PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alfredo Torres (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.

Torres
vs
Kurze

168 cm
32
145 lbs
26 - 8 - 0

150 cm
34
130 lbs
37 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

Reaper Combatwear

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 26 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Alfredo Torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Konrad Kurze!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kurze darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Torres shoots in but no luck this time.
Torres thuds his right hand into Kurze's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Torres misses with a lunging right hand
and Torres takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Kurze.
Donk. Torres catches Kurze right on the button with a cross.
Good exchange - Torres coming out on top.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kurze. That's going to slow Torres down.
Torres fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kurze checks it well.

Kurze dives in and scores a takedown into Torres's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

Torres has his foot on Kurze's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurze works his way back into a safe position though.
Torres not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kurze trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres 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.
Kurze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Torres working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurze doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kurze manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Kurze from controlling successfully.
Torres trying to control the position.
Kurze is in close to Torres's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurze trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurze passes Torres's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Torres wants to get back to his feet.

Torres is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurze.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kurze trying to control from half guard but Torres is working away.

Torres looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
My spies in Saboteur's Playground inform me that Kurze has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kurze slips a nice elbow through Torres's hands, connecting with Torres's forehead.
Kurze is nestled in close to Torres, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres regains full guard. Nicely done.
Torres wants to sweep but no luck.
Torres is working hard here to advance position.
Kurze working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kurze working some strikes from top position.
Kurze makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kurze landing with the ground and pound.
Torres wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kurze lands a couple of digs.
Kurze cracks Torres with a solid left hand.
Kurze trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.
Torres will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kurze scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurze is in close to Torres's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kurze wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Torres keeping full guard, as Kurze tries to pass.
Torres wants to sweep here but Kurze controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kurze accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Kurze from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kurze thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kurze looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kurze takes a swing at Torres's ribcage but misses.
Kurze chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Torres can pounce on him.
Torres thows a leg kick but Kurze checks it
and Kurze makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Torres.
Torres avoids the body shot from Kurze.
Kurze moves away from the strike by Torres.
Kurze steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Torres.
Torres throws a leg kick but Kurze sees it coming and moves out of range.
Torres throws an overhand right that lands on Kurze's shoulder, as Kurze tries to avoid the shot.
Kurze is trying to counter with his kicks.
Torres throws a body punch but Kurze moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kurze defends well and Torres ends up having to push Kurze into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kurze closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Torres did well to prevent Kurze getting side control.
Kurze has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Torres is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kurze scores with a couple of nice shots.
Konrad Kurze has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kurze wants to take a breather but Torres is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurze drops an elbow to the side of Torres's head.

Kurze is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ground and pound from Kurze.
Torres is trying to maintain the position but Kurze is very close to passing his half guard.
Torres is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Torres looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kurze working Torres over with strikes.
Kurze controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurze wants to free his trapped foot but Torres is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kurze not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kurze seems to be looking for submissions.
Kurze is trying to control the action in half guard but Torres is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Torres manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Kurze drops back, looking for a kneebar! Torres looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Torres looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Torres!

Torres has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Torres throws a leg kick
and Kurze counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres avoids the body shot from Kurze.
Kurze scores with a hook.
Torres shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Torres misses with a right hand
and Kurze counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kurze throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Torres throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A swing and a miss from Torres.
Kurze doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A looping hook to the body misses from Torres. Kurze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kurze with a nice cross.

Torres dives in and scores a takedown into Kurze's guard.
Kurze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Torres is one step ahead there.
Torres has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kurze is proving hard to escape from.

Kurze is looking for a triangle but Torres pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kurze has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torres can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kurze has his foot on Torres's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Torres works his way back into a safe position though.
Torres tries to stand but Kurze is controlling from the bottom.
Kurze trying to keep a closed guard but Torres is proving a slippery customer.
Kurze bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Torres's guard.

Kurze working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Torres's head.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Torres avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Torres tests Kurze's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kurze connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A head kick misses from Kurze.
Torres swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Torres does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kurze walks into a left hand.
Torres lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kurze's sensitive parts.
Kurze swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurze thumps Torres with a low kick.
Torres ducks under a wild hook from Kurze.
Torres swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Torres takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kurze attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Torres throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kurze's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurze throws a front kick that sends Torres stumbling back into the cage.
Torres misses with a straight right.
Alfredo Torres seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Torres throws a low kick but Kurze moves out of range easily.
Kurze swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Torres counters with an outside leg kick.
Torres is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kurze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A big left from Kurze misses.
Torres throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurze.
A left lands for Kurze.
Kurze misses with a wild body shot.
As Kurze backs away, Torres returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kurze throws the kick towards the body but Torres avoids it.
Konrad Kurze seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kurze avoids the body shot from Torres.
Nice uppercut lands for Torres. That snapped Kurze's head back.
Torres gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Torres takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kurze thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Torres if he has to take too many more of those.
Alfredo Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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.
Torres fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kurze.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kurze. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Torres takes a swing at Kurze's ribcage but misses.
Torres fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kurze.
Torres cracks a nice hook into Kurze's ribs.
Torres tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kurze is able to avoid easily.
A slow jab from Kurze misses its intended target.
Torres lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Torres throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Torres scores with a nice strike.
Kurze bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Torres throws a looping overhand right but Kurze ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Kurze was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kurze throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Torres stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Torres is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kurze.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurze missing with a left hand there. Torres was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kurze shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kurze scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kurze. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kurze is looking to land body kicks.
Kurze slips under a jab from Torres.
Kurze misses with a kick to the body.

Torres shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kurze looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kurze lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Torres wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Torres is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kurze's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Torres has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kurze is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Torres.
Kurze trying to control the action but Torres is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Torres is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alfredo Torres.
Well Kurze 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konrad Kurze!
Konrad Kurze managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Reaper Combatwear, into his post fight interview.