PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jorn Anthriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konrad Kurze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anthriel
vs
Kurze

175 cm
32
141 lbs
25 - 7 - 1

150 cm
32
130 lbs
34 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

ONI
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorn Anthriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Konrad Kurze!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthriel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Anthriel misses with a combination

and Kurze counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kurze trying to control but Anthriel is working from the bottom.
Kurze stands and throws Anthriel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kurze in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Anthriel parries the strikes from Kurze easily there. Kurze is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Anthriel to escape.
Anthriel is trying to work for a sweep but Kurze has mounted him!
Kurze looking to finish with strikes here!
Kurze trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthriel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kurze unloads with some shots from mount but Anthriel bucks and avoids them well.
Anthriel tries to lock up and control but Kurze gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kurze controlling the pace for now.
Anthriel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kurze throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Anthriel because Kurze loaded up on that one.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anthriel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kurze lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurze has hold of Anthriel's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Anthriel manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kurze thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Kurze.
Anthriel takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kurze avoids the attempt from Anthriel to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anthriel is looking to get to half guard.
Kurze raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthriel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kurze unloads with some shots from mount but Anthriel bucks and avoids them well.
Anthriel is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Anthriel regains half guard.
Kurze is looking to advance position but Anthriel won't allow it.
Kurze not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kurze wants to work for an arm triangle but Anthriel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kurze perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurze wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anthriel keeps working.

Kurze is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Anthriel sees it coming and defends easily.
Anthriel trying to hold on to Kurze's head to control him but Kurze postures up.
Kurze not doing much here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurze thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Anthriel's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konrad Kurze dominated that 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.

Anthriel misses the body punch

and Kurze counters with a takedown into side control.
An elbow from Kurze crashes against the mat.
Anthriel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Anthriel takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Kurze thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kurze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kurze wants to control but Anthriel is keeping him busy.
Kurze misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
You can see the frustration on Anthriel's face as Kurze controls the position.
Kurze postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthriel is trying to control Kurze's posture but Kurze avoids it.

Kurze working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kurze creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Anthriel sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Anthriel's face as Kurze controls the position.
Let's hope that Kurze has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Anthriel is trying to improve his position.
Konrad Kurze has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurze is chipping away with strikes.
Kurze looking to control but instead Anthriel has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Anthriel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kurze seems to be working for a kimura but Anthriel defends the submission attempt.
Kurze is looking to take a break and control but Anthriel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Anthriel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurze is working away from the top position though.
Kurze sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anthriel defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurze is trying to work for a kimura but Anthriel is defending well.
Kurze not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kurze slips a nice elbow through Anthriel's hands, connecting with Anthriel's forehead.
Anthriel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurze is working away from the top position though.
Anthriel keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Anthriel's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurze is trying to control. Anthriel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Anthriel is looking to improve his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kurze lands a nice short elbow.
Kurze trying to control from half guard but Anthriel is working away.
Anthriel is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kurze is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konrad Kurze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Anthriel lands with an uppercut that bounces Kurze off the cage and back into range.
Kurze throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Anthriel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Anthriel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anthriel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurze changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Anthriel moves in looking to clinch but Kurze pushes him off.
Kurze changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Anthriel tries to avoid it but Kurze manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Anthriel to the ground. Anthriel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kurze misses with an uppercut.
Anthriel looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kurze throws a body kick that misses
and Anthriel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Anthriel works Kurze's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthriel moves in looking to clinch but Kurze pushes him off.
Anthriel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurze keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kurze scores with a sloppy right hand. Anthriel should have avoided that one.
Kurze throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurze with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kurze jabs at Anthriel's body.
Anthriel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kurze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anthriel misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Kurze counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Anthriel!
Anthriel tries to buck Kurze off but Kurze is having none of it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kurze working away.
Anthriel holding on.
Kurze wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anthriel keeps working.
Kurze taking a breather here.
Kurze in side control, throwing shots but Anthriel defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurze wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anthriel keeps working.
The strikes coming from Kurze are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Anthriel tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kurze looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthriel is trying to stick to Kurze's back but Kurze is turning into Anthriel. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Anthriel's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kurze.
Kurze controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurze trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kurze postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Anthriel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kurze, into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kurze throws his legs up looking for a submission but Anthriel uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konrad Kurze really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Anthriel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kurze misses with a straight left.
Kurze throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Kurze misses.
Kurze lands a slapping body shot.
Kurze connects with a body shot that sends Anthriel's belly button to the back.
Anthriel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kurze cracks a nice hook into Anthriel's ribs.
Anthriel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anthriel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kurze circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kurze scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anthriel.
Anthriel is leaning against Kurze and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Anthriel lands a shoulder strike.
Kurze can't find room to land a body shot as Anthriel controls the action.
Kurze drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anthriel misses with some punches.
Anthriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Anthriel works on Kurze's body with a couple of short punches.
Anthriel misses with a punch to the body.
Anthriel misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurze blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kurze misses with the head strike.
Kurze misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anthriel digs a right hand into Kurze's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kurze's gas tank.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kurze tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anthriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kurze lands with a short shot to the head.
Anthriel has a couple of punches blocked by Kurze.
Anthriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurze lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Anthriel.
Anthriel tries a body shot but Kurze blocks it.
Stalling in the clinch from Anthriel.
Anthriel blocks a body shot from Kurze.
Anthriel lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kurze takes a shot to the head.
Kurze is working for takedown but Anthriel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Anthriel pushes Kurze back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kurze.
A right hand to the body from Anthriel.
Anthriel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurze lands a body shot.
Kurze wants to take the fight to the mat but Anthriel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jorn Anthriel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konrad Kurze.
Anthriel pushes Kurze back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Anthriel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Anthriel scores with a shot to the side of Kurze's head.
Kurze blocks a body shot from Anthriel.
Kurze lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Kurze.
Anthriel tries to work over Kurze's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right hand to the body from Anthriel.
Kurze is working for takedown but Anthriel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Anthriel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kurze lands a hook that snaps the head of Anthriel backwards.
Kurze tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anthriel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kurze lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kurze has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Anthriel after a bit of a struggle.
Anthriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Kurze scores with a nice short uppercut.
Anthriel misses with the head strike.
Kurze lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anthriel blocks an uppercut.
Anthriel is working Kurze over against the cage.
Anthriel blocks a body shot from Kurze.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Jorn Anthriel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Anthriel with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Anthriel misses the target.
Jorn Anthriel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anthriel misses with a body shot.
Anthriel is looking to wear down Kurze with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Anthriel misses with a shot to the body

and Kurze counters with a single leg into guard. Anthriel didn't expect that.
Anthriel trying to control the position here.
Kurze postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Anthriel keeping full guard, as Kurze tries to pass.
Anthriel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kurze controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurze throwing strikes but missing.
Kurze trying to control the position from guard on top but Anthriel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurze in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurze postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Anthriel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kurze with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anthriel wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kurze working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Konrad Kurze is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthriel 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.
Anthriel is working hard here to advance position.
Kurze looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kurze trying to control but Anthriel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurze is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Konrad Kurze has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kurze lands with a good body shot.
Jorn Anthriel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurze takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Anthriel takes a swing at Kurze's ribcage but misses.
Anthriel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Anthriel darts in and clinches Kurze up against the cage.
Anthriel tries a body shot but Kurze blocks it.
Anthriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short body shot lands from Kurze as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthriel tries to throw a body punch but Kurze avoids it by throwing Anthriel back against the cage.
Anthriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurze blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kurze blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anthriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Kurze controls his hands.
Anthriel working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anthriel.
Anthriel tries a body shot but Kurze blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anthriel tries to work over Kurze's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anthriel.
Anthriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Kurze controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Konrad Kurze.
I think Kurze 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 46:49
Judge William Gold scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konrad Kurze!
Konrad Kurze took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Hellbent for their support in the buildup to the fight.