PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Kuruts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bolo Zhan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kuruts
vs
Zhan

170 cm
25
210 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Damnfield clothing

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 Amsterdam, Alex Kuruts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bolo Zhan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zhan wants to clinch but Kuruts slips to the side

and Kuruts counters by clinching up.
Kuruts is trying to push Zhan away but Zhan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zhan landing knees to the head.

It looks like Alex Kuruts has been cut.

Kuruts tightens his grip and picks Zhan up, before dumping him to the ground. Zhan manages to land in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zhan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Zhan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuruts is aware though and is defending well.

Zhan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuruts defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zhan is on top in guard.
Kuruts has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zhan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zhan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhan stands and throws Kuruts's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kuruts manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kuruts might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kuruts gets back to full guard.
Zhan wants to control from the top but Kuruts keeps moving.
Kuruts has Zhan pulled in close to control his posture.

Kuruts looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhan wants to control from the top but Kuruts keeps moving.

Kuruts has his foot on Zhan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhan works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuruts is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kuruts keeping moving, preventing Zhan from controlling successfully.

Kuruts has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zhan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Zhan trying to control but Kuruts is working from the bottom.
Zhan wants to pass the guard but Kuruts is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuruts looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zhan passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuruts tries to roll over but Zhan keeps him under control.

Kuruts looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuruts trying to hold on to Zhan's head to control him but Zhan postures up.
Zhan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuruts is looking to escape.

Zhan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kuruts manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kuruts is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kuruts dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Kuruts's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuruts closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zhan tries to land a knee to the head but Kuruts blocks with his arms.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zhan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zhan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kuruts taking a breather.
Zhan connects with a knee to the head.
Zhan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zhan looking to slow down the pace here.
Zhan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuruts has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zhan lands a good knee to the midsection. Kuruts won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Zhan lands a knee to the head.

Kuruts has picked Zhan up - he's going for a ride! Kuruts dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kuruts keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kuruts missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zhan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zhan looking for submissions off his back.
Zhan is breathing heavily.
Zhan tries to roll over but Kuruts keeps him under control.
Zhan is looking to control Kuruts's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zhan avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kuruts wants to work for an arm triangle but Zhan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kuruts seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kuruts.
Kuruts works his way into full mount!
Zhan is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuruts has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuruts controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuruts with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kuruts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Kuruts is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Zhan is surviving well by controlling Kuruts's body position as best he can.
Kuruts thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Kuruts with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kuruts sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kuruts throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Zhan because Kuruts loaded up on that one.
Zhan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuruts sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhan avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kuruts.
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!
A nice elbow there by Kuruts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kuruts dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Kuruts's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zhan darts in trying to clinch

and Kuruts counters by clinching up.
Kuruts can't find room to land a body shot as Zhan controls the action.
Zhan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Zhan scores with a knee to the head.
Zhan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Zhan with a knee to the head.
Zhan throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kuruts gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kuruts is pushing down on Zhan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zhan is fighting to maintain full guard but Kuruts has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zhan wants to improve his position but Kuruts is controlling well.
Zhan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuruts not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuruts wants to work for an arm triangle but Zhan is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zhan trying to control here.

Zhan looking for submissions off his back.
Kuruts content to control rather than advance.
Zhan wants to sweep but Kuruts has passed to side control!

Kuruts tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuruts has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuruts goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Zhan rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kuruts's guard! Nice work there by Zhan!

Kuruts has his foot on Zhan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zhan works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuruts trying to control the position here.

Kuruts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuruts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zhan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kuruts's guard.
Kuruts is refusing to be controlled, as Zhan sits in half guard.
Kuruts slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kuruts has his hands on Zhan's head, controlling the position.
Zhan wants to control from the top but Kuruts keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuruts looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Zhan is defending well. Kuruts quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Zhan has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Kuruts celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alex Kuruts!