PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between André Levesque (ranked 185 p4p, 583 weight class) and Nick Durling (ranked 7 p4p, 26 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Durling's choice of entrance music: BABYMETAL - KARATE. André Levesque has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Levesque
vs
Durling

200 cm
26
250
12 - 6 - 0

188 cm
24
235
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hoarse Pills

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, André Levesque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Durling!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Levesque cracks a nice hook into Durling's ribs.
Durling fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Levesque manages to avoid it.
Levesque jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Nick Durling has been cut.
Levesque keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A left lands for Durling.
Durling misses with an uppercut.
Levesque misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut there from Durling.
Levesque throws a leg kick that misses.

Durling manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Levesque on his heels. He'll look to pass Levesque's guard now, I'm sure.
Levesque is adopting a defensive guard.
Durling trying to control but Levesque is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levesque keeping full guard, as Durling tries to pass.
Levesque wants to sweep here but Durling controlling him for the moment.
Levesque is pulling down on Durling's head. It's preventing any offense from Durling, at least for the moment.
Durling working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Durling looking to sit in guard and control but Levesque gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Durling looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Durling looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Levesque passes into half guard.
Levesque not doing much here.
Levesque prevents Durling from improving his position.
Levesque is looking to take a break and control but Durling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Durling looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Durling is trying to maintain the position but Levesque is very close to passing his half guard.

Durling looking for submissions off his back.

Levesque decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Nice cross by Durling.
Levesque on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durling scores with a decent looking hook.
Levesque waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Durling.
Levesque throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Durling ducks under a wild hook from Levesque.
Durling has a takedown stuffed.
Levesque misses with an uppercut.
Durling wants to land a leg kick but Levesque is out of range.
Levesque throws a half hearted mid kick.
Levesque misses with a body shot
and Durling cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Durling changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Levesque looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Durling creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Durling tries to move to mount but Levesque blocks the move with his legs.
Levesque is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Durling will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nick Durling's cut.
That's time! Levesque's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Levesque 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.
Levesque throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Durling makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Durling throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Levesque on the side of the head.
Durling missing with a left hand there. Levesque was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Levesque stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Levesque wants it to stay on the feet.
Levesque throws a lazy uppercut
and Durling counters with a nice uppercut.
Levesque lands the left hand.
Durling scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed right hand from Levesque misses the target.
Durling misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Levesque.
Levesque stuffs the takedown attempt from Durling. Durling gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durling checks a leg kick.
Durling scores with a decent looking hook.

Durling decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Levesque controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levesque is looking to control Durling's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Levesque avoid being mounted?
Levesque gets back to full guard.
Durling won't allow Levesque to sweep him here.
Durling looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Durling trying to control the position from guard on top but Levesque is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durling passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Levesque wants to improve his position but Durling is controlling well.
Levesque keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Durling prevents Levesque from standing back up.
Durling looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Durling missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Levesque is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Durling's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Durling's back!
Levesque is hanging on to Durling's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durling keeps trying to improve his position.
Durling manages to reverse the position and now he's in Levesque's guard. Nice work there by Durling.
Durling keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Levesque's head.
Levesque 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.

Durling drops back, looking for a kneebar! Levesque looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Levesque looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Levesque!

Durling is looking for a sweep.
Who's going to make the next move?
Levesque wants to lay and pray for a moment but Durling keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durling is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Levesque is looking to take a break and control but Durling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Durling is looking to regain half guard here but Levesque keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Levesque stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nick Durling will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nick Durling's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Levesque throws a shot to the body.
André Levesque has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Levesque just misses with a punch to the body.
And Durling tries to counter it with a takedown but Levesque pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Levesque misses with a wild body shot.
Levesque buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Durling lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Levesque at a distance.
Levesque throws out a leg kick but Durling moves out of range and Levesque only half commits.
Nick Durling seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Durling connects with the punch.
Levesque stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Levesque.
Durling shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Levesque as he avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Levesque.
Levesque fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Levesque thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Durling if he has to take too many more of those.
Durling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Levesque coming out on top.
Durling has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Levesque works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levesque lands a big right hand that sends Durling crashing to the mat! Levesque stays standing though and waves Durling back to his feet!

Durling is rocked!

That has opened up Nick Durling's cut even more.
Durling circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Levesque. Durling falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Levesque!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). André Levesque!
An out of breath André Levesque thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.