PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eerikki Kurki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belal Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li has chosen Fearless as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kurki
vs
Li

180 cm
25
197 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

195 cm
30
188 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eerikki Kurki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Belal Li!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Li clinches up with Kurki and pushes him back against the cage.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li throws a knee to the head but misses.
Li working Kurki over with knees to the body.
Kurki tries to throw a body punch but Li avoids it by throwing Kurki back against the cage.
Kurki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kurki is defending well for now.
Li trying to land knees to the body.
Kurki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kurki is defending well for now.
Kurki goes for a takedown attempt but Li pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Li drives through and clinches with Kurki against the cage.
Li is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kurki is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Li using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kurki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Kurki works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kurki postures up in Li's guard and throws a big left but Li blocks it.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurki works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurki throwing shots but Li is blocking nicely.
Kurki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Li has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Kurki is on him like a limpet, forcing Li back against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Li obliges.
Li with a knee to the head.
Li scores a nice knee to the body.
Kurki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Li is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eerikki Kurki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurki is breathing heavily.
Li lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Li.

Kurki gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Li regains guard.
Kurki 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurki slips nicely into half guard.
Kurki is pressing down on Li's thigh, looking to free his foot. Li is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurki is looking for a kimura here.
Li is looking for a sweep. Kurki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kurki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Li is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kurki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kurki drops an elbow to the side of Li's head.
Kurki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to get back to his feet.
Kurki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Li keeps working.
We've been hearing that Kurki has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kurki looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Li with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Li trying to control but Kurki postures up.

Kurki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kurki is nestled in close to Li, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Li on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Li knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li is trying to stand.
Kurki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Li is trying to stand.
Kurki not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kurki is pressing down on Li's thigh, looking to free his foot. Li is holding on for now.
Kurki is keen to just control but Li is a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kurki works his way into full mount!
Li is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
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 Eerikki Kurki will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Li has closed the distance and engaged Kurki in a clinch.
Kurki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kurki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Li is defending well.
Li with a knee to the head.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Kurki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eerikki Kurki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Li utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kurki wants a takedown.
Belal Li seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Kurki's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Li.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Li landing knees to the head.

It looks like Eerikki Kurki has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Li tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Li putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kurki in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kurki is trying to pull guard but Li turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Li crunches a lovely knee into Kurki's ribcage.
Li utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li stops a takedown attempt from Kurki.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Li connects with a knee to the head.
Li lands a nice knee to the body.
Li landing knees to the head.
Li scores with a knee to the head.
Li lands a knee to the head.

Kurki is rocked!
Li landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Li.
Li lands a knee to the head.
Oh Kurki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li with a knee to the head.
Li unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Li has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Li connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kurki's face.
Li lands a big knee! That's hurt Kurki! Oh, he's all over the place! Li lands another knee that sends Kurki to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Belal Li!
During a confident post fight interview, Belal Li thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.