PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ola Afolabi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fejha Kurko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ola Afolabi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Afolabi
vs
Kurko

191 cm
20
216 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
210 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ola Afolabi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fejha Kurko!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Afolabi is trying to defend but Kurko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Afolabi is looking to control Kurko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Afolabi avoid being mounted?
Afolabi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Afolabi is trying to stand back up but Kurko is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolabi tries to get to full guard but Kurko has control of the leg.
Afolabi wants to control but Kurko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kurko in particular looking to stall.
Afolabi is looking to escape.
Kurko is trying to control the action in half guard but Afolabi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Afolabi wants to stand back up but Kurko manages to pass into side control.

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.
Afolabi is looking to regain half guard here but Kurko keeps moving and retains side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Afolabi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurko moves away.
Ola Afolabi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Afolabi misses with an uppercut.

Kurko shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Afolabi is looking to escape.
Kurko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolabi pushes Kurko off but Kurko dives into side control.
Afolabi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kurko has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kurko working the ground and pound but Afolabi is defending the strikes.
Afolabi tries to bench press Kurko off him but Kurko keeps the position.
What's Afolabi going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Afolabi wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Afolabi looks to throw the jab but Kurko is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Afolabi. Kurko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ola Afolabi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Afolabi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kurko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Afolabi defends it nicely.
Afolabi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Afolabi wants to land a leg kick but Kurko is out of range.
Kurko fails with the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Afolabi.
Afolabi misses with a wild body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fejha Kurko 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.

Kurko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Afolabi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Afolabi is on top in guard.
Kurko keeping full guard, as Afolabi tries to pass.
Afolabi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolabi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afolabi stops Kurko from standing up.
Kurko is wriggling around but Afolabi manages to pass to half guard.
Kurko is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Afolabi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurko keeps working.
Afolabi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Afolabi moves nicely into side control.
Afolabi trying to control the action but Kurko is working from the bottom.
The referee asks Afolabi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Afolabi prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurko is pushing Afolabi's head away, looking to escape. Afolabi manages to hold on to the position though.
Afolabi trying to control the position but Kurko is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ola Afolabi.
Afolabi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Afolabi wants it to stay on the feet.
Afolabi just misses with a punch to the body.
Afolabi stuffs the takedown.
Kurko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Afolabi defends it nicely.
Ola Afolabi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fejha Kurko.
Afolabi throws a right hand that Kurko ducks under and follows up with a left that Kurko also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Afolabi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kurko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Afolabi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Afolabi lands a nice hook to Kurko's body. Kurko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Afolabi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Fejha Kurko has been cut.
Ola Afolabi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Afolabi jabs at Kurko's body.
Afolabi swinging wildly here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kurko is defended easily by Afolabi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ola Afolabi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fejha Kurko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kurko closes the distance and clinches up with Afolabi, looking for a takedown. Kurko pushes Afolabi against the cage but Afolabi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kurko shoots in for a takedown but Afolabi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Afolabi scores with a body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kurko.
Afolabi tries to bench press Kurko off him but Kurko keeps the position.
Afolabi is trying to buck Kurko off.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolabi tries to buck Kurko off but Kurko is having none of it.
Afolabi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kurko has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Afolabi is looking for a sweep.
Afolabi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Afolabi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Afolabi lands a body shot.

That's two 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.
Kurko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Afolabi's waist but Afolabi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kurko off to one side.
Ola Afolabi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fejha Kurko.
Afolabi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurko moves away.
Afolabi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kurko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice shot lands for Afolabi.
Afolabi misses with a two punch combination.
Kurko closes the distance and clinches up with Afolabi, looking for a takedown. Kurko pushes Afolabi against the cage but Afolabi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kurko dodges the punch combination from Afolabi.
Afolabi connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolabi misses with the combination.
Kurko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Afolabi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Afolabi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kurko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Afolabi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Afolabi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Afolabi. Kurko shrugs it off though.
Kurko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Afolabi throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afolabi throws a front kick aimed at Kurko's knee but Kurko avoids it well.
Kurko avoids the body shot from Afolabi.
Afolabi throws a body punch but Kurko moves out of range.
Kurko avoids the body shot from Afolabi.
Kurko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kurko shoots in but Afolabi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Afolabi lunges at Kurko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kurko's hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Afolabi lands a slapping body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Afolabi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurko is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ola Afolabi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Afolabi 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ola Afolabi!