PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between A Train (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Major (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirk Major has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Train
vs
Major

190 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, A Train!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Kirk Major!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Major tries a head kick but it misses.

Major closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Train is pressing down on Major's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Major postures up in Train's guard and throws a big left but Train blocks it.
Major looking to sit in guard and control but Train gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Train sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Major looking to hit a scissor sweep but Train is one step ahead there.
Train trying to control the position from guard on top but Major is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Train preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Train throws a big right hand that misses.

Train gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Major drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Major with a flurry of punches that miss.
Train wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Train is on top in guard.

Major looking for a guillotine here but Train defends easily.
Train is breathing heavily.
Major is pulling down on Train's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Train throws a big right hand that misses.
Train trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Major looking for a sweep. Not yet Major, not yet.
Major controls Train momentarily but Train frees himself.
Major bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Train's guard.
Train trying to control the position.

Train had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Major is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Train Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Major's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Major prevents Train from getting a body triangle.
Major is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Train off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Train is trying to stick to Major's back but Major is turning into Train. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Train's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Major.
Major is stalling in the full guard.
Major pushing down on Train's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Major wants to stand up but Train is controlling the position.
Train has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Major is working away from the top position though.
Major controlling the action here.
Major really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Train. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Train makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Train.
Train bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Major's guard.
Train will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Major keeping busy on the bottom but Train has passed one foot through into half guard.
Train sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Major manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kirk Major will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Major misses with a takedown attempt - Train sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Train with a poor takedown

and Major counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Major wants to stand but Train has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Train trying to control here.
Major is keen to just control but Train is a slippery customer.
Train slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Train is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Major won't allow Train to sweep him here.
Major slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Major trying to control but Train is working from the bottom.
Kirk Major has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Major stands up and waves to Train to follow him.

Major drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Major drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Train dives on top into guard.

Train stands and steps away. Major gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Major.
Train is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Major seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Major stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Major gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Train counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Train wants to work for an arm triangle but Major is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Major is defending against the submission attempts here by Train.

Major looking for submissions off his back.

Major makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Major shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Train's guard.

Major gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Train misses with a double jab.
Train with a lazy takedown attempt

and Major counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Major.
Major working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Major wants to stand but Train is controlling his posture from full guard.
Major preventing the sweep.
Major trying to control the position from guard on top but Train is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Major looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Major has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Train is proving hard to escape from.

Train is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Major wants to stand but Train has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick misses from Major.
Train doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Major counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for A Train. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Train manages to get to full guard.
Train trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Major showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Train wants to clinch but Major slips to the side

and Major counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Major.

Major drags the fight down to the ground.
Train throwing strikes from guard but Major blocks nicely.
Major looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Train trying to control the position from guard on top but Major is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Train working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Train tries to free his leg and advance position but Major is retaining full guard.
Major keeping moving, preventing Train from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Train works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Major slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Major looking for a sweep. Not yet Major, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Train trying to control but Major is working from the bottom.
Major utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Train looking to pass the guard.
Train throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Train thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Major rushes Train and presses him up against the cage.
Train is working for takedown but Major is calmly controlling the position for now.

Train is fighting off a takedown attempt but Major is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Train to the mat. Train regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Train has a closed guard, preventing Major from standing up.
Major tries to free his leg and advance position but Train is retaining full guard.
Train bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Major's guard.
Major wants to control the position but Train says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Major wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Train wants to free his trapped foot but Major is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Major trying to hold on to Train's head to control him but Train postures up.
Train is trying to control the action in half guard but Major is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Train seems content to control.

Major is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Train pulls his head out easily.
Train trying to control from half guard but Major is working away.
Major trying to control but Train postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Major fails with the takedown

and Train counters with a takedown into side control.
Major gets back to half guard.

Major actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Train is looking for a kimura here.

Train is looking for a kimura but Major is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Train to get the leverage.
A Train has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Major pushes Train off looking to stand but Train dives back in and keeps control.
Train is looking to take a break and control but Major is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Major is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Train lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Major is refusing to be controlled, as Train sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
A Train showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Major has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!