PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gorge Kirk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Knight
vs
Kirk

175 cm
23
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gorge Kirk!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight throws a solid leg kick but Kirk takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Knight.
Kirk ducks under a wild hook from Knight.
Knight misses with a left hand

and Kirk counters with a shoot takedown. Knight fights it but they end up in guard.
Kirk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kirk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.
Kirk prevents Knight from getting back to his feet.
Kirk looking to sit in guard and control but Knight gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Knight knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kirk on the ground.
Kirk is controlling Knight's posture.
Knight wants to get up but he can't break Kirk's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kirk 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.
Knight wants to stand but Kirk has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Knight has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirk is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Knight darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Knight throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kirk.
Mark Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knight misses with a few strikes there.
Kirk on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A lazy left from Knight finds it's target.
Knight lands a glancing blow to the side of Kirk's head.

Kirk is rocked!
Knight misses with a two punch combination.
Knight tries to bum rush Kirk with a series of wild strikes but Kirk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big right from Knight misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kirk gets a double leg takedown into Knight's guard.
Kirk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
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!
Kirk cracks Knight with a solid left hand.
Kirk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kirk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kirk trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knight wants to stand up but Kirk is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kirk 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. Gorge Kirk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kirk fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knight misses with the combination.

Kirk moves into the clinch.
Knight wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Knight's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knight trying to stall but Kirk improves his position.
Kirk is trying to pull guard but Knight has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Knight's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kirk decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight wanted to stand there but Kirk had control of the position.

Kirk has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knight can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knight tries to stand but Kirk is controlling from the bottom.
Knight wants to stand and escape but instead Kirk has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirk wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gorge Kirk will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kirk ducks under a wild hook from Knight.

Kirk rushes Knight and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knight wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kirk fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kirk gets control of Knight's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kirk will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Knight wanted to stand there but Kirk had control of the position.

Kirk has his foot on Knight's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knight works his way back into a safe position though.
Gorge Kirk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knight is looking to stand up but Kirk won't let him.
Kirk seems keen to control Knight's posture.
Knight has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kirk is proving hard to escape from.
Kirk wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kirk fails to land the takedown.
Mark Knight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Knight misses.
Kirk swats away the attempt to clinch by Knight.
Kirk tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knight throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kirk sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knight scores with a jab.
Knight fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mark Knight is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirk tries to clinch but Knight moves out of range.
Knight misses with a series of wild punches.

Kirk gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirk keeps control of Knight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kirk keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Knight's efforts to push away.
Knight prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mark Knight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gorge Kirk.
Kirk tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kirk tries to pull guard but Knight holds him up against the cage and eventually Kirk drops back down to his feet.
Kirk jumps guard but Knight turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kirk keeps control of Knight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kirk manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Knight trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kirk's guard.

Kirk is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight gets to his feet. Kirk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Kirk has managed to clinch.
Knight wants to get back to striking at distance but Kirk won't allow it.
Kirk is trying to pull guard but Knight has him pressed against the cage.

Kirk manages to pull guard.
Kirk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knight has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kirk is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Knight!
Kirk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
Kirk moves forwards but Knight connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Kirk forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Knight tries to break the clinch but Kirk is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kirk is trying to pull guard but Knight has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Knight fails to land.
Knight tries to circle away but Kirk has him pinned against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Knight dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Knight misses with the combination.
Knight misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kirk tries to clinch up.
Mark Knight is winning the standup battle so far.
Knight swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knight is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Knight moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Knight lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice shot by Knight.
Kirk is still on wobbly legs! Can Knight finish him?
Knight cracks Kirk with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Knight closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kirk tries to clinch up.
A slow jab from Knight misses its intended target.
Knight misses with a straight right.

Kirk moves into range and clinches up with Knight.
Kirk jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Knight walks away with a smile on his face. Kirk gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!
Knight will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kirk manages to avoid it.
Knight tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight tries to bum rush Kirk with a series of wild strikes but Kirk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kirk seems to have recovered his senses.
Knight throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knight lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kirk circles away quickly and effectively.

Kirk closes the distance and clinches.

Kirk turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kirk manages to end up in side control.
Kirk postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Knight is not content to let Kirk control the position.
A lull in the action here as Kirk stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to get back to his feet but Kirk drags him back down.
Check out the look on Kirk's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
A lull in the action here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knight pushes Kirk away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kirk gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Kirk politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kirk prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kirk works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Knight taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kirk is putting a hurting on Knight here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kirk scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Knight to see if he's OK.
Kirk creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kirk staying calm.
Kirk creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight pushes Kirk away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kirk gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kirk is chipping away with strikes.
Knight takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kirk wants to control but Knight is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Knight's face as Kirk controls the position.
Kirk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knight keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gorge Kirk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kirk 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gorge Kirk!
Gorge Kirk opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.