PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kathy Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashid Irvins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ford
vs
Irvins

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kathy Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rashid Irvins!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ford drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Ford tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Irvins gets back to half guard.

Irvins is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ford pulls his head out easily.
Ford winds up and cracks Irvins with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Irvins wants to control but Ford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ford seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Irvins controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irvins misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Ford is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irvins trying to control here.
Ford not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Irvins works his way to full guard. Good work.
Irvins has Ford pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Irvins working for a triangle but Ford defends it easily.

Irvins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Irvins looks gassed!
Irvins controls Ford momentarily but Ford frees himself.
Ford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Irvins working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ford trying to control but Irvins is working from the bottom.
Irvins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ford is defended easily by Irvins.

Ford pushes Irvins up against the cage in a clinch.
Irvins letting Ford take a breather here.
Irvins wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Irvins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Irvins looking to stall.
Irvins is trying to break the clinch but Ford is controlling him.
Irvins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ford smiles and moves away.
Rashid Irvins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ford drives through and clinches with Irvins against the cage.
Ford lands a body punch.
Ford has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Irvins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Ford jumps guard and drags Irvins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Irvins wants to control from the top but Ford keeps moving.
Ford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ford looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kathy Ford dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Irvins wants to clinch up but Ford keeps it at a distance.
Ford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Irvins tries to clinch up

and Ford counters with a single leg into guard. Irvins didn't expect that.
Ford is stalling in the full guard.
Irvins working a defensive guard here.
Ford is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ford would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irvins is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Irvins controls Ford momentarily but Ford frees himself.
Ford is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Irvins pulls Ford in close to his closed guard and prevents Ford from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ford trying to control but Irvins is working from the bottom.
Irvins is trying to control the position but Ford postures up.
Ford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvins is trying to control the position but Ford postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Irvins doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Ford counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ford wants to get up but he can't break Irvins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Irvins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Irvins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ford doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ford manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Irvins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Irvins lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ford!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irvins tries to control but Ford wriggling away.
Irvins prevents Ford from getting the reversal.
Irvins controlling his opponent.
Ford tries to reverse the position but Irvins maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kathy Ford dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ford tries to clinch but Irvins is having none of it.
Irvins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ford counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Ford clinches up with Irvins and pushes him back against the cage.

Irvins ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Irvins no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Ford drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ford jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Irvins working a defensive guard here.
Ford controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Irvins trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford is looking to work some ground and pound but Irvins has wrist control.
Irvins pulls Ford in to control the position.
Ford throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Irvins tries for a takedown but Ford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ford.
Irvins wants to control but Ford postures up.
Irvins has one of Ford's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Ford thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvins struggling a bit here.
Ford works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Irvins is trying to get back to his feet.
Irvins tries to buck Ford off but Ford is having none of it.

Ford is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Irvins knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Irvins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvins with a poor takedown

and Ford counters with a shoot takedown. Irvins fights it but they end up in guard.
Kathy Ford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashid Irvins.
Irvins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Irvins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ford throws a strike but Irvins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Irvins wants to control from the top but Ford keeps moving.
Irvins is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford trying to control the position.
Ford wants to stand but Irvins is controlling the position.
Ford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Irvins advances to half guard.
Irvins is thwarting Ford's attempts to control the position.
Irvins wants to control but Ford is keeping him busy.
Rashid Irvins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kathy Ford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Irvins closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ford counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kathy Ford showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ford has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kathy Ford!