PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michal Kurpinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Franz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Franz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kurpinski
vs
Franz

195 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

192 cm
20
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Michal Kurpinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nick Franz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurpinski fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Franz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kurpinski throws a sloppy head kick and Franz moves out of range easily.
Franz throws a head kick that Kurpinski semi-blocks.
Kurpinski moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Nick Franz has been cut.
Kurpinski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kurpinski wants it to stay on the feet.
Kurpinski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franz.
A punch combination from Franz misses.
Kurpinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franz dives in and grabs Kurpinski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kurpinski pushes down on Franz's head and hops out.
Kurpinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Franz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franz fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kurpinski feints and as Franz raises his hands in defense, Kurpinski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kurpinski wants to control from the top but Franz keeps moving.

Franz manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Franz wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kurpinski uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Kurpinski wants to get back to his feet but Franz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franz is looking to stand up but Kurpinski won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurpinski is looking to stand up but Franz isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Franz stands and steps away. Kurpinski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kurpinski is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Franz.
Franz stuffs the takedown.
Franz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Michal Kurpinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Franz.
Franz avoids a kick to the body.
Kurpinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Franz is looking to clinch.
Kurpinski with a poor takedown

and Franz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franz.

Franz decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Franz throws a lazy head kick
and Kurpinski counters with a body kick.
Franz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kurpinski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Franz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kurpinski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kurpinski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franz is looking to stand up but Kurpinski won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franz stands and steps away. Kurpinski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franz fails with the takedown.
Kurpinski misses with a takedown

and Franz counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Franz stands up from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franz misses with a head kick.
Kurpinski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franz counters with a three punch combo that has Kurpinski backing up. Kurpinski nods at Franz to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Franz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nick Franz's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Franz wants to stand but Kurpinski is controlling his posture from full guard.

Franz gets to his feet - Kurpinski follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franz shoots in and drives through. Kurpinski sprawls well.
Franz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kurpinski.
Franz blocks a head kick by Kurpinski.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurpinski moves into the clinch.

Kurpinski manages to break the clinch.
Kurpinski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kurpinski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Franz.
Kurpinski has his takedown stuffed

and Franz moves into the clinch.
A short left from Franz.
Kurpinski lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Franz misses with an elbow over the top.
Kurpinski wants to get back to striking at distance but Franz won't allow it.
Franz wants a takedown but no success here.
Michal Kurpinski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Franz.

Franz decides to pull guard.
Franz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurpinski's guard.
Franz wants to stand but Kurpinski is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurpinski wants to stand and escape but Franz is having none of it.

Franz stands up from Kurpinski's guard - Franz perhaps looking for a knockout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Franz.
Franz misses with a series of wild punches.
Franz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kurpinski sees it coming and avoids it easily.

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.
Kurpinski doesn't manage to clinch there - Franz circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Franz scores with a four punch combination!
Franz blocks a head kick by Kurpinski.
Franz shoots in for a takedown but Kurpinski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kurpinski throws a push kick but Franz slaps the foot to one side.
Franz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kurpinski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Franz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Franz stands up and beckons Kurpinski to join him on the feet.

Franz scores with a takedown into Kurpinski's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Franz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nick Franz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Franz looks to land a combination. Kurpinski sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Kurpinski takes the fight into the clinch.

Franz manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kurpinski is defended easily by Franz.
A head kick by Kurpinski misses

and Franz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Franz stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Franz rushes Kurpinski and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franz is trying to break free.

Franz breaks the clinch.

Franz throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kurpinski was covering up waiting for the punch and Franz finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Franz stands up and waves to Kurpinski to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franz misses with a few strikes there.
Kurpinski pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Franz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Franz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kurpinski is squirming around, avoiding Franz's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franz is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Franz doesn't manage to clinch there - Kurpinski circles away.
Kurpinski is looking to clinch.
Kurpinski with a lazy takedown attempt

so Franz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kurpinski is pulling down on Franz's head to control his posture.
Franz wants to stand but Kurpinski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franz won't allow Kurpinski to get back to his feet.

Franz stands up and waves to Kurpinski to follow him.
Franz jabs at Kurpinski's body.

Franz gets caught flat footed, as Kurpinski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurpinski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Franz is proving hard to escape from.
Franz looking for a sweep. Not yet Franz, not yet.
Nick Franz has got the better of the ground game so far.

Franz pushes Kurpinski off and scrambles back to his feet.

Franz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Franz showed some decent athleticism there.
Franz wants to stand up but Kurpinski has a hold of him and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Franz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Franz!