PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Durden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Angle comes to the cage accompanied by Kurt Angle. Durden has chosen ANIT NO REST FOR THE WICKED as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Angle
vs
Durden

178 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
215 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Angle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyler Durden!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durden moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Angle misses with a takedown attempt - Durden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Angle tries for a takedown but Durden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Angle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Angle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durden lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Angle feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Durden is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Angle is controlling him.
Angle tries to free his leg and advance position but Durden is retaining full guard.
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Durden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durden is looking to stand up but Angle isn't so interested in that idea.
Angle wants to pass the guard but Durden is keeping the position.
Durden wants to stand and escape but Angle is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Angle pivots, looking for a leg kick but Durden is out of range and Angle settles back down.
Angle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Durden circles away.

Angle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Angle wants to free his trapped foot but Durden is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Angle is working hard here to advance position.
Angle stops Durden from getting back to his feet.

Angle is working for a kimura but Durden is defending it quite comfortably.
Durden is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle is keen to just control but Durden is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Angle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Angle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Durden as he avoids it easily.

Angle drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Angle stops Durden from standing up.
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Durden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Angle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Angle won't allow Durden to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Durden's guard.
Durden is trying to stand up here but Angle is controlling him well.
Durden looks gassed!
Angle controlling the pace.
Durden wants to get back to his feet.
Durden is not content to let Angle control the position.
Angle trying to mount his opponent but Durden defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Durden is staying active underneath Angle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Durden is trying to stand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Angle has a takedown stuffed.
Durden misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kurt Angle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Angle shoots in but Durden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Angle looks for a takedown but Durden sprawls well.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Angle checks a leg kick.
Angle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Angle misses with a takedown attempt - Durden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Angle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Angle dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Angle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Angle scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Durden tries to escape but Angle is in control.
Durden stops Angle from passing to mount.

Angle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Angle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Durden is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Angle asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Angle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Angle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durden sneaks out the side door and pushes Angle away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Durden is breathing heavily.
Angle shoots in but no luck this time.
Tyler Durden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Angle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Angle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Durden wants to get back to his feet.
Angle wants to control the pace but Durden is squirming around nicely.

Angle wants to finish this one by submission but Durden is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Angle.
Angle throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Angle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Angle working for a guillotine from mount but Durden is in no mood to give up.

Angle looking to secure an arm triangle but Durden defends it well.
Durden is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Angle trying to control but Durden is having none of it.
Durden is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle controlling from the full mount.

Angle looking for a guillotine from mount but Durden is having none of it.

Angle looking to secure an arm triangle but Durden defends it well.
Durden is trying to stand.
Angle working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Angle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Durden is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Angle working for a submission but Durden is keeping him at bay.
Angle won't let Durden get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Angle looking to control but Durden is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Angle lands a heavy elbow.
Durden wants to try and get back to his feet.

Angle working for a guillotine from mount but Durden is in no mood to give up.
Angle can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Durden is looking to escape.
Durden's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Angle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Durden as he jumps to the side.
Angle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Durden's waist but Durden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Angle off to one side.
Durden misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Angle shoots in but Durden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Angle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durden fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice takedown defense from Durden. No joy for Angle on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Angle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Angle shoots in but Durden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Angle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Durden can pounce on him.
Durden scores with a three punch combo!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Angle.
Angle shoots in and drives through. Durden sprawls well.
Angle has a takedown stuffed.
Angle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Angle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Durden circles away.
Angle takes a swing at Durden's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Durden is fending him off so far but Angle persists. Nope, Durden circles away and we're back to standing.
Angle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Durden bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Angle's head.
Tyler Durden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Angle closes the distance and clinches up with Durden, looking for a takedown. Angle pushes Durden against the cage but Durden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Angle looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Durden kicks Angle off and gets to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Durden. No joy for Angle on that attempt.
Durden stuffs the takedown.

Angle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Durden!
Durden is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Angle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Durden is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Angle lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Durden is squirming around, avoiding Angle's attempts to control the action.

Angle is going olschool here, as he tries to force Durden to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Durden shrugs it off.
Angle controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle wants to control the pace but Durden is squirming around nicely.
Durden is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Angle has hold of Durden's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Durden manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Angle is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Durden has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Durden wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Angle clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Angle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Durden sprawls well initially but Angle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Angle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Durden is trying to stand up here but Angle is controlling him well.
Angle is controlling the pace.
Durden is trying to stand up here but Angle is controlling him well.
Durden is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Angle wants to pass the guard but Durden is defending well.

Angle is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Durden has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kurt Angle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden is trying to stand.
Angle tries to pass to full mount but Durden defends it.
Angle is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Angle content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Angle working for a guillotine from mount but Durden is in no mood to give up.

Angle is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Durden is surviving well by controlling Angle's body position as best he can.
You get the feeling that Durden really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Angle looking for a guillotine from mount but Durden is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Angle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Angle won't let Durden get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Angle is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Durden has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Durden is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Angle working for a guillotine from mount but Durden is in no mood to give up.
Durden squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Angle is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Durden has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Durden wants to try and get back to his feet.
Angle tries to control but Durden wriggling away.
Durden squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Angle looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Angle is working for a guillotine from mount but Durden frees his head quite easily.
Durden really wants to buck Angle off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Angle had his way with Tyler Durden in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Durden as Angle shoots in.
Durden throws a looping overhand right but Angle ducks down to avoid it.
Angle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Angle shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Durden pinned against the cage. Durden gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Angle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Durden. No joy for Angle on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Angle throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Durden's waist but Durden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Angle off to one side.
Angle looks for a takedown but Durden sprawls well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Angle shoots in for a takedown but Durden shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle fails with the takedown.
Durden uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Durden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Angle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Durden smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A solid body kick from Durden.

Angle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Durden is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Angle is controlling him.
Kurt Angle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durden is keeping the position for now.
Angle won't allow Durden to get back to his feet.
Angle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durden swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Durden stuffs the takedown attempt from Angle. Angle gets slowly back to his feet.
Angle tries for a takedown but Durden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Durden fails to land with a series of punches.

Angle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Angle trying to control the position from guard on top but Durden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Angle might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Durden uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Angle drives through with a takedown into guard.
Angle stops Durden from standing up.
Angle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Angle seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Durden for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durden wants to get back to his feet but Angle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Angle trying to control but Durden is working from the bottom.
Durden being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Angle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Angle, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 50:45
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 50:45
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Angle!
Kurt Angle retains his light heavyweight title!