PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jarod Kirkland (ranked 8849 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luka Ivanusec (ranked 5937 p4p, 683 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ivanusec's choice of entrance music: Hit me baby one more time. 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.

Kirkland
vs
Ivanusec

174 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Likes musicals

IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarod Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luka Ivanusec!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirkland throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ivanusec tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kirkland is in Ivanusec's guard.
Ivanusec trying to keep a closed guard but Kirkland is proving a slippery customer.
Kirkland won't allow Ivanusec to sweep him here.
Ivanusec lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kirkland trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ivanusec looking to pass the guard.
Kirkland wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirkland scores with a nice shot.
Kirkland knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ivanusec on the ground.
Ivanusec stopping the sweep attempt from Kirkland.
Kirkland lands an upkick as Ivanusec stands over him.
Kirkland looking to control.
Ivanusec trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanusec loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanusec won't allow Kirkland to sweep him here.
Ivanusec sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kirkland's guard.
Ivanusec wants to take a breather but Kirkland is having none of it.

Ivanusec is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kirkland has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ivanusec prevents Kirkland from improving his position.
Ivanusec is thwarting Kirkland's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland tries to roll over but Ivanusec keeps him under control.
Kirkland is refusing to be controlled, as Ivanusec sits in half guard.
Kirkland throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Ivanusec shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ivanusec is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kirkland is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ivanusec is controlling him.
Ivanusec trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kirkland 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivanusec 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.
Kirkland trying to keep a closed guard but Ivanusec is proving a slippery customer.
Ivanusec passes Kirkland's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kirkland trying to control from the bottom.
Kirkland wants to get back to his feet.
Kirkland tries to roll over but Ivanusec keeps him under control.
Kirkland is breathing heavily.
Kirkland throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kirkland wants to control but Ivanusec passes into side.
Kirkland is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kirkland is trying to work for a sweep but Ivanusec has mounted him!

Ivanusec is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kirkland can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Ivanusec with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ivanusec swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kirkland is now in Ivanusec's guard. A big mistake from Ivanusec there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Ivanusec dominated that 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.

Ivanusec shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kirkland as he avoids it easily.
Ivanusec tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kirkland swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kirkland closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kirkland lands in his opponent's guard.
Kirkland trying to control but Ivanusec is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirkland throws a big right hand that misses.
Ivanusec keeping moving, preventing Kirkland from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanusec looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirkland distracts Ivanusec with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ivanusec trying to control the position.
Kirkland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ivanusec's head.
Kirkland with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kirkland seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kirkland looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Luka Ivanusec has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirkland lands with a punch from half guard.
Kirkland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kirkland scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanusec keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kirkland working Ivanusec over with strikes.
Ivanusec on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ivanusec manages to get to full guard.
Kirkland is stalling in the full guard.
Ivanusec is breathing heavily.
Kirkland lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ivanusec 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kirkland's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ivanusec can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kirkland controls the pace.
Ivanusec wants to stand and escape but Kirkland is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirkland content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarod Kirkland dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ivanusec dives in for a single leg takedown but Kirkland sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Ivanusec gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kirkland to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ivanusec lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kirkland looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ivanusec puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirkland is trying to get back to full guard.
Ivanusec wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirkland keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkland tries to get to full guard but Ivanusec has control of the leg.
Ivanusec is looking to advance position but Kirkland won't allow it.
Ivanusec wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirkland keeps working.
Ivanusec takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kirkland is controlling Ivanusec's trapped leg to prevent Ivanusec from advancing to side control.
Ivanusec 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.
Ivanusec prevents Kirkland from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kirkland is trying to stand back up but Ivanusec is controlling him
Kirkland wants to improve his position but Ivanusec is controlling well.

Ivanusec seems to be working for a kimura but Kirkland defends the submission attempt.
Kirkland wants to get back to full guard.
Ivanusec is thwarting Kirkland's attempts to control the position.
Kirkland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ivanusec stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kirkland swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kirkland is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kirkland drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kirkland in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Kirkland thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ivanusec tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirkland with the ground and pound from mount.

Kirkland goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ivanusec is on top in guard.
Ivanusec trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirkland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirkland is striking but Ivanusec is not phased and passes to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ivanusec is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kirkland sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luka Ivanusec.
I think Ivanusec has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Luka Ivanusec!
Luka Ivanusec decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.