PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krisko Kurtev (ranked 2623 p4p, 3016 weight class) and Daniel Hazlehurst (ranked 355 p4p, 398 weight class). Hazlehurst comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Queen - One Vision kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kurtev
vs
Hazlehurst

189 cm
24
211
6 - 8 - 0

183 cm
28
202
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Finnish Elite Extreme Science

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Krisko Kurtev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Hazlehurst!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurtev misses with a takedown attempt - Hazlehurst sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hazlehurst defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurtev.
Kurtev tries to clinch there but Hazlehurst circles away.

Kurtev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kurtev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hazlehurst gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krisko Kurtev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hazlehurst gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hazlehurst works his way into side control.
Hazlehurst takes a little break here. Kurtev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kurtev misses with an elbow from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Kurtev's face as Hazlehurst controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Kurtev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kurtev tries to buck Hazlehurst off but Hazlehurst is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hazlehurst is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kurtev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hazlehurst landing a few strikes.
Kurtev misses with a strike from the bottom.
Hazlehurst avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kurtev.
You can see the frustration on Kurtev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kurtev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hazlehurst lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
My spies in Lads Lash Banter Gym inform me that Hazlehurst has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hazlehurst moves into full mount!
Kurtev can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hazlehurst with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst working Kurtev over with strikes here.
Kurtev swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hazlehurst looking to control but Kurtev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Hazlehurst jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kurtev manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kurtev tries to improve position but can't.
Kurtev striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Hazlehurst in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hazlehurst tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kurtev regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hazlehurst prevents Kurtev from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst is nestled in close to Kurtev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kurtev tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kurtev missing with punches from the bottom.
Kurtev is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kurtev missing with punches from the bottom.
Kurtev trying to control but Hazlehurst postures up.

Kurtev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hazlehurst pulls his head out easily.

Kurtev looking for submissions off his back.
Hazlehurst seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazlehurst blocks the strikes from Kurtev.
Hazlehurst slows the pace down in half guard.
Kurtev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hazlehurst is working away from the top position though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hazlehurst connects with a nice short shot to Kurtev's temple.
Hazlehurst with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hazlehurst seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurtev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kurtev is trying to control but can't.
Hazlehurst perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kurtev tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurtev throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hazlehurst working the head and body with strikes.
Kurtev is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Hazlehurst dominated that 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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kurtev is defended easily by Hazlehurst.
Hazlehurst looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Kurtev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hazlehurst has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hazlehurst gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kurtev thows a huge punch but Hazlehurst dodges it nicely.
Hazlehurst keeping control of the position.
Hazlehurst moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazlehurst wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazlehurst preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurtev is looking to advance position but Hazlehurst has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Hazlehurst pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hazlehurst content just to control the position here.
Hazlehurst lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Hazlehurst has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hazlehurst controlling the position easily from mount.
Hazlehurst landing punches.
Kurtev is squirming around, avoiding Hazlehurst's attempts to control the action.
Hazlehurst has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kurtev's face.
Kurtev is in a horrible position here. Hazlehurst smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kurtev tries to hold on but Hazlehurst pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev working to try and regain half guard.
Hazlehurst controlling the position easily from mount.
Kurtev flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
The referee warns Kurtev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hazlehurst controlling from the full mount.
Hazlehurst avoids the attempt from Kurtev to control.
Kurtev is bucking up trying to escape but Hazlehurst cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kurtev wants to hold on but Hazlehurst pushes him away.
Kurtev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hazlehurst cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev is desperately trying to improve his position but Hazlehurst has a good base and remains in mount.
A nice elbow there by Hazlehurst.
Hazlehurst looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kurtev flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hazlehurst blocks Kurtev's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Hazlehurst connects with a bit shot that sees Kurtev covering up! More strikes from Hazlehurst and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Hazlehurst is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Hazlehurst!