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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gilmat Kirk (ranked 918 p4p, 1224 weight class) and Valerio Bartoli (ranked 99 p4p, 137 weight class). Kirk's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lords of Iron. Bartoli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Modulate - Bass Alert kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 170 cm
36
148
14 - 9 - 0 |
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180 cm
39
156
33 - 17 - 2 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gilmat Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Valerio Bartoli!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartoli throws a hook but Kirk blocks it.
Kirk half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bartoli looks to land a right hand but Kirk moved out of range.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt.
A left lands for Bartoli.
Bartoli throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kirk counters with a takedown into side control.
Bartoli tries to buck Kirk off but Kirk is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirk tries to score with some ground and pound. Bartoli controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Bartoli avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kirk.
Kirk thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kirk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bartoli has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kirk tries for a kimura but Bartoli is defending well.
Kirk is trying to move to mount but Bartoli reverses beautifully and ends up in Kirk's guard.
Kirk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bartoli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is trying to hold Bartoli in close to prevent damage but Bartoli has managed to pass into half guard.
Kirk is trying to control but can't.
Kirk wants to get back to full guard.
Kirk looking for submissions off his back.
Kirk is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bartoli pulls his head out easily.
Bartoli tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bartoli wants to stand but Kirk has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Bartoli is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kirk is trying to get back to full guard.
Kirk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bartoli tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kirk controls his leg.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bartoli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kirks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bartoli throws a shot from downtown. Kirk moves away and avoids it.
Bartoli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bartoli looks to throw the jab but Kirk is out of range.
Bartoli throws a lazy right hand but Kirk sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bartoli misses the body punch
and Bartoli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bartoli defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kirk.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bartoli throws a shot to the body.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Valerio Bartoli dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Kirk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bartoli.
Bartoli tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bartoli misses with a looping left.
Kirk shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bartoli defends it nicely.
Kirk blocks a low kick nicely.
Kirk rushes Bartoli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bartoli breaks from the clinch.
Kirk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kirk slips a jab from Bartoli.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartoli throws a leg kick but Kirk checks it.
Bartoli lands with a straight right. Kirk didn't see that one coming.
Kirk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bartoli swivels and escapes.
Kirk goes for a double leg but Bartoli avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bartoli continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmat Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirk jumps guard but Bartoli stands there with Kirk around his waist. Kirk gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk is trying to drag Bartoli to the mat but Bartoli just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bartoli misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bartoli creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kirk fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bartoli stops a takedown attempt from Kirk.
Kirk can't get the takedown.
Kirk tries to pull guard but Bartoli forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Bartoli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bartoli works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bartoli is stalling here.
Bartoli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Bartoli.
Valerio Bartoli seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bartoli with a nice calf kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli throws a hook to the side of Kirk's head but Kirk sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bartoli lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bartoli motions for Kirk to come forward. Bartoli throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Bartoli as he connects with a hook.
Valerio Bartoli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bartoli with a nice calf kick.
Bartoli scores with a jab. Kirk acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bartoli thows a leg kick but Kirk checks it
and Kirk counters with a shoot takedown. Bartoli fights it but they end up in guard.
Kirk throws a strike but Bartoli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirk throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kirk tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk trying to control the position.
Kirk throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bartoli uses it to pass to side control.
Kirk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Valerio Bartoli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirk struggling a bit here.
Kirk is looking to regain half guard here but Bartoli keeps moving and retains side control.
Kirk is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bartoli off and has taken his back!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirk looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Bartoli is controlling Kirk 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Bartoli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirk working for submissions but it's allowed Bartoli to get to half guard.
Bartoli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bartoli tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kirk controls his leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Valerio Bartoli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Kirk with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bartoli to score with a decent uppercut.
Kirk slips a straight right by Bartoli.
Bartoli lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A good leg kick by Bartoli.
Kirk fails with the takedown
and Bartoli counters with a stiff right hand.
Bartoli with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kirk slips under a jab from Bartoli.
Bartoli misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kirk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bartoli.
Bartoli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirk.
Bartoli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kirk tries to close the distance and clinch but Bartoli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk staying out of range there.
Kirk doesn't manage to clinch there - Bartoli circles away.
Kirk goes for a double leg but Bartoli avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bartoli continues to drive forward.
Bartoli breaks from the clinch.
Bartoli lands a nice looking body shot.
Bartoli swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kirk.
Kirk uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bartoli.
Kirk looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bartoli misses with a looping left.
Kirk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bartoli cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmat Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bartoli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bartoli throws a jab when Kirk was well out of range.
Kirk is looking to counter with a body kick.
Gilmat Kirk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kirk shoots for a double leg takedown but Bartoli sprawls well. He's pushed Kirk's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kirk walks into a left hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Kirk.
Bartoli connects with a solid leg kick.
Bartoli lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
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!
Bartoli lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bartoli throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bartoli scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kirk doesn't seem bothered though.
Bartoli throws a lazy right hand but Kirk sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kirk drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bartoli sprawls and moves away.
A telegraphed right hand from Bartoli misses the target.
Kirk wants to clinch up but Bartoli keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Bartoli. No joy for Kirk on that attempt.
Kirk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kirk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A big left from Bartoli misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk is looking to clinch but Bartoli is avoiding it.
Bartoli misses with an uppercut
and Kirk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirk postures up in Bartoli's guard and throws a big left but Bartoli blocks it.
Kirk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bartoli pulls Kirk in close to prevent any damage.
Kirk has gone for a leg lock! Bartoli slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kirk's guard.
Valerio Bartoli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bartoli got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kirk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bartoli has managed to get both his arms back between Kirk's legs - danger averted.
Kirk is looking for a triangle but Bartoli pushes his legs off easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli stopping the sweep attempt from Kirk.
Gilmat Kirk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kirk looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bartoli has picked Kirk up and slammed him! Kirk can't keep hold of the triangle and Bartoli manages to pass to side control!
Kirk is looking for a sweep.
Bartoli wants to stand but Kirk has his arm trapped.
Bartoli stands up and beckons Kirk to his feet.
Bartoli lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Bartoli blocks a leg kick.
Valerio Bartoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bartoli connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Valerio Bartoli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bartoli has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valerio Bartoli!
Valerio Bartoli decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
46% |
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