striking displayed by Kirin there.
Kodjia thuds a left hand into Kirin's body.
Kirin throws a head kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Kodjia on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kirin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kodjia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kirin scrambles back to his feet.
Kodjia connects with a body shot that sends Kirin's belly button to the back.
Kirin misses with a hook. Kodjia ducked under it nicely.
Kirin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kodjia just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Kirin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kodjia scores with a nice strike.

Kokkoro Kirin's cut is getting worse.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kodjia lands a jab.
Kodjia looks to score with a jab to the body but Kirin is just out of range.
Kodjia has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Kodjia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kodjia changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kodjia misses with a hook to the body
and Kirin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kodjia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kirin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Kirin.
Kirin throws a looping overhand right but Kodjia ducks down to avoid it.
Kirin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franck Kodjia dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kodjia misses with an uppercut
and Kirin counters with a nice uppercut.
Kodjia lands a right hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Kirin.
Kodjia is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kirin rather than just go for the knockout.
Kirin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kodjia jabs Kirin to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kodjia just misses with a punch to the body.
Kodjia throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kodjia loads up on a big right hand but Kirin slips the punch.
Kirin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kirin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kodjia misses the body punch

and Kirin counters with a head kick that drops Kodjia to the mat! Kodjia scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kodjia throws a sloppy body shot
and Kirin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kirin throws a hook to the side of Kodjia's head but Kodjia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A leg kick checked by Kirin.
Kirin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kirin misses with a leg kick.
Kodjia throws a shot from downtown. Kirin moves away and avoids it.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Kirin might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Kodjia throws a series of punches but Kirin moves out of range.
Kirin tests Kodjia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kodjia misses with a body shot.
Kodjia swinging wildly here.
Kodjia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kirin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kodjia is breathing heavily.
Kirin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That has opened up Franck Kodjia's cut even more.
Kodjia throws a sloppy body shot

and Kirin counters with a crisp right hand that drops Kodjia! Kirin lets Kodjia back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Kodjia is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirin drops Kodjia with a naaaaasty hook - Kodjia is in real trouble here! Kirin dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kokkoro Kirin!
After winning the bout, Kokkoro Kirin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Franck Kodjia spoke after the fight, saying 'Kill or be killed!!!! Win or lose so F boring fights '.