PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lex Durst (ranked 24221 p4p, 4741 weight class) and Eymundur Kouransson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Durst
vs
Kouransson

190 cm
29
205
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
214
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lex Durst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eymundur Kouransson!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Durst has Kouransson up against the cage in a clinch.
Kouransson stalling in the clinch but Durst improves position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kouransson misses with a hook from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Durst takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Durst lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kouransson looking to stall.
Kouransson swings wildly with an uppercut but Durst uses good head movement to avoid it.

Durst jumps into guard, dragging Kouransson to the mat.

Durst is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kouransson is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durst manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kouransson manages to get himself to full guard.

Durst sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durst gets to his feet. Kouransson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Durst avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Kouransson finds it's way through Durst's defenses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kouransson misses the target.
Kouransson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Durst fails with the takedown.
Kouransson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Durst dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Durst tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kouransson was well out of range. Poor timing from Durst.
Durst doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kouransson misses with a shot to the body

and Durst holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kouransson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kouransson working aggressively here.
A body shot lands from Kouransson.
Kouransson misses with a punch to the body.
Kouransson can't find room to land a body shot as Durst controls the action.
Kouransson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Durst is keeping busy.

Durst has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kouransson uses from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Durst has his hands on Kouransson's head, controlling the position.
Durst 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.
Durst wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durst is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Durst seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Durst stops Kouransson from getting back to his feet.
Kouransson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Durst tries to pass to full mount but Kouransson defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durst controlling the action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Durst's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Kouransson is defending against the submission attempts here by Durst.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durst trying to control the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lex Durst dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kouransson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Durst manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kouransson is looking to clinch but Durst is avoiding it.
Kouransson moves out of range of the body kick.
Durst is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kouransson can do to turn this around?

Durst closes the distance and pushes Kouransson back into the cage.
Kouransson is pressed up against the cage. Durst has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kouransson down to the mat. Kouransson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Lex Durst is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Durst bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Durst is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kouransson.
Durst fails to land the takedown.
Kouransson misses with a hook.
Durst throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kouransson's waist but Kouransson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Durst off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lex Durst. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kouransson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kouransson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Durst moves away.
Kouransson misses with a shot to the body

and Durst counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Durst breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kouransson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Durst counters by moving into the clinch.
Kouransson tries a body shot but Durst blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Kouransson on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Durst breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Durst on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kouransson tries to clinch but Durst is having none of it.
Eymundur Kouransson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Durst tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kouransson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kouransson throws a body punch but Durst moves out of range.
Durst seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Durst clinches up with Kouransson and pushes him back against the cage.
Durst softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Durst pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kouransson blocks a low kick nicely.
Eymundur Kouransson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Durst fails to land the takedown.
Kouransson stuffs the takedown attempt from Durst. Durst gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durst shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kouransson's guard.
Kouransson wants to get back to his feet but Durst passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Durst slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Durst is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Durst slows the pace down in 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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lex Durst dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Durst steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kouransson.
Durst has a takedown stuffed.
Durst moves forwards but Kouransson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Durst shoots in and drives through. Kouransson sprawls well.
Kouransson scores with a jab to the head.
Kouransson slaps away a takedown attempt from Durst, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lex Durst. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durst shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kouransson as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kouransson closes the distance and clinches.
Kouransson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kouransson working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kouransson is looking to control Durst's arms but Durst gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kouransson has his back to the cage.
Kouransson seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Lex Durst has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Durst manages to break the clinch.
Kouransson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Durst needs to keep his hands up - Kouransson had a free shot at his head there.
Durst darts in looking for a takedown but Kouransson gets double underhooks and turns Durst into the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Durst has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kouransson after a bit of a struggle.
Kouransson has a couple of punches blocked by Durst.
Kouransson tries to work over Durst's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kouransson misses with a punch to the body.

Durst's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kouransson leaves Durst with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kouransson loads up on a big right hand but Durst slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Kouransson misses.
Durst uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kouransson.
Durst shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kouransson defends it nicely.
Durst shoots for a takedown but Kouransson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Durst takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Durst misses with a kick to the body
and Kouransson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Durst is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kouransson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kouransson! But no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kouransson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Some wild striking there from Kouransson.
Durst keeps the fight on the outside.
Decent striking displayed by Kouransson there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kouransson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Durst.
Durst shoots in for a takedown but Kouransson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Eymundur Kouransson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Durst goes for a double leg but Kouransson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kouransson continues to drive forward.
Kouransson gets through Durst's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Durst breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Eymundur Kouransson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Durst circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kouransson swings for the body but Durst moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kouransson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Durst tries for a takedown but Kouransson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Durst fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kouransson wants to clinch.
As Kouransson looks to move away, Durst throws a big counter combo but Kouransson just gets out of the way.
Kouransson looks to land a right hand but Durst moved out of range.
Durst fails with a takedown attempt.
Kouransson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kouransson loads up on a big right hand but Durst slips the punch.
Kouransson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Donk. Kouransson catches Durst right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kouransson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lex Durst is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Durst shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kouransson's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eymundur Kouransson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Durst has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lex Durst!