PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kirkland might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to My Life Be Like- by GRITS. Smith has chosen When Will They Shoot as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirkland
vs
Smith

192 cm
23
264 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

190 cm
32
270 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Barry Smith!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kirkland counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.
Kirkland trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kirkland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kirkland throwing strikes but missing.
Kirkland throws a big elbow that misses.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kirkland is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
Kirkland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kirkland looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kirkland looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kirkland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirkland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith pushes down on Kirkland's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kirkland gets full guard.

Kirkland has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kirkland is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Kirkland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland is really struggling to control Smith but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Smith 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.
Smith postures up.

Kirkland throws his legs up looking for a submission but Smith uses it to pass to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirkland is trying to improve his position.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Kirkland is defending well.
Kirkland is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirkland is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to control but Kirkland is keeping him busy.
Smith cracks Kirkland with a big elbow.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kirkland has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kirkland manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Kirkland actively working from the bottom here.

Kirkland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Kirkland is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Kirkland wants to control but Smith passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland regains half guard.
Kirkland is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kirkland looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith prevents Kirkland from improving his position.

Kirkland looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Kirkland's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith working over Kirkland with some ground and pound. Kirkland looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kirkland is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Smith is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kirkland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kirkland dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Kirkland shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A jab lands there for Kirkland.
Kirkland throws a body punch but Smith moves out of range.
Kirkland avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith moves away from the strike by Kirkland.
Kirkland moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kirkland chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kirkland as he avoids it easily.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Josh Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirkland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Kirkland slips a straight right by Smith.

Smith rushes Kirkland and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kirkland pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith defending well as Kirkland loads up on a big left hand.
A slow jab from Kirkland misses its intended target.
Kirkland connects with an inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith tries to clinch but Kirkland is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Josh Kirkland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Smith.
Nice takedown defense from Kirkland. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Kirkland lands with a good body shot.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kirkland connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Kirkland shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kirkland landing shots from mount.

It looks like Barry Smith has been cut.
Smith is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirkland lands a nice shot to the head.
Smith tries to hold on but Kirkland postures up.

Kirkland working for a submission but Smith is keeping him at bay.
Kirkland raining down shots from the mount!

The cut above Barry Smith's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland unloading with bombs!

Barry Smith's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Barry Smith's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Josh Kirkland!