PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Koen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Max (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.

Koen
vs
Max

168 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ruben Koen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Max!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Max is looking to clinch but Koen is avoiding it.
Koen feinted with a counter takedown.

Koen closes the distance and pushes Max back into the cage.
Koen goes for a takedown attempt but Max pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Max clinches.
Max with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Max using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Max utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Koen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Max pulls his leg out and moves away.

Max rushes Koen and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koen is working for takedown but Max is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Koen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koen is trying to break free.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but Koen blocks with his arms.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Koen avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koen tries to pull guard but Max forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Knees to the body from Max.
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koen avoids it.
Max putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Koen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Koen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Max after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Max working Koen over with knees to the body.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Max.
Max is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Koen is breathing heavily.
Max tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Max working Koen over with knees to the body.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Max.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koen looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Max uses from the top position.
Koen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Max won't allow Koen to sweep him here.
Koen keeping moving, preventing Max from controlling successfully.
Max throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Koen has his foot on Max's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Max works his way back into a safe position though.
Max trying to control the position from guard on top but Koen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max wants to get back to his feet.

Koen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Max doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Koen.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Max wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koen wants to pass the guard but Max is defending well.

Max manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Koen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Koen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Max just stands there and leans against the cage.
Max landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Max.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koen tries to circle away but Max has him pinned against the cage.
Max tries a knee to the head but Koen blocks it.
Max is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Koen is defending well for now.
Koen is trying to force a seperation but Max has the dominant position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Max.
Max lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Koen is blocking nicely.
Max with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Koen is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.

Koen breaks from the clinch.
Koen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Max gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Koen trying to stall but Max improves his position.
Max tries a knee to the head but Koen blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Max dominated that round.
That's time! Koen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Max.
Max is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Koen.
Koen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Koen closes the distance and clinches.
Max misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koen.
Max is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Koen is defending well for now.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Max landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Max misses with a knee strike.
Koen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koen is trying to pull guard but Max has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Koen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Koen looking to stall.
Koen misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Max misses with a knee to the head.
Max connects with a nasty looking knee right to Koen's face.
Koen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Max just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Koen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Max tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koen avoids it.
Max throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Koen lands an elbow just above Max 's eye.

Koen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koen is looking to slow Max down with leg kicks.
Koen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Max as he avoids it easily.
Koen throws a head kick but Max moves out of range.
Koen looks for a takedown but Max sprawls well.
Max tries to clinch up but Koen circles away and keeps his distance.

Max moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Max using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Max unloads a knee to the mid-section. Koen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Max misses with a knee to the head.
Max scores a nice knee to the body.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Koen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Max to keep the fight standing.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Max connects with a knee to the head.
Koen tries to score a body lock takedown but Max shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Max is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Koen breaks from the clinch.
Max closes the distance looking to clinch
and Koen counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Max closes the distance and clinches.
Max misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koen.
Max has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Koen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Max walks away with a smile on his face. Koen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Max tries to clinch there but Koen circles away.

Max rushes Koen and presses him up against the cage.
Max trying to land knees to the body.
Max with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Max utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Max trying to land knees to the body.
Max throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Koen blocks it with crossed arms.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Koen is trying to pull guard but Max has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Koen wants to take the fight to the mat but Max manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Koen trying to stall but Max improves his position.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but Koen blocks with his arms.
Koen misses with a knee to the head.
Max stops a takedown attempt from Koen.
Max misses with a knee to the head.
Max tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Koen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Koen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Max leaves Koen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Max showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Koen gets tackled into the cage by Max. Max maintains the clinch.
Koen has had enough of the clinch but Max keeps him there for the moment.
Koen tries to throw a body punch but Max avoids it by throwing Koen back against the cage.
Max misses with a knee to the head.
Max with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Max misses with a knee to the head.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Koen avoids the damage to the body.
Koen working hard to break the clinch.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koen is trying to break the clinch but Max has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Max throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Koen blocks it with crossed arms.
Max takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Koen breaks the clinch.
Koen shoots in but no luck this time.

Max pushes Koen up against the cage in a clinch.
Koen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Max is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koen is looking to break free of the clinch but Max has double underhooks.
Koen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Max prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruben Koen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but Koen blocks with his arms.
Koen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Max missing with knees to the body.
Max tries to land knees in the clinch but Koen avoids the damage to the body.

Koen manages to break the clinch.
Max tries to clinch but Koen is having none of it.

Max has taken the fight to the clinch.

Koen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Max gets a clinch.

Koen pulls guard successfully.
Max advances to half guard.

Max stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Koen slips a jab and a cross from Max.
Max tries to close the distance and clinch but Koen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kurt Max is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Max pushes Koen up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Max missing with knees to the body.
Koen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Max just stands there and leans against the cage.
Koen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Max putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Koen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Max tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Max looking to throw knees to the head but Koen is blocking nicely.
Koen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Koen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koen shoots in for a takedown but Max shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Max closes the distance and pushes Koen back into the cage.
Max lands a good knee to the midsection. Koen won't want to take too many of those.
Max lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Max misses with a knee strike.

Koen pulls Max into guard.
Max wants to pass the guard but Koen is keeping the position.
Koen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Max not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Koen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Max is one step ahead there.
Max 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.

Koen looking for a guillotine here but Max defends easily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Max comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Max winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Roberts scores the fight for Kurt Max!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Kurt Max!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Kurt Max!

Kurt Max wins by unanimous decision!