PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keiran Corkhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael San Fernando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Corkhill
vs
San Fernando

170 cm
23
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
23
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keiran Corkhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael San Fernando!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

San Fernando closes the distance and clinches.

Corkhill is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. San Fernando can't fight it off and eventually Corkhill manages to take the fight to the floor. San Fernando looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Corkhill has gone for a leg lock! San Fernando slips out almost immediately though and dives into Corkhill's guard.
Corkhill can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as San Fernando controls the pace.
Corkhill tries to land a sweep but no joy.
San Fernando wants to control from the top but Corkhill keeps moving.

Corkhill throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Corkhill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and San Fernando defends well.
San Fernando passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
San Fernando prevents Corkhill from improving his position.

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

San Fernando wants to work for an arm triangle but Corkhill is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
San Fernando working over Corkhill with some ground and pound. Corkhill looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Corkhill is looking to improve his position.

Corkhill looking for submissions off his back.
San Fernando wants to control but Corkhill is keeping him busy.
Corkhill moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Corkhill working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. San Fernando doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. San Fernando manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
San Fernando working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Corkhill's head.

San Fernando thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
San Fernando trying to control the position from guard on top but Corkhill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
San Fernando won't allow Corkhill to sweep him here.

Corkhill has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but San Fernando can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Corkhill not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Corkhill keeping moving, preventing San Fernando from controlling successfully.
Corkhill seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Fernando slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
San Fernando postures up.

Corkhill looking for a guillotine here but San Fernando defends easily.

Corkhill working for a triangle but San Fernando defends it easily.
San Fernando sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Fernando trying to control but Corkhill is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rafael San Fernando was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Corkhill looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for San Fernando!
San Fernando gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
San Fernando wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
San Fernando throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Corkhill is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and San Fernando defends it well.
San Fernando is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keiran Corkhill will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Corkhill feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

San Fernando is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
San Fernando looking to hit a scissor sweep but Corkhill is one step ahead there.

Corkhill thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
San Fernando looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
San Fernando keeping moving, preventing Corkhill from controlling successfully.
San Fernando is pulling down on Corkhill's head. It's preventing any offense from Corkhill, at least for the moment.
San Fernando trying to keep a closed guard but Corkhill is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corkhill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
San Fernando is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Corkhill dodges the punch combination from San Fernando.

San Fernando gets caught flat footed, as Corkhill shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
San Fernando throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Corkhill thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Corkhill postures up.
Keiran Corkhill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corkhill trying to control but San Fernando is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Keiran Corkhill.

Corkhill drives through with a takedown into San Fernando's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

San Fernando is looking for a triangle but Corkhill pushes his legs off easily.
Corkhill wants to control from the top but San Fernando keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

San Fernando looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
San Fernando is breathing heavily.
San Fernando is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Corkhill is defending against the submission attempts here by San Fernando.
San Fernando prevents Corkhill from improving his position.

San Fernando is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Corkhill has managed to free his arm - good work.
San Fernando prevents Corkhill from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Corkhill looking for submissions off his back.
San Fernando prevents Corkhill from improving his position.

Corkhill looking for submissions off his back.
San Fernando with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Corkhill trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Corkhill is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because San Fernando is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiran Corkhill dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Corkhill shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches San Fernando napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Corkhill working away.

Corkhill tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Corkhill has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Corkhill is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but San Fernando is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
San Fernando gets back to half guard.
San Fernando is trying to control but can't.
San Fernando tries to roll over but Corkhill keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Corkhill is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and San Fernando defends it well.

Corkhill is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Corkhill is looking for a kimura here.

San Fernando actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corkhill passes the guard and advances to mount!

Corkhill looking to secure an arm triangle but San Fernando defends it well.
San Fernando bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
San Fernando controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Corkhill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
San Fernando gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
San Fernando is trying to control but Corkhill passes into side control!
San Fernando takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Corkhill wants to lay and pray for a moment but San Fernando keeps working.
San Fernando struggling a bit here.

Corkhill looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Corkhill trying to control the action but San Fernando is working from the bottom.

Corkhill is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. San Fernando knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
San Fernando tries to improve position but can't.

Corkhill is trying to get an arm triangle but San Fernando is defending well.
San Fernando tries to buck Corkhill off but Corkhill is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Corkhill is trying to get an arm triangle but San Fernando is defending well.

Corkhill is trying to get an arm triangle but San Fernando is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
San Fernando struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keiran Corkhill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Corkhill, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Keiran Corkhill!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Keiran Corkhill!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Keiran Corkhill!

Keiran Corkhill wins by unanimous decision!
Keiran Corkhill seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.