PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kokkoro Kirin (ranked 2484 p4p, 2635 weight class) and StepOn Struve (ranked 263 p4p, 287 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kirin
vs
Struve

203 cm
22
275
4 - 1 - 0

213 cm
19
265
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kokkoro Kirin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, StepOn Struve!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Struve has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Struve there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kirin lands with a nice body punch.
Kirin moves out of range of the body kick.
Kirin moves away from the strike by Struve.
Kirin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kirin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kirin lands a nice shot that snaps Struve's head back.
Kirin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kirin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Struve lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kirin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sloppy strikes from Kirin. Those never looked like landing.
Struve feints a counter leg kick.
Kirin seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Struve with a nice calf kick.
Kirin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Struve throws a looping overhand right but Kirin ducks down to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kirin.
Struve throws the kick towards the body but Kirin avoids it.
Struve scores with a head kick. Kirin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A bone on bone clash there as Kirin blocks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struve lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Struve scores with a one two! Kirin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kirin moves out of range of the body kick.
Struve misses with a kick to the body.
Struve looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Good standup being displayed there by Kirin as he connects with a hook.
Kirin ducks under a wild hook from Struve.
Struve takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kirin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Struve.
Struve looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Struve is looking to slow Kirin down with leg kicks.
Kirin scores with a sloppy right hand. Struve should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Struve walks into a stiff left hand from Kirin.
Good leg kick by Struve.
StepOn Struve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Struve.
A swing and a miss from Struve.
Kirin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Struve throws a jab but it's blocked by Kirin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struve takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kirin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Struve with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kirin stuns Struve with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Struve loads up on a big right hand but Kirin slips the punch.
It looked like Kirin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kirin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Struve avoids the body shot from Kirin.
Kirin ducks under a wild hook from Struve.
The crowd cheers as Kirin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Struve doesn't seem phased though.
Struve throws a combination that misses
letting Kirin counter with a right hand.
Struve throws a low kick but Kirin avoids it.
A good leg kick by Struve.
Struve lands with a nice body kick.
Kirin misses with a hook.
Kirin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kirin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Struve moves away.
Kirin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struve avoids the body shot from Kirin.
Kirin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Struve fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kirin.
Kirin slips a jab and a cross from Struve.
Kirin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kirin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Struve takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kirin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Struve.
Struve tries a head kick but it misses.
Kirin misses the shot to the body.
Struve swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Struve throws a sloppy head kick and Kirin moves out of range easily.
Kirin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Struve throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kirin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A little feinted left hand from Kirin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Struve takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A head kick by Struve misses
and Kirin counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Struve throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kirin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirin jabs Struve right on the nose. Struve blinks but takes it well.
Kirin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

It looks like StepOn Struve has been cut.
Struve throws out a leg kick but Kirin moves out of range and Struve only half commits.
Kirin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Struve looks winded!
Struve slips a straight right by Kirin.
Kirin connects with a single shot there.

Struve is rocked!
Kirin drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Struve right on the button. Struve goes down! Kirin follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Kirin gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kokkoro Kirin!
Kokkoro Kirin is the new heavyweight champion!