PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kung Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kirk
vs
Lao

160 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cyrus Kirk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kung Lao!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling eachother endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.

Lao closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lao lands in his opponent's guard.
Lao is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kirk keeping moving, preventing Lao from controlling successfully.
Lao keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kirk's head.
Lao trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kirk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lao is aware though and is defending well.

Lao drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lao jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kirk has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Kirk goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Lao is on top in guard.

Kirk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lao defends it easily.
Kirk has momentary wrist control but Lao slips an elbow through the middle.
Lao stopping the sweep attempt from Kirk.
Lao wants to control from the top but Kirk keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kirk is looking to sweep but instead, Lao has passed into half guard.

Lao is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kirk defends it well.
Kirk wants to improve his position but Lao is controlling well.

Kirk looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kirk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Lao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirk thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirk isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lao stacks Kirk on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lao!
Kirk looks to move to half guard but instead Lao has passed into mount! Damn!
Kirk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lao looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kirk tries to reverse the position but Lao maintains control.
Lao tries to control but Kirk wriggling away.
Kirk swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kirk is looking to improve his position but Lao isn't that keen on the idea.
Kirk in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kirk's face.
Lao looking to finish Kirk with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kirk!
Kirk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lao seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kirk is holding on tight.
Kirk is trying to escape the mount.
Lao has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kirk manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kirk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirk is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kirk working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Lao has passed into half guard!
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 Cyrus Kirk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kirk tries to clinch up but Lao circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk shoots in and drives through. Lao sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kirk to the mat! Kirk manages to get full guard.
Kirk is striking from the bottom but Lao uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Kirk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lao is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kirk is looking for a sweep. Lao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lao content to control rather than advance.
Lao scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lao looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lao lands with a punch from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lao prevents Kirk from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao winds up and cracks Kirk with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kirk tries to roll over but Lao keeps him under control.
Lao controlling the action here.
Lao looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Lao looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kirk with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Lao seems to be looking for submissions.
Kirk tries to roll over but Lao keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ground and pound from Lao.
Kirk tries to roll over but Lao keeps him under control.

Kirk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lao scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirk tries to roll over but Lao keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kung Lao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kirk wants to clinch.
Lao circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lao tries to keep at a distance but Kirk has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kirk taking a breather.
Kirk drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kirk gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirk is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lao has managed to free his arm - good work.

Lao looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lao moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Lao escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kirk gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lao wants to sweep here but Kirk controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk wants to pass the guard but Lao is keeping the position.
Kirk working some strikes from top position.
Kirk throws a strike but Lao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kirk 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.
Kung Lao has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kirk looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Lao has picked Kirk up and slammed him! Kirk can't keep hold of the triangle and Lao manages to pass to side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirk tries to bench press Lao off him but Lao keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lao is working Kirk over with some ground and pound from side control.
Lao trying to control the action but Kirk is working from the bottom.
Kirk tries to bench press Lao off him but Lao keeps the position.
Kirk looking for a sweep but Lao has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lao looking to finish Kirk with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kirk!
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!

Lao wants to finish this one by submission but Kirk is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Lao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Cyrus Kirk did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Kirk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kirk tries to clinch but Lao moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Lao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kirk tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lao tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kirk tries to buck Lao off but Lao is having none of it.

Lao is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kirk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kirk tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao lands some shots froms side control.
Kirk is looking to reverse the position.

Lao tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lao is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Kirk is looking for a sweep.
Kirk regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kirk looking for subs from the bottom but Lao mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Lao wants to sweep here but Kirk controlling him for the moment.

Kirk drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lao manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kirk has Lao in his guard.

Kirk has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Lao should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Kirk has tightened it up now! Lao should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Cyrus Kirk!
Cyrus Kirk is the new bantamweight champion!