PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Thorpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bakiyev
vs
Thorpe

171 cm
22
163 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
158 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

DC Unrivaled

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kirk Thorpe!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakiyev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A big right from Bakiyev misses.
Bakiyev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thorpe.
Thorpe misses with an uppercut
and Bakiyev counters with a straight right hand.
Thorpe scores with a jab.
The fighters circling - Thorpe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bakiyev takes a swing at Thorpe's ribcage but misses.
Thorpe slips a jab from Bakiyev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorpe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thorpe misses with an uppercut.
Thorpe takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but Thorpe moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorpe swings widly with a right hand
and Bakiyev counters with a nice uppercut.
Bakiyev drops his hands momentarily and Thorpe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bakiyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thorpe slips a jab from Bakiyev.
It seemed like Thorpe was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bakiyev ducks under a wild hook from Thorpe.
Bakiyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bakiyev, as that shot connected.
Bakiyev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thorpe.
Bakiyev lands a nice hook to Thorpe's body. Thorpe takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bakiyev swings for the body but Thorpe moves out of range.

Thorpe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Thorpe - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Thorpe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thorpe working aggressively here.
Thorpe can't find room to land a body shot as Bakiyev controls the action.
Thorpe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thorpe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thorpe struggles to land a body shot inside as Bakiyev controls his hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thorpe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
I was talking to Bakiyev's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Thorpe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thorpe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bakiyev's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorpe misses with a punch on the inside.
Thorpe scores with a shot to the side of Bakiyev's head.
Bakiyev blocks an uppercut.
Bakiyev blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Thorpe - that landed with a thud.
Thorpe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bakiyev blocks an uppercut.
Bakiyev blocks a body shot from Thorpe.
Bakiyev is trying to break the clinch but Thorpe is controlling him.
A short body shot lands from Thorpe as the two fighters clinch.
Bakiyev can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorpe keeps control of Bakiyev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thorpe has Bakiyev pressed against the cage, preventing Bakiyev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Thorpe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Thorpe.
Thorpe misses with a punch to the body.

Bakiyev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thorpe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bakiyev was well out of range. Poor timing from Thorpe.

Thorpe rushes Bakiyev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thorpe misses with the head strike.
Thorpe scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Thorpe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thorpe misses with a looping left.
Thorpe swings for the body but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev lands with a shot to the body.
Thorpe misses with a hook to the body
enabling Bakiyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Thorpe takes a swing at Bakiyev's ribcage but misses.
Thorpe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Bakiyev. That snapped Thorpe's head back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakiyev. Thorpe does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but Thorpe moves out of range.
A jab from Thorpe misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thorpe. Bakiyev does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Bakiyev on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thorpe lands with a hook. Bakiyev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bakiyev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bakiyev swats away the attempt to clinch by Thorpe.
Thorpe works Bakiyev's body with a nice hook.
Bakiyev misses with an uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thorpe. Bakiyev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bakiyev scores with a sloppy right hand. Thorpe should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorpe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thorpe throws an off balance right hand
and Bakiyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is winning the standup battle so far.
Thorpe connects with a crisp jab.
Bakiyev slips a straight right by Thorpe.
Bakiyev's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thorpe under the eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thorpe walks into a stiff left hand from Bakiyev.
Thorpe connects with a single shot there.
Bakiyev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bakiyev scores with a sloppy right hand. Thorpe should have avoided that one.
Bakiyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thorpe was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakiyev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorpe slips under a jab from Bakiyev.
Thorpe walks into a jab.
Thorpe walks into a left hand.

Thorpe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thorpe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bakiyev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thorpe scores with a hook to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thorpe in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Thorpe breaks from the clinch.
Bakiyev throws a shot to the body.
Thorpe connects with a looping right hand.
Bakiyev scores with a hook to the body. Thorpe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bakiyev throws a shot to the body.
Thorpe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thorpe avoids the body shot from Bakiyev.
Thorpe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bakiyev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bakiyev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thorpe.
Thorpe swings for the body but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Thorpe scores with a punch to the head.
Thorpe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bakiyev punishes Thorpe's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Toktogulovich Bakiyev will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bakiyev misses with a body shot
and Thorpe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Bakiyev is rocked!
Bakiyev misses with a wild body shot.
Oh Bakiyev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kirk Thorpe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakiyev looks up at the clock. Bad move! Thorpe lands a right hand from hell, dropping Bakiyev. Thorpe pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kirk Thorpe!
In his post fight interview, Kirk Thorpe gave a big smile as he said 'Captains log book. Wintime. I got my 4th Win today and still feel like there is more to add to my abilities. Looking forward to my next opponent.'.