PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Flare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silla Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Flare might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Also Sprach Zarathustra. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Flare
vs
Kim

173 cm
35
180 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

180 cm
34
176 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
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 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Flare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Silla Kim!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Flare feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Flare controls from within his opponent's guard.
Flare throws a big right hand that misses.
Flare trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Rick Flare wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim wants to get back to his feet but Flare is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Flare throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flare throws a strike but Kim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Flare escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kim gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare pulls Kim in close to prevent any damage.
Flare wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flare wants to stand but Kim is controlling the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Silla Kim hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kim enables Flare to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kim manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Flare throws an elbow that misses. Kim uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Flare's guard. Nice move by Kim!
Flare wants to sweep but no luck.
Kim wanted to stand there but Flare had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Flare is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kim defends well.
Kim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Flare manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kim manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Flare dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Flare changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kim tries to avoid it but Flare manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kim to the ground. Kim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Flare dives in and grabs Kim's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kim pushes down on Flare's head and hops out.
Nice sprawl there from Kim as Flare shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kim takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
No luck for Flare with that takedown attempt.
Kim avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flare tries for a takedown but Kim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Flare misses with a wild body shot.
Flare shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kim as he avoids it easily.
Rick Flare seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flare shoots for a takedown but Kim saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kim displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Flare.
Flare looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim defending well as Flare loads up on a big left hand.
Kim slaps away a takedown attempt from Flare, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Flare cracks Kim with a good jab.

Flare drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Flare trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Flare with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kim is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Flare has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Flare throws a strike but Kim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Flare trying to keep a closed guard but Kim is proving a slippery customer.
Kim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rick Flare just wasn't active enough.
Kim walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Flare lands with a hook. Kim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Flare throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flare shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Flare dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Flare shoots in looking for a takedown. Kim tries to sprawl out of it but Flare keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Flare shoots in but Kim avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Flare.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Flare. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Flare.
Silla Kim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Flare.
Flare tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kim swivels and escapes.
Flare shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kim as he avoids it easily.
Flare shoots in for a takedown but Kim shows good takedown defense.

Flare looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flare lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Flare prevents Kim from standing back up.
Flare thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kim's head.

Kim is defending against the submission attempts here by Flare.
Flare missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to stand back up but Flare is controlling him

Flare seems to be looking for submissions.
Flare sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.
Rick Flare is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.
Flare throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Well, if Flare is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flare passes the guard and advances to mount!
Flare content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Flare showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flare 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Flare!
A less than humble Rick Flare misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.