PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lew Rockwell (ranked 1551 p4p, 2565 weight class) and Henri Kirchen (ranked 187 p4p, 273 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rockwell
vs
Kirchen

195 cm
28
280
9 - 7 - 1

192 cm
24
237
7 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Core Combat

Conviction

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 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lew Rockwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Henri Kirchen!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rockwell wants to clinch up but Kirchen keeps it at a distance.
Rockwell tries to bum rush Kirchen with a series of wild strikes but Kirchen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A bone on bone clash there as Rockwell blocks the leg kick.

Rockwell moves into the clinch.
Rockwell fails to pull guard.
Rockwell tries to pull guard but Kirchen holds him up against the cage and eventually Rockwell drops back down to his feet.
Rockwell fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Our sources have told us that Rockwell has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lew Rockwell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rockwell is trying to pull guard but Kirchen has him pressed against the cage.

Rockwell jumps guard and drags Kirchen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Rockwell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kirchen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kirchen wants to stand but Rockwell is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rockwell keeping moving, preventing Kirchen from controlling successfully.

Kirchen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rockwell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kirchen has managed to get both his arms back between Rockwell's legs - danger averted.

Rockwell looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kirchen has picked Rockwell up and slammed him! Rockwell can't keep hold of the triangle and Kirchen manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirchen tries for a kimura but Rockwell is defending well.
Rockwell tries to bench press Kirchen off him but Kirchen keeps the position.

Kirchen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rockwell, who protects the arm well.
Rockwell wants to control but Kirchen postures up.

Kirchen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kirchen wants to control but Rockwell is keeping him busy.
Rockwell is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirchen working away.
Rockwell tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kirchen tries to stand but Rockwell is controlling his head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rockwell is looking for a sweep.
Kirchen working away.

Kirchen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rockwell has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kirchen but great work by Rockwell.
An elbow from Rockwell crashes against the mat.
Kirchen tries to buck Rockwell off but Rockwell is having none of it.
Rockwell scoring with punches from side control.
Rockwell misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rockwell postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Rockwell's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kirchen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rockwell working the ground and pound.
Kirchen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rockwell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Rockwell there.
Rockwell throws a strike but Kirchen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rockwell is in close to Kirchen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rockwell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirchen looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rockwell throws a big elbow that misses.
Kirchen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rockwell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirchen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rockwell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rockwell postures up in Kirchen's guard and throws a big left but Kirchen blocks it.

Kirchen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rockwell passes into half guard.
Rockwell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kirchen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kirchen tries to roll over but Rockwell keeps him under control.
Rockwell slips a nice elbow through Kirchen's hands, connecting with Kirchen's forehead.
Kirchen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rockwell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kirchen misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rockwell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kirchen.
Rockwell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kirchen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rockwell rushes Kirchen and presses him up against the cage.
Kirchen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kirchen working hard to break the clinch.

Rockwell pulls guard effortlessly.
Rockwell keeping moving, preventing Kirchen from controlling successfully.

Rockwell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rockwell has an active guard here but Kirchen has managed to pass into half guard.
Rockwell is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirchen wants to stand up but Rockwell has a hold of him and won't allow it.

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

Kirchen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rockwell is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kirchen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kirchen's back!
Rockwell misses with an elbow to the head.
Rockwell misses with an elbow to the head.
Rockwell struggling to land strikes to the head as Kirchen covers up.
Rockwell scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Kirchen is looking for a way out.
Kirchen rolls, trying to escape but Rockwell keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rockwell is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rockwell is not going to allow Kirchen to sit and survive in this position.
Kirchen can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rockwell scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Kirchen is looking for a way out.
Rockwell throwing sloppy strikes.
Kirchen tries to roll but Rockwell sticks to his back.
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!
Rockwell somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Kirchen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Kirchen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirchen trying to control but not successfully.
Rockwell is hanging on to Kirchen's back as he tries to escape.
Rockwell is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Rockwell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kirchen can do to turn this around?
Rockwell is landing big shots and Kirchen is squirming looking to escape! He can't escape though and the ref jumps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lew Rockwell!
A determined Lew Rockwell didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!