PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Florian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Wagner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Florian comes to the cage accompanied by Dean Martin - Ain´t that a kick in the head. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Florian
vs
Wagner

180 cm
24
165 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

176 cm
24
166 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kevin Florian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kurt Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Florian throws the kick towards the body but Wagner avoids it.
Wagner connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wagner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Florian tries a head kick but it misses.
Wagner throws a right and a left that Florian avoids nicely.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Wagner feints and as Florian raises his hands in defense, Wagner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Wagner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Wagner looking for a guillotine here but Florian defends easily.
Wagner has a closed guard, preventing Florian from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Florian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Florian controls from within his opponent's guard.

Wagner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Florian can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wagner looks gassed!
Florian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Florian advances to half guard.

Wagner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Florian tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wagner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Wagner actively working from the bottom here.
Wagner is not content to let Florian control the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wagner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Wagner is staying active underneath Florian, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kevin Florian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Florian throws a sloppy head kick and Wagner moves out of range easily.
Wagner takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wagner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wagner walks forward, straight into a front kick from Florian.
Florian walks into a straight right hand from Wagner.
Wagner takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wagner scores with a nice right hand.
A solid body kick from Florian.
Wagner blocks a head kick by Florian.
Wagner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Florian scores with a spinning back kick!
Florian scores with a head kick.
Nice straight punches there by Wagner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Wagner.
Florian lands a high kick!
Kevin Florian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Florian lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Florian takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wagner throws the left hand but Florian avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Wagner misses.
Wagner avoids a kick to the body.
Wagner avoids a kick to the body.
Florian chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wagner dives in and grabs Florian's left leg, looking for a takedown. Florian pushes down on Wagner's head and hops out.
Florian throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Wagner.
Wagner avoids the head kick by Florian.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Florian lands with a kick to the ribs.
Wagner steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Florian.
Wagner cracks Florian with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wagner stalks Florian and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Florian's face. Florian staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Florian throws a head kick that misses.
Florian throws a front kick aimed at Wagner's knee but Wagner avoids it well.
Wagner lands with a right hand.
Wagner checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Wagner dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Florian fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wagner.
Florian stuffs the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wagner is defended easily by Florian.
Florian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Florian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Florian.
Wagner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wagner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big left from Wagner misses.
Florian throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Wagner.

Wagner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wagner showed some decent athleticism there.

Wagner wants to work for an arm triangle but Florian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Wagner is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Florian is looking to control Wagner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Florian avoid being mounted?

Wagner is working for a submission of some sort.
Florian wants to control but Wagner is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

Wagner is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Florian has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Florian works his way to full guard. Good work.

Wagner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Florian is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wagner, into his guard.
Florian trying to control the position from guard on top but Wagner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wagner is working an open guard so Florian takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Florian bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Florian.
Wagner takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Wagner shoots in but Florian avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kevin Florian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Wagner.
Florian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Florian throws a head kick but Wagner moves out of range.
Wagner moves out of range of the body kick from Florian.
Florian tries a head kick but it misses.
Wagner scores with a jab to the head.
Florian fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wagner.
A solid leg kick lands there for Florian.
Wagner scores with a jab to the head.
Florian tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner throws a series of punches but Florian moves out of range.
Wagner looks for a takedown but Florian sprawls well.
Crunch! Florian slams his shin into Wagner's torso.
A nice inside leg kick there by Florian. That's going to slow Wagner down.
Wagner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Florian.
Wagner takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Florian lands with a thumping leg kick.
Florian lands a head kick. Wagner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A head kick from Florian lands but Wagner takes it in his stride.
Florian tries to land a front kick but Wagner steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wagner avoids the head kick by Florian.
Kevin Florian is winning the standup battle so far.
Wagner with a jab.

Wagner scores with a takedown into Florian's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Florian keeping full guard, as Wagner tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kevin Florian will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Florian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Florian misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick from Florian misses.
Florian scores with a leg kick.
Wagner's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Wagner throws a hook but Florian blocks it.
Wagner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Florian can pounce on him.
Florian lands a head kick!
Florian takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wagner sizes up Florian with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Florian with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Wagner to score with a decent uppercut.
Florian misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Florian.

Wagner gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Florian is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Wagner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Florian tries to bench press Wagner off him but Wagner keeps the position.
Florian parries the strikes from Wagner easily there. Wagner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Florian to escape.
Florian tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Wagner presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Florian is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Wagner looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Wagner swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Florian is now in Wagner's guard. A big mistake from Wagner there, giving up the dominant position!
Florian wants to control from the top but Wagner keeps moving.
Wagner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Florian tries to get to full guard but Wagner has control of the leg.

Wagner 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.
Kurt Wagner has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Florian is in trouble now - Wagner has advanced to mount!
Wagner avoids the attempt from Florian to control.
Florian is working to get back to half guard.

Wagner is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Florian has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Florian!
Wagner wants to sweep here but Florian controlling him for the moment.

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.

Wagner had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Florian is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wagner Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Florian's back instead.
Wagner is trying to stick to Florian's back but Florian is turning into Wagner. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Wagner's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Florian.
Wagner keeping moving, preventing Florian from controlling successfully.

Wagner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Florian defends well.
Florian trying to control but Wagner is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Wagner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wagner has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Wagner!