PBP Commentary

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

Fowler
vs
Kurtva

219 cm
20
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

160 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buford Fowler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kurt Kurtva!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurtva fails with a takedown attempt.
Fowler doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kurtva counters with a good, hard body kick but Fowler shrugs it off.
A head kick misses from Kurtva.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fowler.
Fowler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buford Fowler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fowler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kurtva sprawls well. Kurtva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fowler gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kurtva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fowler counters with a two punch combo.
Kurt Kurtva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fowler keeps the fight on the outside.
Kurtva tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fowler counters with a nice leg kick.
Fowler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kurtva swats away the attempt to clinch by Fowler.

Kurtva is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fowler's half guard.
Kurtva winds up and cracks Fowler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fowler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kurtva wants to work for an arm triangle but Fowler is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fowler works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kurtva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurtva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fowler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fowler looking to control.
Kurtva is fighting to break Fowler's control of his arms but Fowler is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kurtva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kurtva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fowler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtva trying to control the position from guard on top but Fowler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kurtva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kurtva throws the kick towards the body but Fowler avoids it.

Kurtva decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kurtva looks winded!
Fowler is trying to get back to full guard.
Fowler is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fowler desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Fowler manages to get to full guard.

Fowler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kurtva can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Kurtva dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fowler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kurtva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fowler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kurtva looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtva 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtva's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fowler is on top in guard.

Fowler decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kurtva, up you get!
Kurtva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fowler.

Kurtva scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtva is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Fowler manages to get to full guard.
Fowler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kurtva.
Fowler keeping moving, preventing Kurtva from controlling successfully.
Kurtva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurtva being controlled here momentarily.

Kurtva drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fowler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kurtva has Fowler in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtva looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurtva, not yet.

Kurtva has his foot on Fowler's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fowler works his way back into a safe position though.
Kurt Kurtva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurtva wants to sweep here but Fowler controlling him for the moment.
Kurtva is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kurtva wants to stand and escape but Fowler is having none of it.
Kurtva tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kurtva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fowler counters with a nice uppercut.

Fowler closes the distance and pushes Kurtva back into the cage.
Kurtva jumps guard but Fowler stands there with Kurtva around his waist. Kurtva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fowler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurtva is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Fowler is defending well.
Buford Fowler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Kurtva.
Kurtva wants to stall.

Fowler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Buford Fowler will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Kurtva looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fowler is fending him off so far but Kurtva persists. Nope, Fowler circles away and we're back to standing.
Fowler misses with a takedown attempt - Kurtva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fowler leaves Kurtva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kurtva swings for the body but Fowler moves out of range.
Kurtva shoots in for a takedown but Fowler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Buford Fowler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Kurtva.
Fowler has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fowler shoots in for a double leg but Kurtva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kurtva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kurtva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurtva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kurtva tries to pull guard but Fowler forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fowler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kurtva after a bit of a struggle.
Fowler has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kurtva after a bit of a struggle.
Fowler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kurtva is trying to pull guard but Fowler has him pressed against the cage.

Fowler pulls guard.
Kurtva wants to control from the top but Fowler keeps moving.
Kurtva throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtva trying to control the position from guard on top but Fowler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fowler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fowler is trying to keep Kurtva in close.
Kurtva trying to control the position from guard on top but Fowler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fowler is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtva darts in looking for a takedown but Fowler gets double underhooks and turns Kurtva into the cage.
Kurtva taking a breather.
Kurtva tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kurtva tries to pull guard but Fowler holds him up against the cage and eventually Kurtva drops back down to his feet.
Kurtva tries to circle away but Fowler has him pinned against the cage.

Fowler successfully pulls guard.
Fowler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fowler keeping full guard, as Kurtva tries to pass.
Fowler trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurtva trying to control the position from guard on top but Fowler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurtva is looking to pass into half guard but Fowler pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Fowler is in guard.

Kurtva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buford Fowler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fowler 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!