PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Sandford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanimir Kurdov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandford comes to the cage accompanied by Two steps from hell-Heart of courage. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Sandford
vs
Kurdov

194 cm
19
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

198 cm
21
264 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Sandford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stanimir Kurdov!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandford waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kurdov.
Sandford stalks Kurdov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kurdov's face. Kurdov staggers backwards, shaken.
Sandford rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kurdov counters with a left to the body.
Sandford throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sandford swinging wildly here.
James Sandford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurdov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sandford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A jab from Sandford finds it's way through Kurdov's defenses.
Sandford throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sandford bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kurdov's head.
Kurdov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sandford swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kurdov counters with a single leg into guard. Sandford didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kurdov throws a big elbow that misses.
Kurdov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kurdov throwing strikes but missing.
Sandford can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kurdov controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stanimir Kurdov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sandford throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sandford with a nice cross.
Sandford thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sandford misses with a few strikes there.
Sandford throws a right hand that misses

and Kurdov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sandford's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurdov controlling from the top position.
Sandford seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurdov stays in close to Sandford's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Sandford wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sandford takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Kurdov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sandford sprawls well initially but Kurdov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kurdov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Kurdov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kurdov trying to control from half guard but Sandford is working away.
Kurdov stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stanimir Kurdov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sandford fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kurdov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stanimir Kurdov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sandford lunges at Kurdov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kurdov's hand.
Kurdov avoids the body shot from Sandford.
Kurdov fails to land the takedown.
Sandford thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sandford lands an overhand right.
Sandford smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sandford lands a nice shot that snaps Kurdov's head back.
Sandford scores with a body shot.
Kurdov swats away the attempt to clinch by Sandford.
Sandford wants to clinch up but Kurdov keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurdov moves out of range of the strikes.
Sandford misses with a series of wild punches.
Sandford lands with a good body shot.
Sandford doesn't manage to clinch there - Kurdov circles away.
Kurdov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sandford connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kurdov scrambles back to his feet.
Sandford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jab by Sandford.
A shot to the liver by Sandford. Beautiful body shot.
Sandford lands a nice hook to Kurdov's body. Kurdov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurdov throws a right and a left that Sandford avoids nicely.
James Sandford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sandford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kurdov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sandford misses with a right hand

and Kurdov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandford trying to control but Kurdov postures up.
Well, if Kurdov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kurdov wants to take a breather but Sandford is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurdov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sandford slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sandford pulls Kurdov in to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kurdov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sandford tries to get to full guard but Kurdov has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sandford kicks off Kurdov and gets to his feet.
Sandford rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kurdov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kurdov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sandford finds it's way round the side to connect with Kurdov's head.
Sandford tries to clinch up.
Sandford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurdov was well out of range. Poor timing from Sandford.
Sandford swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kurdov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sandford working a defensive guard here.
Kurdov trying to control but Sandford is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sandford dominated that second round.
That's time! Sandford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sandford lands a nice shot to the body.
Sandford throws a right hand that misses

and Kurdov counters with a shoot takedown. Sandford fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurdov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kurdov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sandford is trying to keep Kurdov in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of James Sandford.
Kurdov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sandford.
Kurdov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sandford throws out the jab.
Sandford with a jab.
Sandford throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kurdov counters with a takedown into side control.
Sandford is looking to reverse the position.
Kurdov controls the position from side control.
Sandford wants to control but Kurdov postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurdov trying to control the position but Sandford is working away.
Kurdov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kurdov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stanimir Kurdov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sandford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sandford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sandford tries to clinch up

and Kurdov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sandford won't be happy with that.
Sandford wants to control but Kurdov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurdov working the ground and pound but Sandford is defending the strikes.
Stanimir Kurdov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurdov trying to control the position but Sandford is working away.
Kurdov just content to control the position.
Kurdov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurdov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sandford's shoulder. That is not cool.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stanimir Kurdov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kurdov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanimir Kurdov!