PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Kirby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reino Vaananen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reino Vaananen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kirby
vs
Vaananen

195 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
199 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Kirby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reino Vaananen!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirby keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaananen is looking to clinch but Kirby is avoiding it.
Kirby swings for the body but Vaananen moves out of range.

Vaananen takes the fight into the clinch.
Vaananen stops a takedown attempt from Kirby.
Kirby goes for a takedown attempt but Vaananen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.
Kirby is working for takedown but Vaananen is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Kirby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaananen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Vaananen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kirby throws out a loose jab but Vaananen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kirby tries to clinch there but Vaananen circles away.
Vaananen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kirby swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kirby tries to keep at a distance but Vaananen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vaananen has Kirby up against the cage in a clinch.
Vaananen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kirby.
Vaananen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vaananen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vaananen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Vaananen clinches with his opponent.
Kirby wants a takedown but no success here.
Kirby drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vaananen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kirby throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vaananen's waist but Vaananen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kirby off to one side.
Kirby listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Vaananen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kirby.

Vaananen moves into the clinch.
Kirby goes for a takedown attempt but Vaananen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kirby looks to score with a jab to the body but Vaananen is just out of range.
A big right from Kirby misses.
Kirby tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vaananen was well out of range. Poor timing from Kirby.
Kirby is breathing heavily.

Kirby gets caught flat footed, as Vaananen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen stopping the sweep attempt from Kirby.
Vaananen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vaananen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kirby's guard.
Vaananen is looking to advance position but Kirby won't allow it.
Vaananen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Vaananen trying to pass the guard but Kirby defending well.
Vaananen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen tries to pass to full mount but Kirby defends it.
Vaananen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vaananen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Vaananen stands up from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kirby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vaananen manages to avoid it.
Kirby misses with a wild combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kirby is defended easily by Vaananen.

Vaananen pushes Kirby up against the cage in a clinch.
Vaananen working Kirby over with knees to the body.
Vaananen prevents the takedown attempt.

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

Vaananen moves into the clinch.

Vaananen manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Kirby.

Vaananen moves into the clinch.
Kirby changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vaananen fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Vaananen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Vaananen dominated that round.
That's time! Kirby's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kirby tries to keep at a distance but Vaananen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vaananen tries a knee to the head but Kirby blocks it.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vaananen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kirby goes for a takedown attempt but Vaananen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Kirby tries to keep at a distance but Vaananen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vaananen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vaananen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kirby is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vaananen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kirby wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Kirby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirby is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirby has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vaananen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vaananen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Vaananen breaks the clinch.

Vaananen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vaananen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kirby.
Vaananen tries to land a knee to the head but Kirby blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirby has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vaananen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vaananen missing with knees to the body.
Kirby wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vaananen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vaananen lands a nice uppercut.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kirby looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Vaananen has managed to clinch.
Kirby is working for takedown but Vaananen is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Vaananen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kirby's brow.
Vaananen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kirby is defending well for now.
Vaananen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vaananen lands a damaging elbow.
Vaananen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vaananen lands a body punch in the clinch.

Vaananen is trying to trip Kirby. He has hold of a leg but Kirby is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Vaananen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Vaananen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vaananen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vaananen pushes down on Kirby's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kirby is looking to escape.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vaananen in particular looking to stall.

Vaananen decides to stand and escape the position.

Vaananen pushes Kirby up against the cage in a clinch.

Vaananen breaks from the clinch.
Kirby walks forward, straight into a front kick from Vaananen.
Vaananen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vaananen clinches with his opponent.
Vaananen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vaananen.
Kirby tries to score a body lock takedown but Vaananen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kirby avoiding damage as Vaananen throws knees to the body.
Kirby has Vaananen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vaananen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kirby takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vaananen misses with a knee strike.
Kirby is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vaananen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Vaananen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kirby's brow.
Vaananen gets underhooks to prevent Kirby's takedown attempt.
Vaananen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kirby tries to score a body lock takedown but Vaananen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Vaananen manages to pull guard.
Kirby is fighting to break Vaananen's control of his arms but Vaananen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Vaananen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kirby is trying to stand up here but Vaananen is controlling him well.
Vaananen wants to free his trapped foot but Kirby is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vaananen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vaananen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Vaananen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vaananen clinches up with Kirby and pushes him back against the cage.
Kirby has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vaananen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vaananen is pressed up against the cage. Kirby has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vaananen down to the mat. Vaananen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vaananen clinches.
Kirby has Vaananen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vaananen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Kirby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vaananen slows down the pace here.
Vaananen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kirby drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vaananen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.
Kirby is working for takedown but Vaananen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kirby takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Vaananen has closed the distance and engaged Kirby in a clinch.
Kirby goes for a takedown attempt but Vaananen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Vaananen has managed to clinch.

Vaananen pulls Kirby into guard.
Vaananen managing to control the position.
Kirby won't allow Vaananen to sweep him here.
Vaananen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kirby's guard.
Vaananen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vaananen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jon Kirby has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirby trying to keep a closed guard but Vaananen is proving a slippery customer.
Vaananen 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.
Kirby looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vaananen is one step ahead there.
Vaananen 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.
Vaananen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirby tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vaananen looking to pass the guard.
Vaananen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vaananen postures up.
Vaananenis looking to pass into half guard but Kirby pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kirby is in guard.
Kirby trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirby throws a big right hand that misses.
Kirby working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirby will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Vaananen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Vaananen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Vaananen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vaananen pulls Kirby in close to his closed guard and prevents Kirby from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirby preventing the sweep.

Vaananen pushes Kirby off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kirby tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kirby misses the target.

Vaananen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vaananen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kirby has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vaananen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Vaananen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kirby looks to land a combination but Vaananen avoids it well.

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.

Vaananen manages to break the clinch.
Vaananen scores with a kick to the body.
Reino Vaananen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vaananen closes the distance and clinches.
Vaananen gets through Kirby's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reino Vaananen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vaananen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reino Vaananen!