PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kendo Hirigushi (ranked 258 p4p, 30 weight class) and Kieran McArthur (ranked 573 p4p, 65 weight class). Kieran McArthur has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kendo Hirigushi's chin.

Hirigushi
vs
McArthur

181 cm
26
160 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

175 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Arcticus University: London

Sin City Allstars

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kendo Hirigushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kieran McArthur!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Lou da Vinci and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McArthur, right into the meat.
Hirigushi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hirigushi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Hirigushi has closed the distance and engaged McArthur in a clinch.
Hirigushi lands a left hand.
McArthur swings wildly with an uppercut but Hirigushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Hirigushi fails to land.
I was talking to Hirigushi's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hirigushi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from McArthur fails to land.
McArthur lands with a right to the head.
Hirigushi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Hirigushi breaks from the clinch.
McArthur misses with a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Hirigushi. Beautiful body shot.
McArthur pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hirigushi is looking to counter punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McArthur dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hirigushi. That did some damage!
Hirigushi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McArthur's head backwards.
Hirigushi misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirigushi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hirigushi there as he acknowledges the shot.

Hirigushi is rocked!
Hirigushi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Hirigushi moves out of range easily.
McArthur thuds his shin into the meat of Hirigushi's side.
Hirigushi swings for the body but McArthur moves out of range.
Hirigushi missing with a left hand there. McArthur was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McArthur doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A slapping leg kick lands for McArthur.
McArthur is looking to score with low kicks.
McArthur throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hirigushi seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
McArthur pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hirigushi throws a big counter combination but McArthur scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
McArthur has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
McArthur throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McArthur throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hirigushi misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur misses with a looping left.
Hirigushi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
McArthur throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hirigushi misses with a double jab
and McArthur counters with a nice body kick.
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!

Hirigushi takes the fight into the clinch.
Hirigushi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McArthur throws a head punch that misses.
Hirigushi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McArthur scores with a shot to the side of Hirigushi's head.
McArthur tries a body shot but Hirigushi blocks it.
McArthur blocks a body shot from Hirigushi.
McArthur lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hirigushi misses with a punch on the inside.
Hirigushi lands a right hand that snaps the head of McArthur backwards.
McArthur lands with a light punch inside.
Hirigushi has a couple of punches blocked by McArthur.
McArthur misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McArthur misses with a body punch.
McArthur lands a body punch.
McArthur lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hirigushi blocks an uppercut.
McArthur has a couple of punches blocked by Hirigushi.
McArthur misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, McArthur scores with a nice short uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McArthur.
McArthur misses with a punch to the body.
Hirigushi misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McArthur.
Hirigushi throws a head punch that misses.
Hirigushi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McArthur blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hirigushi lands a shoulder strike.
Hirigushi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hirigushi misses with a hook to the ribs.
McArthur scores with a shot to the side of Hirigushi's head.
McArthur swings wildly with an uppercut but Hirigushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hirigushi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hirigushi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hirigushi.
McArthur tries to work over Hirigushi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hirigushi has a couple of punches blocked by McArthur.
McArthur blocks a body shot from Hirigushi.
McArthur gets through Hirigushi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McArthur.

Hirigushi breaks the clinch.
Hirigushi avoids the body shot from McArthur.
Hirigushi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McArthur throws a shot from downtown. Hirigushi moves away and avoids it.
Hirigushi blocks a low kick nicely.
Hirigushi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
McArthur looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McArthur misses with a low kick.
McArthur takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McArthur throws a leg kick
and Hirigushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hirigushi checks a low kick from McArthur.
Hirigushi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hirigushi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McArthur.
McArthur ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hirigushi moves away.
Hirigushi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
McArthur takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
McArthur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McArthur feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hirigushi's calf.
Hirigushi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McArthur misses with a hook
and Hirigushi counters with a three punch combo that has McArthur backing up. McArthur nods at Hirigushi to acknowledge the strikes.
Hirigushi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McArthur works the jab nicely.
McArthur connects with a jab.
Oh Hirigushi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
That kick from McArthur tenderised Hirigushi's leg. Hirigushi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hirigushi misses with a wild body shot.
McArthur now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Hirigushi coming out on top.
Hirigushi seems to have got his legs back now.
McArthur throws a solid leg kick but Hirigushi takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McArthur.
A quick step to the side and Hirigushi tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hirigushi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from McArthur fails to land.
Hirigushi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good body shot from McArthur.
McArthur swings wildly with an uppercut but Hirigushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hirigushi.
Hirigushi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hirigushi misses with a body punch.
Hirigushi scores with a hook to the body.
Hirigushi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Hirigushi.
Kieran McArthur seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hirigushi misses with a hook from the clinch.
McArthur can't find room to land a body shot as Hirigushi controls the action.

McArthur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McArthur throws a leg kick but Hirigushi sees it coming and moves out of range.
McArthur lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur scores with a kick to the body.
Hirigushi is looking to wear down McArthur with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hirigushi misses with a looping right.
Hirigushi lands a jab to the nose.
McArthur pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It looked like Hirigushi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hirigushi throws a body shot but no joy.
McArthur walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hirigushi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hirigushi throws a shot to the body.
McArthur throws a looping overhand right but Hirigushi ducks down to avoid it.
Kieran McArthur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hirigushi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McArthur can pounce on him.
Hirigushi just misses with a punch to the body.
McArthur takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Good leg kick by McArthur there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Hirigushi gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Hirigushi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hirigushi tries to throw a body punch but McArthur avoids it by throwing Hirigushi back against the cage.
McArthur working aggressively here.
McArthur prevents a body shot from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi misses with some punches.
McArthur struggles to land a body shot inside as Hirigushi controls his hands.
Hirigushi throws a punch but it's blocked by McArthur.
Hirigushi is working McArthur over against the cage.
A short right from Hirigushi on the inside.
Hirigushi tries a body shot but McArthur blocks it.
McArthur stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McArthur blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hirigushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McArthur digs a right hand underneath Hirigushi's ribcage. Hirigushi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McArthur blocking some punches.
Hirigushi lands a nice uppercut.
Hirigushi tries to work over McArthur's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from McArthur fails to land.
McArthur scores with a nice hook to the head.

Hirigushi breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi walks forward, straight into a front kick from McArthur.
Kieran McArthur seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McArthur explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hirigushi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sloppy strikes from Hirigushi. Those never looked like landing.
Crunch! McArthur slams his shin into Hirigushi's torso.
McArthur swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hirigushi throws an overhand right that lands on McArthur's shoulder, as McArthur tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick lands from McArthur.
McArthur misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi throwing a counter right hand but McArthur manages to avoid it.
McArthur connects with a solid leg kick.
Hirigushi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McArthur.
McArthur with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kieran McArthur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McArthur looks for the body kick but Hirigushi saw that one coming.
Hirigushi appears to be looking for a big counter.
McArthur does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McArthur, right into the meat.
McArthur fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McArthur takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McArthur misses with a kick to the body
and Hirigushi counters with a left and a right that stings McArthur.
McArthur throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hirigushi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hirigushi swings widly with a right hand
and McArthur counters with a good low kick that Hirigushi was not able to check.
A punch combination from McArthur misses.
McArthur throws a leg kick that misses.
Hirigushi works over McArthur's head and body with a nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hirigushi wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirigushi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McArthur scores with a shot to the body.
Hirigushi's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
McArthur tried to score with a low kick but Hirigushi checks it.
Hirigushi blocks the body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hirigushi. McArthur does a little dance to reset his feet.
McArthur keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters circling - McArthur throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hirigushi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McArthur momentarily.
McArthur lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kendo Hirigushi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hirigushi's calf.
Hirigushi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hirigushi avoids the body shot from McArthur.
Hirigushi ducks under a wild hook from McArthur.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hirigushi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McArthur can pounce on him.
McArthur is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hirigushi.
Hirigushi throwing a counter right hand but McArthur manages to avoid it.
Hirigushi checks a low kick from McArthur.
Hirigushi punishes McArthur's body with a nice straight punch.
Hirigushi takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hirigushi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hirigushi misses with a looping right.
Hirigushi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hirigushi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McArthur moves away.
Hirigushi throws a shot from downtown. McArthur moves away and avoids it.
McArthur tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hirigushi was well out of range. Poor timing from McArthur.
McArthur keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McArthur swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McArthur throws a big shot that misses.
McArthur throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McArthur stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hirigushi throws a series of punches but McArthur avoids them all with ease.
McArthur throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hirigushi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McArthur swings for the body but Hirigushi moves out of range.
Hirigushi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur throws an overhand right that lands on Hirigushi's shoulder, as Hirigushi tries to avoid the shot.

Hirigushi clinches up with McArthur and pushes him back against the cage.

Hirigushi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McArthur pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McArthur scores with a jab to the body.
McArthur misses with a hook.
Hirigushi misses with a straight left.
Hirigushi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McArthur throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McArthur avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hirigushi swings widly with a right hand
and McArthur counters with a leg kick.
Hirigushi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hirigushi slips under a jab from McArthur.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kieran McArthur comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McArthur winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kieran McArthur!
In his post fight interview, Kieran McArthur started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.