PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Optimus Rimes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Van Kirkland
vs
Rimes

194 cm
24
285 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

204 cm
23
277 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Optimus Rimes!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Roberts and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Kirkland throws a good cross that connects.
Rimes misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to the liver by Rimes. Beautiful body shot.
Rimes pivots, looking for a leg kick but Van Kirkland is out of range and Rimes settles back down.
Rimes scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Kirkland should have avoided that one.
Van Kirkland throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rimes's waist but Rimes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Van Kirkland off to one side.
Rimes works Van Kirkland's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Van Kirkland looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rimes!
Rimes is desperately trying to improve his position but Van Kirkland has a good base and remains in mount.
Rimes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rimes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Van Kirkland missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rimes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rimes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Van Kirkland's guard.
Van Kirkland has a closed guard, preventing Rimes from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland 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.

Rimes stands and steps away. Van Kirkland gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Van Kirkland has a takedown stuffed.
Van Kirkland takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Van Kirkland closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Van Kirkland is trying to control the action in half guard but Rimes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rimes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Van Kirkland's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Van Kirkland's back!

What's going on here? Rimes has decided to give up on the ground game despite having his opponent's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rimes swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Kirkland takes a jab right on the kisser.
Van Kirkland checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rimes connects with a solid leg kick.
Rimes throws a good cross that connects.
Rimes cracks Van Kirkland with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rimes jabs at Van Kirkland's body.
Van Kirkland is breathing heavily.
Rimes lands a jab to the head.
A left lands for Rimes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Kirkland throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rimes was covering up waiting for the punch and Van Kirkland finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Van Kirkland stopping the sweep attempt from Rimes.
Van Kirkland has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rimes has momentary wrist control but Van Kirkland slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rimes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rimes keeping moving, preventing Van Kirkland from controlling successfully.
Rimes controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Optimus Rimes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rimes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Van Kirkland fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rimes misses with a body shot.
Rimes connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rimes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rimes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Kirkland on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nice uppercut lands for Rimes. That snapped Van Kirkland's head back.

Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut is getting worse.
Van Kirkland's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rimes connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Kirkland scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rimes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Rimes feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Van Kirkland sprawling to the canvas! Van Kirkland rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Rimes finish him?!

Van Kirkland is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Rimes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Optimus Rimes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rimes slaps away a takedown attempt from Van Kirkland, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rimes connects with a right hand. Van Kirkland shakes it off.

Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rimes lands with a shot to the body.
Nice body kick from Rimes.
Rimes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rimes throws a monster overhand right that drops Van Kirkland! Rimes follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Optimus Rimes!