PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kuure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ollie Strauss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuure comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Coming Home. This should be a great matchup!

Kuure
vs
Strauss

175 cm
34
185 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

185 cm
23
195 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kuure!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ollie Strauss!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strauss checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kuure wants to land a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.
Strauss changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuure tries to avoid it but Strauss manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuure to the ground. Kuure escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Strauss.
Strauss doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuure circles away.

Strauss clinches.
Kuure is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strauss is defending well for now.
Kuure lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Strauss fails to pull guard.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure won't allow it.
Kuure has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ollie Strauss.
Strauss is trying to pull guard but Kuure has him pressed against the cage.
Kuure tries a knee to the head but Strauss blocks it.

Strauss manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strauss holds on and takes a little breather.
Kuure wants to pass the guard but Strauss is keeping the position.
Kuure trying to control but Strauss is working from the bottom.
Kuure is really struggling to control Strauss but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss wants to sweep here but Kuure controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kuure.
Kuure swats away the attempt to clinch by Strauss.
Strauss moves out of range of the leg kick from Kuure.
Kuure swats away the attempt to clinch by Strauss.
Strauss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Strauss has a takedown stuffed.
Kuure lands a jab to the head.
Kuure looks for the body kick but Strauss saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kuure avoids a kick to the body.

Strauss gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure won't allow it.
Kuure tries to throw a body punch but Strauss avoids it by throwing Kuure back against the cage.
Kuure misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Strauss.

Kuure's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kuure. That's going to slow Strauss down.
Kuure throws a low kick but Strauss moves out of range easily.

Kuure tries to keep at a distance but Strauss has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuure pushes off an throws an elbow but Strauss leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Kuure escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuure scores with a decent looking hook.
Strauss is looking to clinch.

Strauss pushes Kuure up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strauss drags the fight down to the ground.
Strauss avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Strauss is looking to sweep but instead, Kuure has passed into half guard.
Kuure wants to control but Strauss is keeping him busy.
Strauss tries to roll over but Kuure keeps him under control.
Kuure trying to pass the guard but Strauss defending well.
Kuure trying to control from half guard but Strauss is working away.
Strauss wants to control but Kuure is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kuure wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kuure fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuure throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Strauss connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Kuure has been cut.
Strauss tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuure swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strauss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuure fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strauss ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Strauss tries to clinch up but Kuure circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuure fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kuure.
Strauss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Strauss is looking to clinch.
Kuure throws a leg kick but Strauss sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strauss displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuure throws out the jab.
Strauss takes a jab right on the kisser.
Strauss fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kuure will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kuure's cut.
That's time! Kuure's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Strauss is looking to clinch but Kuure is avoiding it.
Strauss misses the jab.
Kuure seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuure scores with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Strauss throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Strauss ducks under a wild hook from Kuure.
Strauss avoids the head kick by Kuure.
Kuure fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Strauss is out of range.
Kuure looks to land a body kick but Strauss moved away.
Strauss walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Strauss has taken the fight to the clinch.
Strauss fails to pull guard.

Strauss ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Strauss no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kuure wants to control from the top but Strauss keeps moving.
Kuure stopping the sweep attempt from Strauss.
Kuure has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuure throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strauss works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Strauss managing to control the position.

Strauss looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Strauss is looking for a triangle but Kuure pushes his legs off easily.
Strauss is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuure pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strauss is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strauss keeping moving, preventing Kuure from controlling successfully.
Strauss has Kuure pulled in close to control his posture.
Kuure wants to control from the top but Strauss keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Kuure wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Strauss tries to clinch up but Kuure circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuure is looking to chop away at Strauss's legs.
Kuure throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kuure misses with a body shot.
Strauss throws the left hand but Kuure avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuure lands with a hook. Strauss tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kuure lands a really nice looking cross but Strauss seems unphased.
Kuure throws a good cross that connects.
Kuure is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Strauss.
Strauss tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuure swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from Kuure misses.
Strauss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good leg kick by Kuure there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Strauss gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Strauss pulls guard.
Kuure postures up.
Strauss looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuure engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Strauss looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strauss lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kuure!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuure regains half guard.

Strauss looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Strauss trying to work for an americana but Kuure has managed to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ollie Strauss will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kuure's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Strauss is looking to clinch but Kuure is avoiding it.
Kuure swats away the attempt to clinch by Strauss.
Kuure is winning the standup battle so far.
Strauss closes the distance but Kuure moves to the side
and Kuure counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Strauss jumps guard but Kuure stands there with Strauss around his waist. Strauss gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kuure misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Strauss.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Strauss jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuure walks away with a smile on his face. Strauss gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuure has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ollie Strauss.
Kuure feints and then cracks Strauss's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Strauss down.
Strauss wants to clinch.
A punch combination from Kuure misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strauss wants to clinch.
Kuure avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuure scores with a crisp jab that stopped Strauss in his tracks.
Strauss walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Strauss tries to clinch but Kuure is having none of it.
Kuure swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuure circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuure counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuure connects with a right hand. Strauss shakes it off.
A jab from Kuure finds it's way through Strauss's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuure will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kuure throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Strauss looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Strauss tries to clinch up
and Kuure counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuure throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Strauss.
Kuure keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuure throws a leg kick but Strauss moved away.
Kuure misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuure is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Strauss checks the leg kick nicely there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Strauss rushes Kuure and presses him up against the cage.
Kuure misses with a punch to the body.
Strauss jumps guard but Kuure turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strauss tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuure just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kuure stalling in the clinch but Strauss improves position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Strauss.
Kuure scores with a shot to the side of Strauss's head.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuure.
Kuure pushes off an throws an elbow but Strauss leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure holds him up against the cage and eventually Strauss drops back down to his feet.
Strauss avoids the elbow strike from Kuure, against the cage.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure won't allow it.
Strauss is trying to pull guard but Kuure turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kuure throws a head punch that misses.
Kuure stalling in the clinch but Strauss improves position.
Ollie Strauss seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maybe Kuure would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Kuure tries to land knees in the clinch but Strauss avoids the damage to the body.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuure misses with the head strike.
Strauss fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Strauss tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stalling in the clinch from Kuure.
Strauss looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strauss is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kuure trying to stall but Strauss improves his position.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure won't allow it.
Strauss is trying to pull guard but Kuure turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Strauss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuure trying to land knees to the body.
Kuure struggles to land a body shot inside as Strauss controls his hands.
Strauss tries to pull guard but Kuure forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuure has Strauss pushed against the cage.
Kuure throws a knee to the head but misses.
Strauss jumps guard but Kuure stands there with Strauss around his waist. Strauss gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuure showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuure has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kuure!
Kuure gave a mention to Katukauppa.com in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).