PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Venturia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Venturia is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise. Mikhail Van Kirkland is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Van Kirkland
vs
Venturia

194 cm
33
285 lbs
19 - 17 - 0

210 cm
40
281 lbs
35 - 35 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesse Venturia!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venturia lands a glancing blow to the side of Van Kirkland's head.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Van Kirkland pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Venturia tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Kirkland gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Van Kirkland drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Van Kirkland scoring with punches from side control.
Van Kirkland working the ground and pound but Venturia is defending the strikes.
Van Kirkland has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Venturia bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slow jab from Van Kirkland misses its intended target.
Venturia tries to bum rush Van Kirkland with a series of wild strikes but Van Kirkland uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Kirkland takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Venturia circles away from the clinch attempt
and Venturia counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Venturia pinned against the cage. Venturia gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jesse Venturia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Venturia looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Venturia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Venturia throws a series of punches but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Venturia sprawls well. Venturia wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Van Kirkland gets slowly back to his feet.
Venturia throws a lazy uppercut
and Van Kirkland makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Venturia.
Venturia connects with a nice looking jab.
A nice combination there by Venturia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland connects with a body shot that sends Venturia's belly button to the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Kirkland lands a two punch combo.
Venturia fails to land with a series of punches.
Jesse Venturia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Venturia takes a swing at Van Kirkland's ribcage but misses.
Van Kirkland works Venturia's body with a nice hook.
Van Kirkland throws a shot from downtown. Venturia moves away and avoids it.
Van Kirkland takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Van Kirkland looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Venturia jabs Van Kirkland to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Venturia sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Van Kirkland to the ground! Venturia dives into full mount looking to finish!
Van Kirkland is trying to escape the mount.
Van Kirkland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland is working hard here to advance position.
Venturia tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Venturia stands up from mount. Strange move.
Venturia lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Venturia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Van Kirkland changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Venturia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van Kirkland misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Venturia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Van Kirkland asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Van Kirkland with the ground and pound but Venturia regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venturia is staying active underneath Van Kirkland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Van Kirkland wants to pass to mount but Venturia is defending the position.

Venturia has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Van Kirkland is on him like a limpet, forcing Venturia back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Kirkland tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Venturia has had enough of the clinch but Van Kirkland keeps him there for the moment.
Venturia softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Venturia stalling in the clinch but Van Kirkland improves position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Venturia is trying to break the clinch but Van Kirkland is controlling him.
Van Kirkland keeps control of Venturia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Venturia working hard to break the clinch.

Van Kirkland wants the takedown. Venturia is fighting it off but Van Kirkland persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Venturia's guard against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Venturia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Venturia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Kirkland.
Venturia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Kirkland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Venturia moves away.
Venturia avoids the head kick by Van Kirkland.
Jesse Venturia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Van Kirkland misses.
Van Kirkland stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Venturia.
Nice straight punches there by Venturia. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Venturia.
An inside leg kick lands from Venturia.
Van Kirkland with a poor takedown
and Venturia counters with a good low kick that Van Kirkland was not able to check.
Venturia throws a series of punches but Van Kirkland avoids them all with ease.
Van Kirkland was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Venturia scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Venturia has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venturia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Venturia misses the shot to the body.
Venturia throws out a loose jab but Van Kirkland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Venturia lands with a kick to the temple. Van Kirkland shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut is getting worse.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Venturia throws a head kick but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Van Kirkland tried to counter with a leg kick but Venturia avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venturia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Van Kirkland uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Venturia.
Van Kirkland scores with a head kick.

It looks like Jesse Venturia has been cut.
Van Kirkland has his takedown stuffed
and Van Kirkland takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Venturia connects with a good right hand that stumbles Van Kirkland. Van Kirkland circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Venturia throws a head kick but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Van Kirkland checks a low kick from Venturia.
Van Kirkland was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Van Kirkland.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikhail Van Kirkland. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Kirkland throws a lazy head kick
and Venturia makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Venturia scores with a four punch combination!
Venturia lands a really nice looking cross but Van Kirkland seems unphased.

Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Van Kirkland takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Van Kirkland shoots in but no luck this time.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Venturia! But no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Venturia cracks the inside of Van Kirkland's front leg.
Jesse Venturia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Venturia throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Kirkland fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Van Kirkland shoots and misses
and Venturia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Venturia scores with a nice head shot.
Van Kirkland defending well as Venturia loads up on a big left hand.
Venturia is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Venturia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Venturia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Van Kirkland. That did some damage!
Van Kirkland on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Jeez, Mikhail Van Kirkland's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Van Kirkland tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A head kick lands from Venturia that sends Van Kirkland to the canvas. Van Kirkland tries to scramble back to his feet but Venturia brings him back down into side control.

Van Kirkland is rocked!
Jesse Venturia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Venturia throws a strike aimed at the side of Van Kirkland's head but Van Kirkland avoids it well.
Oh Van Kirkland is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Van Kirkland tries to bench press Venturia off him but Venturia keeps the position.
Van Kirkland seems to have got his legs back now.
Van Kirkland gets back to half guard.
Venturia tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Venturia decides to stand up.
Van Kirkland throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Van Kirkland is looking to wear down Venturia with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Van Kirkland attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Van Kirkland shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Van Kirkland was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Venturia is pushing Van Kirkland's head away, looking to escape. Van Kirkland manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venturia is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Van Kirkland misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Venturia is trying to buck Van Kirkland off.
Venturia dodges the ground and pound from Van Kirkland.
Venturia is trying to buck Van Kirkland off.
Venturia felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sloppy strikes there by Van Kirkland.
Venturia is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Van Kirkland working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Venturia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Venturia misses the jab.
Van Kirkland throwing a counter right hand but Venturia manages to avoid it.
Venturia looks to land a combination but Van Kirkland avoids it well.
Van Kirkland is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Venturia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Van Kirkland throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Venturia was covering up waiting for the punch and Van Kirkland finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Van Kirkland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Venturia is keeping the position for now.
Van Kirkland scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venturia is looking to stand back up but Van Kirkland counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Venturia.
Van Kirkland takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Van Kirkland stops Venturia from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Venturia avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Venturia is trying to stand up here but Van Kirkland is controlling him well.
Van Kirkland thows a huge punch but Venturia dodges it nicely.
Van Kirkland prevents Venturia from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice uppercut there from Venturia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venturia throws a head kick that misses.

Van Kirkland moves into range and clinches up with Venturia.
Venturia tries to break free but Van Kirkland pushes him back against the cage.

Venturia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Venturia lands a body shot.
Venturia misses with a right hand
and Van Kirkland counters with a left right combination that sends Venturia crashing to the mat - Van Kirkland wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Venturia out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mikhail Van Kirkland!