PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Kimble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevie Kimble could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Marco Smirnov's chin.

Kimble
vs
Smirnov

182 cm
18
176 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stevie Kimble!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Smirnov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smirnov trying to control the pace.

Smirnov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Smirnov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Smirnov has closed the distance and engaged Kimble in a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Smirnov.
Kimble utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kimble misses with an elbow strike.
The referee calls for Smirnov to work.
Kimble tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smirnov avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimble unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smirnov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kimble lands an elbow that stopped Smirnov in his tracks for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kimble.
Smirnov misses with a knee to the head.
Kimble crunches a lovely knee into Smirnov's ribcage.
Kimble lands an elbow inside that Smirnov shrugs off.
A frustrated look appears on Smirnov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smirnov avoiding damage as Kimble throws knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kimble obliges.
Smirnov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kimble tries a knee to the head but Smirnov blocks it.
Kimble unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kimble creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kimble lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Smirnov tries to circle away but Kimble has him pinned against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smirnov throws a punch but it's blocked by Kimble.
Smirnov tries to pull guard but Kimble won't allow it.
Kimble landing knees to the head.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smirnov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smirnov shoots in but no luck this time.
Kimble tries a low kick but Smirnov avoids it.
Smirnov shoots in and drives through. Kimble sprawls well.
Stevie Kimble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Smirnov.
Smirnov looks winded!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kimble looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kimble misses with a takedown attempt - Smirnov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kimble as he jumps to the side.
Kimble tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov keeps the fight on the outside.

Kimble rushes Smirnov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kimble gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Smirnov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kimble lands a damaging elbow.
Kimble lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kimble tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kimble lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kimble connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smirnov's face.
Kimble is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smirnov is defending well for now.
Smirnov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Smirnov working hard to break the clinch.

Smirnov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov takes the fight into the clinch.

Smirnov successfully pulls guard.
Smirnov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kimble has passed into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov gets back to half guard.
Kimble seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smirnov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kimble tries to pass to full mount but Smirnov defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kimble missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Smirnov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stevie Kimble will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kimble closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smirnov to the mat! Smirnov manages to get full guard.
Smirnov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kimble stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smirnov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Smirnov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kimble throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smirnov.
Kimble fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Smirnov!
Kimble tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Smirnov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smirnov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smirnov shoots in but no luck this time.
Marco Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kimble rushes Smirnov and presses him up against the cage.
Smirnov is trying to break free.
Kimble creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Smirnov's defenses.
Kimble with a knee to the head.
Smirnov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kimble has him pressed against the cage.
Stevie Kimble has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smirnov is trying to break free.

Smirnov breaks the clinch.

Smirnov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kimble, pushing him back against the cage.
Kimble lands an elbow that stopped Smirnov in his tracks for a moment.
Kimble comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Smirnov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smirnov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kimble is in close to Smirnov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kimble throws a big elbow that misses.
Kimble wants to stand but Smirnov is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov kicks Kimble off and gets to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kimble avoids it really well and circles away.
Stevie Kimble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Smirnov.
Kimble wants to clinch up but Smirnov keeps it at a distance.
Kimble scores with a three punch combo!
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stevie Kimble is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kimble clinches up with Smirnov and pushes him back against the cage.
Smirnov avoids a wild elbow strike from Kimble.
Smirnov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kimble gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nice elbow from Kimble.
Kimble is pressed up against the cage. Smirnov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kimble down to the mat. Kimble avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

Smirnov clinches.
Kimble comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov pulls guard.
Kimble stops Smirnov from standing up.

Smirnov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kimble moves into the clinch.
Kimble unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smirnov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kimble throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smirnov blocks it with crossed arms.
Smirnov tries to break free but Kimble pushes him back against the cage.
Kimble lands a knee to the body.

Smirnov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kimble uses from the top position.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Kimble from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stevie Kimble will probably get the nod.
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!

Kimble tries to close the distance and clinch but Smirnov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kimble tries to close the distance and clinch but Smirnov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Smirnov. Those never looked like landing.
Smirnov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kimble counters with a nice kick to the body.

Smirnov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kimble comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kimble keeps control of Smirnov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Kimble.
Kimble lands an elbow that stopped Smirnov in his tracks for a moment.
Smirnov misses with some punches.
Smirnov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kimble walks away with a smile on his face. Smirnov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kimble looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smirnov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smirnov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimble doesn't manage to clinch there - Smirnov circles away.

Kimble gets tackled into the cage by Smirnov. Smirnov maintains the clinch.
Smirnov blocks the elbow strike.
Kimble dodges an elbow strike from Smirnov.
Kimble keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smirnov's efforts to push away.
Smirnov lands an elbow that stopped Kimble in his tracks for a moment.
Kimble lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smirnov blocks an elbow strike from Kimble.
Smirnov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kimble backwards.
Kimble lands a nice elbow.
Kimble connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smirnov's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kimble misses with a knee to the head.
Kimble lands a damaging elbow.

Smirnov pulls guard successfully.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Kimble from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kimble throwing strikes from guard but Smirnov blocks nicely.

Smirnov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kimble has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smirnov is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov kicks Kimble off and gets to his feet.
Kimble tries to clinch but Smirnov moves out of range.
Kimble stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kimble wants it to stay on the feet.
Stevie Kimble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Smirnov.
Kimble looks for a takedown but Smirnov sprawls well.
Nice shot lands for Kimble.
Kimble tries to clinch up but Smirnov circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevie Kimble is winning the standup battle so far.
Kimble throws a big shot that misses.
Kimble tries to clinch but Smirnov moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kimble enables Smirnov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kimble manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Smirnov stands up from Kimble's guard - Smirnov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kimble tries to clinch there but Smirnov circles away.
Smirnov throws a sloppy head kick
and Kimble counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kimble lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smirnov circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevie Kimble is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smirnov throws a leg kick but Kimble checks it.
Kimble wants to clinch up but Smirnov keeps it at a distance.
Smirnov throws the left hand but Kimble avoids the punch easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kimble tries to clinch up.
Smirnov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Marco Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smirnov throws a lazy head kick
and Kimble counters with a series of strikes. Smirnov will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stevie Kimble.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kimble, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Stevie Kimble!