PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ken Lei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Kurakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lei
vs
Kurakov

204 cm
23
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ken Lei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pavel Kurakov!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurakov misses with a head kick.
Kurakov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice combo by Lei! Oh, that's hurt him - Kurakov falls to the canvas and Lei follows him into side control.

Kurakov is rocked!

It looks like Pavel Kurakov has been cut.
Kurakov looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
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.

Lei stands up.

Lei fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kurakov, pushing him back against the cage.
Kurakov can't break the clinch.
Kurakov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lei is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kurakov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Lei pulls Kurakov into guard.
Lei will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lei looking for a guillotine here but Kurakov defends easily.
Lei trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Kurakov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lei trying to control the position here.
Lei tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Lei is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kurakov defends well.
Lei is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurakov is controlling him.
Lei is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lei is trying to keep Kurakov in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lei holds on and takes a little breather.
Kurakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kurakov won't allow Lei to sweep him here.

Lei looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kurakov wants to control from the top but Lei keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Lei is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kurakov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Lei dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pavel Kurakov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lei steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kurakov.
Kurakov misses with a body kick.
Kurakov cracks Lei with a good jab.
Kurakov lands a two punch combo.
Kurakov swats away the attempt to clinch by Lei.
Kurakov closes the distance but Lei moves to the side

and Lei counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kurakov won't be happy with that.
Kurakov is looking for a sweep.
Kurakov being controlled for a moment.

Lei decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kurakov to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lei pushes Kurakov up against the cage in a clinch.
Kurakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Lei has hold of one of Kurakov's legs. Kurakov is fighting the takedown attempt but Lei gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Kurakov is working an open guard so Lei takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lei changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kurakov tries to avoid it but Lei manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kurakov to the ground. Kurakov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kurakov misses with a body kick.
Kurakov tries a head kick but it misses.
Lei tries to clinch up.
Kurakov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kurakov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lei circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lei gets the takedown into side control.

Lei is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kurakov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kurakov is trying to get back to half guard.

Lei decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kurakov to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurakov wants to clinch.
Lei fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kurakov throws a right and a left that Lei avoids nicely.
Lei's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lei duly obliges.
Lei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lei lands a glancing blow to the side of Kurakov's head.
Kurakov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Lei counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lei.
Lei tries to pull guard but Kurakov won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurakov is trying to break free.
Kurakov tries to break the clinch but Lei is controlling the position.
Lei wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Lei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurakov throws a knee to the head but misses.

Lei breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lei shoots in but Kurakov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Kurakov.
Kurakov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lei moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A head kick by Kurakov misses

and Lei counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kurakov won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lei is staying tight to Kurakov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kurakov tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Lei dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pavel Kurakov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lei has Kurakov up against the cage in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Lei.

Lei jumps guard.
Ken Lei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lei is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurakov is aware though and is defending well.

Lei pushes Kurakov off and gets back to his feet.
Lei is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kurakov can do to turn this around?

Lei closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lei lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kurakov wants to stand up but Lei is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurakov controlling Lei's posture.
Lei is pushing down on Kurakov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kurakov is fighting to maintain full guard but Lei has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kurakov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kurakov is trying to maintain the position but Lei is very close to passing his half guard.
Lei takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kurakov is concentrating on defense, preventing Lei from advancing position.
Kurakov is looking to get back to is feet but Lei passes into side control.
Kurakov is trying to control Lei's posture but Lei avoids it.
Kurakov being controlled for a moment.
Kurakov struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lei in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ken Lei is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lei working the ground and pound.
Kurakov tries to improve position but can't.

Lei decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kurakov to his feet.

That's four 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.
Lei tries to clinch but Kurakov is having none of it.
Lei blocks a head kick by Kurakov.
Kurakov looks to land a left hand but Lei moved out of range nicely.
Lei connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kurakov's hands.

Lei clinches.

Lei pulls guard successfully.
Lei keeping moving, preventing Kurakov from controlling successfully.
Lei seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Lei showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lei has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Lei!