PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justice Naruhodo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eerikki Kurki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justice Naruhodo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Naruhodo
vs
Kurki

160 cm
26
202 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

180 cm
24
197 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Justice Naruhodo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eerikki Kurki!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naruhodo.

Naruhodo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kurki tries to improve position but can't.
Sloppy strikes there by Naruhodo.
Kurki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Naruhodo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Naruhodo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kurki keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Naruhodo thows a huge punch but Kurki dodges it nicely.
Kurki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kurki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Naruhodo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Naruhodo stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Kurki keeps trying to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Naruhodo's guard.

Naruhodo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kurki wants to pass the guard but Naruhodo is keeping the position.
Kurki wants to control from the top but Naruhodo keeps moving.
Kurki passes Naruhodo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Naruhodo wants to control but Kurki is keeping busy.
Kurki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kurki is nestled in close to Naruhodo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Naruhodo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Naruhodo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naruhodo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kurki throws a big elbow that misses.
Kurki works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Naruhodo is holding on to half guard well.
Kurki wants to free his trapped foot but Naruhodo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Naruhodo manages to get to full guard.
Kurki trying to control the position from guard on top but Naruhodo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naruhodo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kurki passes Naruhodo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kurki is just content to waste time from the top position. Naruhodo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Naruhodo is on top in guard.

Naruhodo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kurki is looking for a triangle but Naruhodo pushes his legs off easily.
Naruhodo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Naruhodo won't allow Kurki to sweep him here.

Kurki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Naruhodo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Naruhodo wants to control from the top but Kurki keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurki tries to strike from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naruhodo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurki is trying to control the position but Naruhodo postures up.
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 Justice Naruhodo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Naruhodo throws a body shot but no joy.
Kurki stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Naruhodo throws a body punch but Kurki moves out of range.
Kurki slips a straight right by Naruhodo.
Kurki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Naruhodo.
Kurki moves away from the strike by Naruhodo.
Kurki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Naruhodo.
Justice Naruhodo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurki moves out of range as Naruhodo strikes.
Kurki jabs Naruhodo right on the nose. Naruhodo blinks but takes it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Naruhodo. Kurki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kurki throws a looping overhand right but Naruhodo ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naruhodo walks into a straight right hand from Kurki.
Naruhodo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurki was well out of range. Poor timing from Naruhodo.
Kurki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Naruhodo.

Naruhodo shoots in and bounces Kurki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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!

Kurki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurki looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurki, not yet.
Naruhodo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Naruhodo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Naruhodo is looking to work some ground and pound but Kurki has wrist control.
Naruhodo won't allow Kurki to sweep him here.
Kurki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kurki looking to control.

Naruhodo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Naruhodo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Naruhodo connects with a couple of short punches.
Naruhodo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Naruhodo wants to control from the top but Kurki keeps moving.
Naruhodo looking to sit in guard and control but Kurki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kurki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kurki tries to free his leg and advance position but Naruhodo is retaining full guard.
Naruhodo wants to stand and escape but Kurki is having none of it.
Naruhodo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurki throws a big elbow that misses.
Kurki won't allow Naruhodo to sweep him here.
Kurki trying to control the position from guard on top but Naruhodo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Naruhodo holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Naruhodo dives in and grabs Kurki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kurki pushes down on Naruhodo's head and hops out.
Naruhodo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kurki counters with a shoot takedown. Naruhodo fights it but they end up in guard.
Naruhodo keeping moving, preventing Kurki from controlling successfully.
Kurki scoring with some ground and pound.
Eerikki Kurki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurki trying to control but Naruhodo is working from the bottom.
Kurki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Naruhodo tries to buck Kurki off but Kurki is having none of it.
Kurki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Naruhodo's legs.
Naruhodo is not content to let Kurki control the position.

Kurki goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Naruhodo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kurki but great work by Naruhodo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eerikki Kurki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Naruhodo misses with a hook. Kurki ducked under it nicely.
Kurki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Naruhodo is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Kurki feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kurki throws a strike but Naruhodo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kurki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Naruhodo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Naruhodo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kurki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Naruhodo manages to get himself to full guard.

Kurki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naruhodo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurki stopping the sweep attempt from Naruhodo.
Kurki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kurki looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naruhodo controlling the position.
Kurki postures up in Naruhodo's guard and throws a big left but Naruhodo blocks it.
Naruhodo wants to hit a switch here but Kurki passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Naruhodo there!
Naruhodo suckers Kurki into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Naruhodo is now in Kurki's guard!
Naruhodo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naruhodo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kurki's head.
Naruhodo throwing strikes from guard but Kurki blocks nicely.
Kurki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Naruhodo.
Naruhodo stopping the sweep attempt from Kurki.
Naruhodo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Naruhodo works over Kurki with some ground and pound from guard.
Kurki keeping moving, preventing Naruhodo from controlling successfully.
Naruhodo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Naruhodo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Naruhodo throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kurki trying to control but Naruhodo is working from the bottom.
Kurki throws a big elbow that misses.
Naruhodo looking for a sweep. Not yet Naruhodo, not yet.
Naruhodo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kurki.
Kurki works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurki wants to pass to mount but Naruhodo is defending the position.
Naruhodo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kurki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurki preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naruhodo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A jab lands there for Kurki.
Kurki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eerikki Kurki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurki 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eerikki Kurki!