PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shefki Kuqi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kai Diao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diao has chosen 半斤八兩 as his entrance music. 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.

Kuqi
vs
Diao

172 cm
20
178 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
173 lbs
9 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Shefki Kuqi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Kai Diao!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Diao but Diao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Diao turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kuqi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diao counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kuqi swings widly with a right hand
and Diao counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kuqi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Diao. Diao obviously looking to wear him down.
Kuqi misses with a double jab.
Nice uppercut lands for Diao. That snapped Kuqi's head back.
Diao lands a nice hook to Kuqi's body. Kuqi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Diao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuqi moves away.
Diao swings for the body but Kuqi moves out of range.
Kuqi tries for a takedown but Diao circles away easily
and Diao counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shefki Kuqi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuqi tries for a takedown but Diao circles away easily
and Diao counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi lands a right hook to the body.
Diao dips to his left and cracks Kuqi with an uppercut!
Diao lands with a kick to the temple. Kuqi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kuqi shoots and misses
and Diao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diao scores with a spinning back kick!
Kuqi is breathing heavily.
Kuqi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Diao. Diao obviously looking to wear him down.
Diao lands a high kick!
Diao lands with a nice body kick.
Diao lands a jab to the nose.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuqi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kai Diao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Diao, as that shot connected.
Diao lands with a kick to the ribs.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Kuqi. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Kuqi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Diao keeps Kuqi at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diao dips to his left and cracks Kuqi with an uppercut!
Diao fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kuqi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diao lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Diao lands a leg kick that knocks Kuqi off balance momentarily.
Kuqi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Diao connects with a high kick.
Diao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Diao connects with a nice looking jab.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Diao. Kuqi shrugs it off though.
Diao scores with a head kick.
Diao throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuqi.

Kuqi is rocked!
Kuqi throws a lazy uppercut
and Diao counters with a solid body kick.
Diao scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kuqi in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diao scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Diao throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Diao throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuqi.
Kuqi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diao lands with a nice body kick.
Kai Diao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Diao!
Diao throws a front kick that sends Kuqi stumbling back into the cage.
Diao stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuqi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Diao lands a glancing blow to the side of Kuqi's head.
Diao throws a head kick that half lands.
Diao throws a leg kick which misses Kuqi's front leg but catches the back leg as Kuqi tries to avoid it.
Kuqi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diao scores with a leg kick.
Diao is looking to slow Kuqi down with leg kicks.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Diao.
Diao fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Diao lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kuqi's sensitive parts.
Diao thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kuqi if he has to take too many more of those.
Diao scores with a head kick. Kuqi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Diao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kuqi doesn't seem bothered though.
Diao scores with a head kick. Kuqi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuqi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Diao. Kuqi shrugs it off though.
Diao is looking to slow Kuqi down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Diao dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Diao lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Diao. Kuqi shrugs it off though.
A nice inside leg kick there by Diao. That's going to slow Kuqi down.
Diao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kuqi. That did some damage!
Diao scores with a jab.
Kuqi with a poor takedown
and Diao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Diao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuqi.
Diao ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kuqi with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diao scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Diao.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Kuqi might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Diao scores with a kick to the midsection.
Diao scores with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Diao.
Diao scores with a head kick.
Kuqi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Diao throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kuqi on the side of the head.
Diao lands a front kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Diao. Kuqi shrugs it off though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Diao with a hook.
Diao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Diao lands a jab to the nose.
A head kick misses from Diao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diao is looking to slow Kuqi down with leg kicks.
Diao throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shefki Kuqi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuqi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Diao counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shefki Kuqi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Diao lands with a kick to the temple. Kuqi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Nice shot by Diao.
Diao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kuqi's calf.
A head kick misses from Diao.
Diao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Diao jabs Kuqi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Diao connects with a leg kick. Kuqi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Diao scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diao connects with a body shot.
Kuqi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kuqi takes a kick to the side of the head.
A solid body kick from Diao.

Diao fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuqi, pushing him back against the cage.
Diao has Kuqi pushed against the cage.
Diao connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuqi's face.
Kuqi wants a takedown.
Diao scores a nice knee to the body.
Diao lands with a right to the head.
Diao pushes Kuqi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Diao connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuqi's face.
Diao stalling in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Diao.
Diao has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diao trying to stall but Kuqi improves his position.

Diao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuqi with a poor takedown
and Diao counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kuqi's knee momentarily.
A head kick from Diao lands but Kuqi takes it in his stride.
Kuqi will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Diao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuqi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diao counters with an outside leg kick.
Kuqi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Diao lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kuqi. That did some damage!
That kick from Diao tenderised Kuqi's leg. Kuqi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Diao throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kai Diao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuqi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Diao counters with a head kick. That will keep Kuqi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Diao scores with a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Diao.
Diao lands with a nice body kick.
Diao throws a predictable looking body shot

and Kuqi counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuqi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Diao!
Kuqi dominating with strikes here.
Diao tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuqi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diao wants to hold on but Kuqi pushes him away.
Kuqi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Diao hang on?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diao is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Diao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diao tries to hold on but Kuqi pushes him away.
Kuqi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kuqi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Diao's face.
Kuqi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Diao can do anything to dispel that myth.
Diao is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kuqi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Diao looks a forlorn figure.
Diao tries to hold on but Kuqi pushes him away.
Diao can't escape the position.
Kuqi with a couple of short strikes.
Kuqi content just to control the position here.
Kuqi looking to finish Diao with some ground and pound. This is bad for Diao!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diao wants to control but Kuqi is having none of it.
Kuqi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diao wants to hold on but Kuqi pushes him away.
Diao is bucking up trying to escape but Kuqi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
BOOM! Kuqi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
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!
Kuqi controlling from the full mount.
Diao tries to hold on but Kuqi postures up.
Kuqi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kuqi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Diao wants to control but Kuqi is having none of it.
Diao taking shots to the head.
Kuqi unloading with bombs!
Kuqi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kuqi landing strikes, looking to finish!

Diao is rocked!
Diao is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kuqi breaks from Diao's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Diao is still in real trouble! Can Kuqi finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuqi lands a big elbow.
Kuqi loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Diao scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Kuqi land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Kuqi stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shefki Kuqi!