PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anze Kopitar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Curran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drake Curran is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kopitar
vs
Curran

183 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anze Kopitar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Drake Curran!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kopitar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kopitar looks to land a left hand but Curran moved out of range nicely.
Kopitar clobbers Curran with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kopitar throws a lazy right hand but Curran sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kopitar throws a shot from downtown. Curran moves away and avoids it.
Curran ducks under a wild hook from Kopitar.
A swing and a miss from Kopitar.
Curran lands a jab to Kopitar's midsection.

Curran decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kopitar trying to control here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Curran is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kopitar defends it well.
Kopitar gets back to full guard.
Curran wants to pass the guard but Kopitar is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopitar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Curran!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Curran can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kopitar trying to control but Curran is having none of it.
Curran keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Curran is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kopitar controlling from mount.
Curran bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopitar is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Anze Kopitar has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kopitar connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Drake Curran has been cut.
Kopitar clobbers Curran with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kopitar misses with an uppercut.
Curran steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kopitar.
Curran has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Curran there as he acknowledges the shot.
Curran shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kopitar as he avoids it easily.
Kopitar lands a jab to the nose.
Kopitar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Anze Kopitar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kopitar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Curran throws the left hand but Kopitar avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curran avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A cross from Kopitar lands.
Kopitar throws a jab when Curran was well out of range.
Curran keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kopitar.
Kopitar is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Curran needs to keep his hands up - Kopitar had a free shot at his head there.

Curran is rocked!
Kopitar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Curran staying out of range there.

Curran moves into the clinch.

Curran breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kopitar works the jab nicely.
Curran is still on wobbly legs! Can Kopitar finish him?
Kopitar throws a big shot that misses.
Curran seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice sprawl there from Kopitar as Curran shoots in.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kopitar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kopitar moves into range and connects with a jab.
Curran on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kopitar circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Curran.
Kopitar smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kopitar steps in with a hook that catches Curran right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Kopitar follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Curran looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:14 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Anze Kopitar!