PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ardian Kurniawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muay Thai Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kurniawan
vs
Thai Fighter

170 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ardian Kurniawan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Muay Thai Fighter!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurniawan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kurniawan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fighter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fighter stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardian Kurniawan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fighter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kurniawan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fighter leaves Kurniawan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kurniawan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Fighter drops back looking for a leg! Kurniawan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kurniawan manages to kick Fighter off! Fighter jumps back into Kurniawan's guard.
Kurniawan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurniawan continues to stall.
Fighter stays in close to Kurniawan's body and controls the position.

Kurniawan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kurniawan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fighter defends it easily.
Kurniawan wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kurniawan keeping moving, preventing Fighter from controlling successfully.

Kurniawan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fighter trying to control but Kurniawan is working from the bottom.
Fighter is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurniawan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fighter drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kurniawan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kurniawan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurniawan has control of Fighter's left arm, preventing Fighter from doing any damage.

Kurniawan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fighter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fighter wants to control from the top but Kurniawan keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurniawan is trying to control the position but Fighter postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kurniawan goes for a double leg but Fighter avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fighter continues to drive forward.
Kurniawan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kurniawan is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fighter breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kurniawan gets caught flat footed, as Fighter shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kurniawan keeping moving, preventing Fighter from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muay Thai Fighter dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fighter scores with a takedown into Kurniawan's guard.
Fighter is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fighter gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fighter tries to clinch up.
Fighter slaps away a takedown attempt from Kurniawan, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurniawan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Fighter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fighter gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kurniawan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardian Kurniawan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fighter manages to break the clinch.

Fighter closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fighter prevents Kurniawan from improving his position.
Kurniawan is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan wants to get back to his feet.
Kurniawan keeping hold of Fighter's head, controlling as best he can.
Fighter is looking to advance position but Kurniawan won't allow it.
Fighter uses his free foot to push down on Kurniawan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kurniawan.

Fighter stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fighter feints and as Kurniawan raises his hands in defense, Fighter changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kurniawan keeping moving, preventing Fighter from controlling successfully.
Kurniawan trying to control the position.
Fighter trying to control but Kurniawan is working from the bottom.
Fighter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurniawan is on top in guard.

Kurniawan wants to control from the top but Fighter keeps moving.
Kurniawan wants to pass the guard but Fighter is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kurniawan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurniawan trying to control but Fighter is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muay Thai Fighter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Fighter shoots in and bounces Kurniawan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fighter stopping the sweep attempt from Kurniawan.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurniawan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kurniawan holds on and takes a little breather.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurniawan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurniawan is pulling down on Fighter's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fighter lands a slapping body shot.

Kurniawan tries to sprawl but Fighter drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fighter tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kurniawan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kurniawan is looking to control Fighter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurniawan avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Fighter is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fighter stalling away here and it's allowed Kurniawan to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurniawan, not yet.
Kurniawan pulls Fighter in to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fighter tries to clinch but Kurniawan moves out of range.
Fighter tries to clinch but Kurniawan is having none of it.

Fighter gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Kurniawan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fighter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurniawan keeps working.
Fighter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Kurniawan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kurniawan tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fighter trying to control the position but Kurniawan is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ardian Kurniawan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muay Thai Fighter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kurniawan circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muay Thai Fighter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fighter 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muay Thai Fighter!