PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between King Kenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenny's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kenny
vs
Van Kirkland

195 cm
27
280 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

194 cm
28
285 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fighters First Nutrition Amsterdam 160
Milwaukee's Best 160

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, King Kenny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenny scores with a jab. Van Kirkland acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Van Kirkland fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kenny.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kenny.

Kenny feints and as Van Kirkland raises his hands in defense, Kenny changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kenny works over Van Kirkland with some ground and pound from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kenny won't allow Van Kirkland to sweep him here.
Kenny with a flurry of punches that miss.
Van Kirkland trying to strike off his back.
Kenny scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kenny wants to control from the top but Van Kirkland keeps moving.
Van Kirkland utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kenny is one step ahead there.
Van Kirkland can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kenny controls the pace.
Kenny in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Van Kirkland keeping moving, preventing Kenny from controlling successfully.
Van Kirkland wants to sweep but no luck.
Kenny looking to pass the guard.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenny lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Van Kirkland working a defensive guard but Kenny passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kenny not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Van Kirkland is trying to maintain the position but Kenny is very close to passing his half guard.
Kenny 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.

Kenny is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Van Kirkland has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Kenny slips a nice elbow through Van Kirkland's hands, connecting with Van Kirkland's forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland wants to improve his position but Kenny is controlling well.
Kenny throwing shots but Van Kirkland is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Van Kirkland's head.
Kenny perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kenny not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kenny trying to control the action but Van Kirkland is working from the bottom.
Kenny misses with a head shot. Van Kirkland uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kenny stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Kirkland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kenny missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Van Kirkland trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny throws a big elbow that misses.
Kenny working some strikes from top position.
Kenny postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenny controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kenny accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kenny is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Kirkland has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kenny won't allow Van Kirkland to sweep him here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Kenny dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kenny throws out a leg kick but Van Kirkland moves out of range and Kenny only half commits.
King Kenny is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van Kirkland is defended easily by Kenny.
Kenny moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kenny with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland gets cracked there but stands up to it.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Kenny scores with a jab to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kenny. That's going to slow Van Kirkland down.
King Kenny seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kenny lands with a straight right. Van Kirkland didn't see that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a double leg but Kenny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Kenny changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van Kirkland looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenny wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Kirkland keeps working.
Kenny grinds an elbow into Van Kirkland's temple.

Kenny is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Van Kirkland knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Kirkland tries to improve position but can't.
Kenny throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kenny throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Van Kirkland tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kenny wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've been hearing that Kenny has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
You can see the frustration on Van Kirkland's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Kirkland keeps working.
Van Kirkland taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kenny wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Kirkland keeps working.
Kenny looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Van Kirkland is avoiding damage well.
Van Kirkland is looking for a sweep.

Kenny goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Van Kirkland rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kenny's guard! Nice work there by Van Kirkland!
Kenny keeping moving, preventing Van Kirkland from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kenny is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Kenny keeps moving.
Kenny looking to control.
Kenny avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kenny is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Kirkland can do to turn this around?
Van Kirkland wants to control from the top but Kenny keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kenny working for a triangle but Van Kirkland defends it easily.
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.
Kenny 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Kenny dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut.
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!

Kenny lands with a shot to the body.
Van Kirkland takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kenny shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Van Kirkland but Van Kirkland pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Van Kirkland moves forwards but Kenny connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kenny throws a wild body kick that Van Kirkland sees coming a mile off.
Kenny swings away with a body shot that misses
and Van Kirkland counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenny is trying hard to land a takedown here. Van Kirkland sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kenny.
Kenny thumps Van Kirkland with a low kick.
A combination from Kenny does no damage.
Kenny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Van Kirkland takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland tries for a takedown but Kenny sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a double leg but Kenny sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
King Kenny has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kenny stalks Van Kirkland and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Van Kirkland's face. Van Kirkland staggers backwards, shaken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kenny changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kenny lands a nice leg kick that just misses Van Kirkland's sensitive parts.
Both fighters circling a little - Kenny finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Horrible takedown by Kenny or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Kirkland which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kenny.
King Kenny is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kenny connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kenny connects with a crisp jab.
Kenny misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kenny.
Good leg kick by Van Kirkland there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny dives in for a single leg takedown but Van Kirkland sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kenny wants to stall.
Van Kirkland has had enough of the clinch but Kenny keeps him there for the moment.
Kenny is pushing Van Kirkland up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
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!
Van Kirkland tries for a takedown but Kenny manages to get underhooks.
Mikhail Van Kirkland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
King Kenny showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kenny 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Kenny!
King Kenny looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'This is what happens when you call me out 'splash. You might have the skills but I pay bills, enjoy the trip to the hospital and you can thank your manager for that!'.