PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denzel Kurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurt
vs
Sullivan

177 cm
28
195 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

185 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denzel Kurt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan lands with a hook. Kurt tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sullivan loads up on a big right hand but Kurt slips the punch.
Kurt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kurt slips under a jab from Sullivan.
Kurt scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Decent striking displayed by Sullivan there.
Kurt throws a series of punches but Sullivan moves out of range.
Kurt takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sullivan throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurt.
Kurt moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Sullivan misses the target.
Sullivan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sullivan throws a head kick but Kurt moves out of range.
Sullivan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kurt misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Sullivan misses.
Sullivan misses with a head kick.
Sullivan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sullivan misses with a few strikes there.
Kurt misses the jab.
Sullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sullivan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kurt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sullivan might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kurt moves away from the strike by Sullivan.
Kurt throws a head kick but Sullivan moves out of range.
Sullivan misses with a hook to the body
letting Kurt counter with a right hand.
Sullivan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurt throws a series of punches but Sullivan moves out of range.
Sullivan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kurt shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sullivan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kurt avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sullivan throws a body punch but Kurt moves out of range.
Sullivan jabs Kurt to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sullivan throws a lazy head kick
and Kurt counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sullivan looks to land a combination but Kurt avoids it well.
Kurt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sullivan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kurt counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurt shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sullivan eats them both and turns towards Kurt to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kurt throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Sullivan.
Kurt tries to bum rush Sullivan with a series of wild strikes but Sullivan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kurt staying out of range there.
Sullivan misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sullivan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sullivan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sullivan misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Kurt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut
and Kurt counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kurt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kurt tries to land a leg kick but Sullivan saw it coming and moves away.
Jab from Sullivan.
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!
Kurt throws a right hand that Sullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sullivan also avoids with ease.
Kurt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kurt takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sullivan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kurt throws a body kick that misses.
Kurt looks to land a left hand but Sullivan moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sullivan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sullivan looks to land a right hand but Kurt moved out of range.
Sullivan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kurt.
Kurt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sullivan misses with a wild body shot.
Sullivan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurt manages to avoid it.
James Sullivan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sullivan throws a lazy uppercut
and Kurt counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Sullivan misses.
Sullivan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurt moves away.
Sullivan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Denzel Kurt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kurt throws a right hand that Sullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sullivan also avoids with ease.
Sullivan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurt.
Kurt takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kurt.
Kurt with a jab.
Sullivan misses with a double jab.
Kurt tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sullivan was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurt.
Kurt defending well as Sullivan loads up on a big left hand.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses.
Kurt swinging wildly here.
Sullivan looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurt is just out of range.
Sullivan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kurt doesn't seem bothered though.
Sullivan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kurt could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sullivan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kurt has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurt moves out of range as Sullivan strikes.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kurt ducks under a wild hook from Sullivan.
Sullivan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sullivan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sullivan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kurt.
James Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sullivan misses the jab.
Sullivan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kurt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sullivan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sullivan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sullivan lands a jab.
Kurt checks a leg kick.
Sullivan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kurt.
Nice cross by Sullivan.
Kurt fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sullivan on the side of the head.
Kurt throws a right hand that Sullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sullivan also avoids with ease.
Sullivan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sullivan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kurt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kurt pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kurt slips under a jab from Sullivan.
Kurt throws a right and a left that Sullivan avoids nicely.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Kurt moves out of range easily.
Sullivan throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurt.
Sloppy strikes from Sullivan. Those never looked like landing.
Sullivan lunges at Kurt with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kurt's hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sullivan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sullivan misses with a straight left.
Sullivan misses with a body shot
and Kurt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sullivan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sullivan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kurt counters with a left to the body.
Sullivan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sullivan misses the jab.
Sullivan throws a right hand that Kurt ducks under and follows up with a left that Kurt also avoids with ease.
Sullivan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kurt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kurt throws a series of punches but Sullivan moves out of range.
Sullivan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kurt's head.
Sullivan lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sullivan throws a hook to the side of Kurt's head but Kurt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kurt swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a looping overhand right but Kurt ducks down to avoid it.
Sullivan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurt moves away.
Kurt misses with a series of wild punches.
Kurt misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kurt throws a right and a left that Sullivan avoids nicely.
Sullivan tries a head kick but it misses.
Sullivan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sullivan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kurt counters with a left and a right that stings Sullivan.
Kurt has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A jab from Kurt does it's job there.
Sullivan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sullivan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sullivan blocks a head kick by Kurt.
Sullivan throws a looping overhand right but Kurt ducks down to avoid it.
Kurt throws a series of punches but Sullivan moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sullivan tries to clinch
and Kurt counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sullivans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kurt ducks under a wild hook from Sullivan.
Kurt defending well as Sullivan loads up on a big left hand.
Sullivan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kurt blocks a head kick by Sullivan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a series of punches but Kurt avoids them all with ease.
Kurt blocks a jab.
Sullivan throws a right and a left that Kurt avoids nicely.
Sullivan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kurt counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kurt throws a series of punches but Sullivan avoids them all with ease.
Kurt moves forwards but Sullivan connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Sullivan.
Sullivan tries to clinch up.
Sullivan throws a head kick but Kurt moves out of range.
Sullivan throws a one two combo.
Sullivan tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a shot from downtown. Kurt moves away and avoids it.
Sullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kurt misses with a wild combination.
Kurt lands a nice looking body kick.
Sullivan throws a head kick but Kurt moves out of range.
Sullivan tries to clinch up.
A clash of legs there as Kurt blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sullivan throws a front kick that sends Kurt stumbling back into the cage.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Kurt moves out of range easily.
Sullivan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sullivan really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kurt misses with a low kick.
Sullivan throws a hook but Kurt avoids it easily.
Kurt throws a head kick that misses.
Kurt swinging wildly here.
Sullivan swings widly with a right hand
and Kurt counters with a stiff right hand.
Sullivan misses with a body kick.
Sullivan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sullivan throws a head kick that half lands.
Sullivan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses.

Sullivan clinches with his opponent.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kurt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kurt missing with knees to the body.
Kurt blocks an uppercut.
Kurt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sullivan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sullivan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kurt - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurt takes a shot to the head.
Sullivan is looking to control Kurt's arms but Kurt gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sullivan has his back to the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by James Sullivan.
Sullivan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kurt eats them both and turns towards Sullivan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A telegraphed right hand from Sullivan misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Kurt.
Sullivan misses the body punch
enabling Kurt to counter with a crisp jab.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Kurt moves out of range easily.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut
and Kurt counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sullivan misses with a lunging right hand
and Kurt counters with a one-two to the body.
The fighters circling - Sullivan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sullivan wants to clinch but Kurt slips to the side
and Kurt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sullivan throws a head kick that half lands.
Sullivan looks to throw the jab but Kurt is out of range.
Kurt misses with a double jab.
Kurt keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a big shot that misses.
Sullivan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kurt.
Kurt walks into a straight right hand from Sullivan.
Sullivan clobbers Kurt with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sullivan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kurt sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kurt avoids the head kick by Sullivan.
A head kick misses from Sullivan.
Sullivan is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Kurt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sullivan.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sullivan throws a big shot that misses.
Kurt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sullivan dominated that fourth 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sullivan falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Kurt counter with a right hand.
Kurt misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sullivan is looking to clinch.
Kurt looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sullivan misses the jab.
Kurt avoids the head kick by Sullivan.
Kurt tries to move into range but Sullivan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sullivan throws an overhand right that lands on Kurt's shoulder, as Kurt tries to avoid the shot.
Sullivan digs a good body shot into Kurt's ribs.
Sullivan throws a sloppy head kick and Kurt moves out of range easily.
Sullivan lands with a nice body kick.
Kurt slips a straight right by Sullivan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurt moves out of range of the body kick from Sullivan.
Sullivan throws a hook but Kurt avoids it easily.
Sullivan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kurt counters with a series of strikes. Sullivan will be more careful next time no doubt.
A head kick by Sullivan misses
and Kurt counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Sullivan is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Sullivan throws a series of punches but Kurt moves out of range.
Sullivan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sullivan misses with a hook. Kurt ducked under it nicely.
Sullivan misses with the combination.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sullivan blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan misses the shot to the body.
Kurt misses with a body kick.
Kurt looks for the body kick but Sullivan saw that one coming.
Kurt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sullivan.
Sullivan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kurt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses.
Sullivan misses with a shot to the body
and Kurt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sullivan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurt.
Sullivan connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kurt momentarily.
Kurt on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kurt moves out of range of the body kick.
Sullivan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sullivan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurt manages to avoid it.
Sullivan lands a head kick. Kurt smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kurt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sullivan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James Sullivan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kurt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sullivan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kurt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kurt swinging wildly here.
Sullivan throws an overhand right that lands on Kurt's shoulder, as Kurt tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kurt takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sullivan misses with a leg kick
and Kurt makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sullivan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sullivan misses with the combination.
Kurt avoids the head kick by Sullivan.
Kurt avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Kurt.
Denzel Kurt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sullivan throws a lazy right hand but Kurt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Sullivan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sullivan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for James Sullivan!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for James Sullivan!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for James Sullivan!

James Sullivan wins by unanimous decision!
James Sullivan is the new middleweight champion!
James Sullivan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.