PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kylian Kirkham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kylian Kirkham has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Kirkham

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kylian Kirkham!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirkham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Kirkham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kirkham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kirkham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kirkham tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Kirkham shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kirkham.
Kirkham tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.

Smith pushes Kirkham up against the cage in a clinch.
Kirkham missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirkham missing with knees to the body.

Kirkham manages to break the clinch.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kirkham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Danga de danga de dang - Smith scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith wants to get up but he can't break Kirkham's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Smith knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kirkham on the ground.
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Kirkham gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smith controlling Kirkham's posture.

Kirkham 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 is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirkham is controlling him.
Kirkham wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kirkham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith throws a right hand that Kirkham ducks under and follows up with a left that Kirkham also avoids with ease.

Smith bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kirkham tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirkham keeps working.
Smith tries to get to his feet but Kirkham is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Smith in his guard.
Smith trying to control but Kirkham is working from the bottom.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kirkham is proving hard to escape from.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kirkham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kirkham isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Smith stacks Kirkham on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Smith!
Kirkham looking for a sweep but Smith has passed into full mount! Oh no!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Kirkham is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirkham tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Kirkham is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kirkham is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kirkham is looking to escape.
Kirkham is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Smith dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Smith shoots in and drives through. Kirkham sprawls well.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith tries to bum rush Kirkham with a series of wild strikes but Kirkham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A clash of legs there as Kirkham blocks the low kick.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Kirkham tries to clinch up

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith trying to control but Kirkham is working from the bottom.

Smith is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Kirkham has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Smith is looking to defend but Kirkham has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Smith! Kirkham pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Smith taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Kylian Kirkham!