PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Robinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandan Kirwan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robinson comes to the cage accompanied by DJ Dee Kline - I don't smoke da reefa. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Robinson
vs
Kirwan

181 cm
26
164 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

174 cm
21
171 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Sambo Robinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandan Kirwan!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirwan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Robinson throws a head kick but Kirwan moves out of range.
Kirwan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Robinson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Robinson throws a sloppy head kick and Kirwan moves out of range easily.
Kirwan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Robinson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Robinson slips under a jab from Kirwan.
Some bone on bone action there as Kirwan checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sambo Robinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robinson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A looping hook to the body misses from Robinson. Kirwan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Robinson.
Kirwan moves out of range as Robinson throws a body kick.
Kirwan misses with a body shot.

Kirwan clinches up with Robinson and pushes him back against the cage.
Kirwan tries to pull guard but Robinson won't allow it.
Robinson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Robinson being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirwan pulls guard successfully.
Kirwan has a closed guard, preventing Robinson from standing up.

Robinson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kirwan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Robinson under the eye.
Robinson tries to land a front kick but Kirwan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kirwan misses the jab.
Robinson fails to land with a series of punches.
Robinson misses with a head kick.
Kirwan shoots for a takedown but Robinson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Robinson tries to sprawl but Kirwan drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirwan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Robinson sees it coming and defends easily.
Robinson tries to kick Kirwan off but Kirwan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kirwan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Robinson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Robinson looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirwan wants to take a breather but Robinson is having none of it.

Kirwan is looking for a kimura here.
Robinson is staying active underneath Kirwan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kirwan wants to work for an arm triangle but Robinson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Robinson pushes Kirwan off and gets back to his feet.
Robinson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kirwan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirwan misses with a hook. Robinson ducked under it nicely.
Robinson throws a head kick but Kirwan moves out of range.
Kirwan ducks under a wild hook from Robinson.
Kirwan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Robinson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Robinson fails to land with a series of punches.
Robinson misses with a wild combination.
Robinson throws a head kick that Kirwan semi-blocks.
Sambo Robinson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirwan slips a jab from Robinson.
Kirwan misses with an uppercut.
Robinson misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kirwan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Robinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Robinson ducks right into an uppercut from Kirwan.
Robinson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Robinson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kirwan just misses with a punch to the body.
Robinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kirwan moves into range and clinches up with Robinson.
Robinson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirwan is trying to maintain a safe position but Robinson gets an underhook and turns Kirwan into the cage.

Kirwan pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Robinson wants to stand but Kirwan is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brandan Kirwan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Robinson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kirwan.
Robinson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Robinson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Robinson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Robinson motions for Kirwan to come forward. Robinson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kirwan tries to clinch up but Robinson circles away and keeps his distance.
Robinson throws a leg kick but Kirwan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Robinson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kirwan tries to clinch up but Robinson circles away and keeps his distance.
Robinson throws a body punch but Kirwan moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Robinson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Robinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kirwan has Robinson up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Robinson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Robinson wants to break free but Kirwan has control.
Robinson misses with a knee to the head.
Kirwan has Robinson pressed against the cage.
Robinson is trying to break the clinch but Kirwan has him pressed against the cage.
Kirwan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kirwan trying to stall but Robinson improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirwan trying to land knees to the body.
Robinson tries a knee to the head but Kirwan blocks it.
Kirwan has Robinson pressed against the cage, preventing Robinson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Robinson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Brandan Kirwan has been cut.
Kirwan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kirwan is trying to maintain a safe position but Robinson gets an underhook and turns Kirwan into the cage.
Robinson is trying to break the clinch but Kirwan has him pressed against the cage.
Robinson misses with a punch on the inside.
Kirwan is struggling to control the position.
Kirwan avoids a wild elbow strike from Robinson.
Kirwan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Robinson up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson lands a nice elbow.
Robinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kirwan has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Robinson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Robinson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kirwan blocks it with crossed arms.
Kirwan misses with a punch on the inside.

Kirwan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Robinson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kirwan is proving hard to escape from.
Kirwan working a defensive guard here.

Robinson stands up from Kirwan's guard - Robinson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kirwan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Robinson. Robinson obviously looking to wear him down.
Sambo Robinson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirwan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Robinson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kirwan off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirwan tries to clinch but Robinson moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Robinson, right into the meat.
Kirwan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Robinson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kirwan tries for a takedown but Robinson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sambo Robinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandan Kirwan.
Kirwan is breathing heavily.
Robinson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Robinson tests Kirwan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kirwan shoots in looking for a takedown but Robinson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kirwan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Robinson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brandan Kirwan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Robinson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Robinson keeps the fight on the outside.
Robinson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kirwan.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kirwan.
The ground and pound from Kirwan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Robinson is not content to let Kirwan control the position.
Robinson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kirwan trying to control the action but Robinson is working from the bottom.

Kirwan in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Robinson is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Brandan Kirwan!