PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirkland comes to the cage accompanied by My Life Be Like- by GRITS. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kirkland
vs
Johnson

192 cm
20
264 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

190 cm
26
280 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Charles Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirkland with a nice cross.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kirkland wants to control but Johnson is having none of it.
Kirkland keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Johnson.
Kirkland in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johnson tries to control but Kirkland wriggling away.
Johnson with a couple of short strikes.
Johnson prevents Kirkland from getting the reversal.
Kirkland is working hard here to advance position.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!
Kirkland sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Kirkland makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kirkland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Johnson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kirkland wants to improve his position but instead Johnson has moved into half guard.
Johnson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Johnson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kirkland has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Johnson is working away from the top position though.

Kirkland actively working from the bottom here.

Kirkland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirkland is not content to let Johnson control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirkland looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Johnson working the head and body with strikes.
Kirkland is not content to let Johnson control the position.

Kirkland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Johnson pulls his head out easily.

Kirkland actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Johnson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Johnson winds up and cracks Kirkland with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kirkland looking for a sweep. Not yet Kirkland, not yet.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Kirkland is keeping the position.

Kirkland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson content to stall in guard here.
Johnson is looking to work some ground and pound but Kirkland has wrist control.
Kirkland wants to sweep here but Johnson controlling him for the moment.

Kirkland has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Kirkland is working from the bottom.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirkland is keeping the position for now.

Kirkland working for a triangle but Johnson defends it easily.

Johnson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kirkland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Johnson has managed to get both his arms back between Kirkland's legs - danger averted.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirkland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Charles Johnson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnson gets the takedown into side control.
Kirkland manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kirkland prevents Johnson from standing back up.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura here.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kirkland to get the leverage.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Kirkland is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kirkland.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirkland is working for a submission of some sort.
Kirkland stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Kirkland tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Charles Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kirkland seems to be looking for submissions.
Kirkland tries to pass to full mount but Johnson defends it.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kirkland is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kirkland is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Johnson sees it coming and defends easily.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kirkland to get the leverage.

Kirkland is looking for a kimura but Johnson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kirkland to get the leverage.
Kirkland is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Kirkland is having none of it.
Kirkland throwing strikes but missing.

Kirkland is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Johnson can't keep his opponent in guard - Kirkland advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to kick Kirkland off but Kirkland keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Kirkland is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kirkland.
Kirkland has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kirkland landing strikes from the mount and Johnson is in trouble!

Kirkland is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Johnson is surviving well by controlling Kirkland's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirkland looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Kirkland wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kirkland.

Kirkland looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kirkland has control of Johnson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Johnson regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Kirkland looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Kirkland working for a submission but Johnson is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kirkland dominated that second round.
That's time! Kirkland's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson tries for a takedown but Kirkland sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kirkland avoids the body shot from Johnson.
Kirkland looks to score with a jab to the body but Johnson is just out of range.

Kirkland scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kirkland goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Johnson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kirkland's guard! Nice work there by Johnson!

Kirkland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kirkland keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Kirkland lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Johnson!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kirkland wants to finish this one by submission but Johnson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kirkland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland won't let Johnson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Kirkland has control of Johnson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Johnson regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Kirkland has hold of Johnson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Johnson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Kirkland is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Johnson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Kirkland is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Johnson is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Johnson flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Kirkland anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Johnson and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Kirkland slips an arm under Johnson chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Kirkland has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Kirkland is squeezing on Johnson like an anaconda would it's prey. Johnson fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Josh Kirkland!