PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Kodjia (ranked 2604 p4p, 1525 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 337 p4p, 212 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.

Kodjia
vs
Fire

195 cm
26
270
3 - 1 - 0

209 cm
31
290
20 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sammy Kodjia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kodjia swings for the body but Fire moves out of range.
Fire keeps the fight on the outside.
Kodjia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fire feints the counter takedown.
Kodjia misses with a wild body shot.
And Fire tries to counter it with a takedown but Kodjia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kodjia misses with a wild body shot.
Fire tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Kodjia gets a clinch.
Kodjia using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fire has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kodjia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kodjia trying to land knees to the body.
Kodjia tries to work over Fire's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Fire is trying to trip Kodjia. He has hold of a leg but Kodjia is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Fire persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fire not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fire throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fire lands a couple of digs.
Fire throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kodjia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fire is controlling him.
Fire throwing strikes but missing.
Fire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fire postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fire lands a couple of digs.

It looks like Sammy Kodjia has been cut.
Fire stands up over Kodjia, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Sammy Kodjia's cut is getting worse.
Fire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fire throwing strikes from guard but Kodjia blocks nicely.
Kodjia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kodjia wants to stand up but Fire is controlling him.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kodjia has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fire off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Kodjia throws a sloppy body shot

and Fire counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fire not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire lands with a punch from half guard.
Fire working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fire thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fire not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fire working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kodjia is trying to stand up here but Fire is controlling him well.
Kodjia avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fire.
Fire seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Jeez, Sammy Kodjia's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Sammy Kodjia's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Spinning Fire!
An out of breath Spinning Fire thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.