PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Kirk (ranked 1119 p4p, 1013 weight class) and Darwin Zambrano (ranked 169 p4p, 153 weight class). Darwin Zambrano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirk
vs
Zambrano

185 cm
27
190
13 - 8 - 1

185 cm
27
185
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darwin Zambrano!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zambrano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kirk.
We've been told by Kirk's head coaches at The House Of Pain that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kirk scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kirk slips under a jab.
Kirk lands a nice shot to the body.
Kirk throws a leg kick but Zambrano sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zambrano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kirk tries to land a front kick but Zambrano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A little jabbing left from Zambrano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
James Kirk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirk moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Darwin Zambrano has been cut.
That kick from Zambrano tenderised Kirk's leg. Kirk is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kirk throws a lazy right hand but Zambrano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kirk buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Zambrano rushes Kirk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Zambrano pushes Kirk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambrano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zambrano.
Zambrano lands a right hand.
Zambrano lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zambrano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zambrano throws a head punch that misses.
Kirk can't find room to land a body shot as Zambrano controls the action.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Zambrano has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Zambrano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Zambrano lands an uppercut.
Kirk makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Zambrano lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Kirk.
Kirk lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zambrano jumps into guard, dragging Kirk to the mat.
Kirk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirk engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Zambrano keeping moving, preventing Kirk from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk throws a big right hand that misses.

Zambrano has his foot on Kirk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kirk works his way back into a safe position though.

Zambrano throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kirk uses it to pass to side control.
Zambrano trying his best to control but Kirk has mounted him.
Zambrano working to try and regain half guard.
Zambrano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Zambrano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zambrano is still trying to improve position.
Kirk tries to control but Zambrano wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano gets back to half guard.
Kirk is looking to advance position but Zambrano won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zambrano tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kirk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zambrano looking for submissions off his back.
Zambrano is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kirk is looking to stall here but Zambrano recovers full guard.
Zambrano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zambrano keeping moving, preventing Kirk from controlling successfully.
Kirk looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Zambrano looking for a guillotine here but Kirk defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Kirk will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darwin Zambrano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirk scores with a sloppy right hand. Zambrano should have avoided that one.
Kirk throws a hook but Zambrano avoids it easily.
Kirk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zambrano manages to avoid it.
Kirk throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zambrano with a poor takedown
and Kirk counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zambrano throws a poor cross that misses
and Kirk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zambrano rushes Kirk and presses him up against the cage.
Kirk tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zambrano's elbow.
Zambrano misses with a punch on the inside.
Zambrano lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kirk.
Kirk swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zambrano looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk tries to work over Zambrano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kirk is trying to force a seperation but Zambrano has the dominant position.

Zambrano pulls guard effortlessly.
Kirk passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kirk is looking to take a break and control but Zambrano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kirk throws a strike aimed at the side of Zambrano's head but Zambrano avoids it well.
Zambrano manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kirk's best efforts.
Zambrano is positioning himself well to prevent Kirk advancing to mount.
Kirk moves into full mount! Zambrano won't be happy about that!
Kirk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zambrano is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zambrano wants to hold on but Kirk pushes him away.
Kirk looking to control but Zambrano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kirk avoids the attempt from Zambrano to control.
Kirk controlling from the full mount.
Zambrano is desperately trying to improve his position but Kirk has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zambrano wants to hold on but Kirk pushes him away.
Kirk throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Zambrano wants to hold on but Kirk pushes him away.
Kirk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zambrano bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kirk looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zambrano is one step ahead there.

Zambrano has gone for a leg lock! Kirk slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zambrano's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kirk looking to pass the guard.
Kirk is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zambrano can do to turn this around?
Zambrano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kirk manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zambrano drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kirk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zambrano has Kirk in his guard.

Zambrano throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kirk uses it to pass to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Kirk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darwin Zambrano's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice uppercut there from Kirk.
Kirk scores with a nice right hand.

Zambrano moves into range and clinches up with Kirk.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zambrano.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Zambrano.
A short uppercut from Kirk.
Kirk blocks a body shot from Zambrano.
Zambrano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zambrano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kirk misses with some punches.
Zambrano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zambrano.
Kirk stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zambrano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zambrano blocking some punches.
Kirk has a couple of punches blocked by Zambrano.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Zambrano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kirk.
Zambrano is trying to drag Kirk to the mat but Kirk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zambrano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zambrano works on Kirk's body with a couple of short punches.
Kirk misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zambrano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kirk backwards.
Zambrano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short left from Zambrano.
Kirk scores with a hook to the body.
Zambrano pushes Kirk back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zambrano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Zambrano fails to pull the fight into his guard.
James Kirk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darwin Zambrano.
Zambrano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kirk lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zambrano backwards.
Good body shot from Zambrano.
Kirk tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Zambrano throws a punch but it's blocked by Kirk.
Zambrano lands a hook that snaps the head of Kirk backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Zambrano lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zambrano drags the fight down to the ground.
Kirk preventing the sweep.
Kirk with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zambrano tries to strike from the bottom.

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

Zambrano is looking for a triangle but Kirk pushes his legs off easily.
Kirk showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Zambrano is trying to hold Kirk in close to prevent damage but Kirk has managed to pass into half guard.
Darwin Zambrano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk prevents Zambrano from improving his position.
Zambrano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kirk passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
James Kirk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Zambrano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kirk pulls his head out easily.
Zambrano is trying to get back to full guard.
Zambrano trying to get back to full guard but Kirk takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk throwing strikes here but Zambrano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Zambrano is working to get back to half guard.
Kirk wants to control the pace but Zambrano is squirming around nicely.
Zambrano tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Darwin Zambrano.
I think Kirk 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Kirk!
James Kirk thanked the fans post fight for their support.