PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatu Kurri (ranked 1129 p4p, 1080 weight class) and Chad Smith (ranked 171 p4p, 165 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Chad Smith was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kurri
vs
Smith

184 cm
25
176
14 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
180
11 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Brooklyn Apothecary

Altitude Clothing

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tatu Kurri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Kurri feinted with a counter takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Kurri attempts a counter takedown but Smith avoids it well and moves away.
Smith misses with a right hand

and Kurri counters with a single leg into guard. Smith didn't expect that.

Kurri drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Smith manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kurri has Smith in his guard.

Kurri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smith can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kurri 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.
Kurri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurri content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kurri with a nice head shot there.
Kurri trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Kurri drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kurri jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kurri with a nice head shot there.
Kurri throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kurri from controlling successfully.
Smith wants to stand but Kurri is controlling the position.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kurri tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Kurri has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Kurri is proving a slippery customer.
Smith looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kurri puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.

Kurri looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kurri frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kurri looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Kurri is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Smith has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kurri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kurri has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kurri trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurri unloads with some shots from mount but Smith bucks and avoids them well.
Smith holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kurri tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Kurri dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith lands with an overhand left.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Kurri ducks down to avoid it.
Smith tries to clinch there but Kurri circles away.
Smith throws a series of punches but Kurri avoids them all with ease.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurri half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurri.
Kurri shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.

Kurri shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Kurri manages to move to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kurri has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
Smith taking shots to the head.
Kurri landing strikes from the mount and Smith is in trouble!

Kurri has control of Smith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smith regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kurri connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kurri lands a big elbow.
Kurri is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurri looking to finish with strikes here!
Kurri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Kurri landing strikes from the mount.
Kurri lands with some strikes.
Kurri is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Kurri swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smith is now in Kurri's guard. A big mistake from Kurri there, giving up the dominant position!
Smith won't allow Kurri to sweep him here.
Kurri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Kurri pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kurri scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith is staying active underneath Kurri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurri.

Kurri is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Smith is just riding it out for now. Kurri eventually gives up the hold.

Kurri seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Kurri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kurri wants to pass to mount but Smith is defending the position.

Kurri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurri takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kurri passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Smith!
Kurri putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kurri with the ground and pound from mount.
Kurri trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Kurri dominated that second round.
That's time! Kurri's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kurri at a distance.
Smith misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurri.
Kurri changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Kurri slips the punch.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kurri tries to counter with a takedown but Smith is quick to defend against it.

Kurri manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Smith on his heels. He'll look to pass Smith's guard now, I'm sure.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith controls Kurri momentarily but Kurri frees himself.
Kurri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kurri makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kurri trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kurri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kurri looking to pass the guard.
Kurri is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Chad Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurri is pushing down on Smith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Smith is fighting to maintain full guard but Kurri has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kurri is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tatu Kurri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Still in half guard, Kurri seems content to control.
Kurri scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kurri is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kurri with good strikes from the mount here!
Kurri scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smith?

Kurri with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Kurri working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kurri lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Kurri avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Kurri landing shots from mount.

Kurri moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Smith has worked his arm free - good work by Smith!

Kurri is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kurri tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Kurri tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Kurri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurri working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tatu Kurri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kurri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatu Kurri!
A pretty intense looking Tatu Kurri took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.