PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirk
vs
Michaels

180 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Kirk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Michaels!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Michaels wants it to stay on the feet.
Kirk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kirk shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Michaels checks a leg kick.
Kirk avoids the head kick by Michaels.
Michaels checks a low kick from Kirk.
Kirk misses with a low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Michaels checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
Kirk throws a leg kick that misses.
Kirk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk pivots, looking for a leg kick but Michaels is out of range and Kirk settles back down.
Kirk throws a solid leg kick but Michaels takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kirk.
Michaels keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Michaels blocks the low kick.
Kirk fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Michaels avoids it really well and circles away.
Michaels lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kirk walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Michaels checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick and Kirk moves out of range easily.
Kirk tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Michaels is able to avoid easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kirk lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Michaels has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Michaels and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kirk will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kirk throws a leg kick but Michaels checks it.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Kirk moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kirk wants to slow Michaels down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels looks for the body kick but Kirk saw that one coming.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kirk tried to score with a low kick but Michaels checks it.
Michaels pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Kirk feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Michaels's calf.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kirk throws a solid leg kick but Michaels takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kirk.

Kirk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Michaels to the mat! Michaels manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michaels keeping full guard, as Kirk tries to pass.
Kirk passes into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Michaels can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kirk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Michaels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Michaels blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kirk.
Kirk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kirk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Michaels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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 James Kirk will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kirk tries for a takedown but Michaels sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Michaels pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kirk fails with the takedown.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Kirk connects with a leg kick. Michaels looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
James Kirk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michaels checks a leg kick.
Kirk moves out of range as Michaels throws a body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Michaels. No joy for Kirk on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Michaels misses with a head kick.
Kirk looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kirk throws a leg kick but Michaels sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kirk closes the distance and clinches up with Michaels, looking for a takedown. Kirk pushes Michaels against the cage but Michaels circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kirk chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Michaels checks the leg kick.
Michaels checks a leg kick nicely.
Michaels tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Michaels.
Kirk throws a solid leg kick but Michaels takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kirk.
Kirk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kirk misses with a low kick.
Michaels throws a head kick but Kirk moves out of range.
Michaels moves out of range of the leg kick from Kirk.
Kirk delivers a nice body kick.
Kirk fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Michaels as Kirk shoots in.
Kirk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Michaels. That did some damage!
Michaels pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kirk fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
Kirk blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Michaels checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kirk has a takedown stuffed.
Kirk throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kirk. That's going to slow Michaels down.
Michaels delivers a nice body kick.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kirk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt.
Kirk thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Michaels if he has to take too many more of those.
Michaels is looking to land body kicks.
Kirk wants to land a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Kirk dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Michaels checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice shot by Michaels.
Michaels throws a sloppy head kick and Kirk moves out of range easily.
Kirk blocks a head kick by Michaels.
Kirk throws a low kick but Michaels avoids it.
Kirk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Michaels as he jumps to the side.
Kirk motions for Michaels to come forward. Kirk throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk wants to land a leg kick but Michaels is out of range.
Michaels jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Michaels blocks a head kick by Kirk.
Sean Michaels is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Michaels tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Michaels throws a head kick that misses
and Kirk counters with a good low kick that Michaels was not able to check.
Kirk is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Kirk misses.
Kirk walks into a jab.
Kirk scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sean Michaels has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk missing with a left hand there. Michaels was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kirk tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Michaels is able to avoid easily.
Kirk misses with a low kick.
James Kirk is winning the standup battle so far.
Michaels tries a head kick but it misses.
Kirk fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Kirk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kirk closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Michaels to the mat! Michaels manages to get full guard.
Michaels wants to stand and escape but Kirk is having none of it.
Kirk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Michaels is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirk drops back, looking for a kneebar! Michaels looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Michaels looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Michaels!
Kirk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michaels throwing shots but Kirk is blocking nicely.
Kirk is looking to improve his position.
Kirk 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.

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.
Kirk is trying to control but can't.
James Kirk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kirk is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kirk is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sean Michaels.
Well Kirk 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Kirk!