PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikle Iron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kaplan
vs
Iron

185 cm
26
252 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

180 cm
25
230 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikle Iron!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iron defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaplan.
Kaplan lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Iron is looking to clinch.

Iron has Kaplan up against the cage in a clinch.
Iron should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kaplan misses with a body punch.
Iron wants to break free but Kaplan has control.
Iron prevents a body shot from Kaplan.

Kaplan breaks the clinch.
Iron is looking to clinch but Kaplan is avoiding it.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaplan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Iron. No joy for Kaplan on that attempt.
Iron tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaplan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Iron misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Kaplan does no damage.
Iron tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kaplan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kaplan swats away the attempt to clinch by Iron.
Iron dodges the punch combination from Kaplan.
Kaplan shoots in and drives through. Iron sprawls well.
Iron is looking to chop away at Kaplan's legs.

Kaplan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Iron is looking to break free of the clinch but Kaplan has double underhooks.
Kaplan jumps guard but Iron stands there with Kaplan around his waist. Kaplan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kaplan goes for a takedown attempt but Iron pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Iron tries a low kick but Kaplan avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iron tries a head kick but it misses.

Iron has Kaplan up against the cage in a clinch.
Iron is struggling to control the position.
Iron wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Iron tries to throw a body punch but Kaplan avoids it by throwing Iron back against the cage.
Kaplan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Iron pulls his leg out and moves away.
Iron moves to clinch but Kaplan breaks away

and Kaplan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kaplan.
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!
Kaplan won't allow Iron to get back to his feet.
Iron is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Kaplan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Iron's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iron taking some punishment here, with Kaplan in his half guard.
Iron on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Iron looks gassed!
Kaplan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Iron is staying active underneath Kaplan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Iron blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kaplan.
Kaplan working Iron over with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kaplan is looking to take a break and control but Iron is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaplan passes to full mount!
Kaplan is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Iron goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Kaplan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Joe Kaplan!