PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wallace Kirkland (ranked 5421 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shahid Boucher (ranked 4688 p4p, 0 weight class). Shahid Boucher has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wallace Kirkland's chin.

Kirkland
vs
Boucher

212 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wallace Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shahid Boucher!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirkland shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Boucher manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kirkland preventing the sweep.
Kirkland wants to get up but he can't break Boucher's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kirkland got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boucher has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kirkland has managed to get both his arms back between Boucher's legs - danger averted.
Boucher being controlled here, momentarily.
Kirkland prevents Boucher from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boucher is trying to hold Kirkland in close to prevent damage but Kirkland has managed to pass into half guard.
Kirkland controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirkland keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Boucher bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kirkland is looking to get back to his feet here but Boucher is keeping cool and he's managed to take Kirkland's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boucher tightening his grip on Kirkland, looking for the choke.
Kirkland covering up well and avoiding damage.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boucher is hanging on to Kirkland's back as he tries to escape.

Boucher is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kirkland biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Boucher tries to get the hooks in deep but Kirkland pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Boucher is looking for the choke from the back position but Kirkland is controlling his hands well.
Boucher is not going to allow Kirkland to sit and survive in this position.
Kirkland is trying to get back to his feet but Boucher has full control of the position and if anything, Kirkland has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Boucher is hanging on to Kirkland's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Boucher's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Boucher is looking for a rear naked choke here but Kirkland reverses the position brilliantly into Boucher's guard!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fighters are working up against the cage. Boucher manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shahid Boucher will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Boucher drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Boucher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Boucher avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kirkland trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boucher wants to stand and escape but instead Kirkland has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Kirkland showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boucher will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kirkland is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boucher is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kirkland content to stall in guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Boucher pulls Kirkland in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kirkland throws a body shot but no joy.
A lazy body kick from Boucher
and Kirkland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland moves out of range of the body kick.

Boucher bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kirkland throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Boucher.

Kirkland throws Boucher to one side and escapes!
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!
Boucher throws a sloppy head kick

and Kirkland counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kirkland is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland prevents Boucher from improving his position.
Kirkland stalling.
Kirkland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boucher can do to turn this around?
Boucher is looking to control Kirkland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boucher avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wallace Kirkland 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!

Boucher drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kirkland is wriggling around but Boucher manages to pass to half guard.

Kirkland really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boucher controlling the action here.
Kirkland is looking to control Boucher's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kirkland avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boucher is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Boucher has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kirkland avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Boucher.
Kirkland is not content to let Boucher control the position.
Kirkland is pressing down on Boucher's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boucher is looking to pass into half guard but Kirkland pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kirkland is in guard.

Kirkland is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Boucher for as long as he can get away with.
Kirkland's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boucher wants to sweep but no luck.
Wallace Kirkland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Boucher is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kirkland is aware though and is defending well.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kirkland showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kirkland scores with a takedown into Boucher's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland tries to stand but Boucher is controlling from the bottom.
Kirkland slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kirkland stopping the sweep attempt from Boucher.
Kirkland scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Boucher wants to control but Kirkland passes easily into half guard.
Kirkland prevents Boucher from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boucher is looking to control Kirkland's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boucher avoid being mounted?
Still in half guard, Kirkland seems content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wallace Kirkland showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kirkland 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wallace Kirkland!