PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Kuriliv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristopher Joker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kuriliv
vs
Joker

188 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Kuriliv!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cristopher Joker!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuriliv has a takedown stuffed.
Joker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Joker with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kuriliv decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Joker's guard.
Joker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuriliv is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kuriliv lands a couple of elbows.
Kuriliv will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuriliv makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuriliv throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuriliv is working Joker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuriliv working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Joker has his foot on Kuriliv's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuriliv works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuriliv is in close to Joker's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Joker has his foot on Kuriliv's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuriliv works his way back into a safe position though.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Joker has eaten all the pies!
Kuriliv postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kuriliv cracks Joker with a solid left hand.
Kuriliv postures up and lands a big shot to Joker's brow.
Kuriliv works over Joker with some ground and pound from guard.
Joker looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joker has momentary wrist control but Kuriliv slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuriliv content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kuriliv landing some decent shots from guard.
Kuriliv landing some decent shots from guard.
Kuriliv stands up over Joker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Joker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuriliv is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuriliv scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kuriliv landing with the ground and pound.
Kuriliv postures up and lands a big shot to Joker's brow.
Joker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuriliv distracts Joker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joker tries to strike from the bottom.
Joker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuriliv. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuriliv postures up.
Kuriliv landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kuriliv makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Joker gets caught flat footed, as Kuriliv shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kuriliv with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Joker has his foot on Kuriliv's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuriliv works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuriliv landing with the ground and pound.
Kuriliv lands a couple of elbows.

Joker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kuriliv scoring with punches to the head and body.
Joker trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joker working for a triangle but Kuriliv defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuriliv fails with the takedown
and Joker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Joker.
Kuriliv shoots and misses
and Joker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kuriliv thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Kuriliv. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joker tries to clinch but Kuriliv moves out of range.
Joker misses with a takedown

and Kuriliv counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joker won't be happy with that.
Joker is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Joker's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kuriliv cracks Joker with a big elbow.
Kuriliv working the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joker tries to bench press Kuriliv off him but Kuriliv keeps the position.
Joker wants to control but Kuriliv postures up.
Joker takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Joker scores with a jab.
Kuriliv tries for a takedown but Joker circles away easily

and Joker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joker blocks the strikes from Kuriliv.
Joker is looking to take a break and control but Kuriliv is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuriliv 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.
Kuriliv landing small, sideways elbows.
Kuriliv is staying active underneath Joker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Joker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joker wants to take a breather but Kuriliv is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joker tries to clinch but Kuriliv is having none of it.
Kuriliv misses with a takedown attempt

and Joker counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuriliv manages to work his way to half guard, despite Joker's best efforts.
Kuriliv missing with punches from the bottom.
Kuriliv tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kuriliv is not content to let Joker control the position.
Kuriliv punching from the bottom.
Kuriliv punching from the bottom.
Kuriliv flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuriliv doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Joker counters with a takedown into side control.
Kuriliv connects with an elbow from the bottom.
Kuriliv misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Kuriliv dodges the ground and pound from Joker.
Kuriliv lands with an elbow strike from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuriliv striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Kuriliv misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Kuriliv manages to work his way to half guard, despite Joker's best efforts.
Kuriliv throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Joker misses with a takedown attempt

and Kuriliv counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joker won't be happy with that.
Kuriliv landing a few strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Joker is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kuriliv's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kuriliv looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Joker with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kuriliv working the head and body with strikes.
Joker wants to improve his position but Kuriliv is controlling well.
Kuriliv looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kuriliv winds up and cracks Joker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joker can do anything to dispel that myth.
Joker has hold of Kuriliv's hands but Kuriliv slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ground and pound from Kuriliv.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuriliv misses with a takedown attempt
and Joker counters with a one-two to the body.
Joker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kuriliv shoots and misses
and Joker counters with a nice uppercut.

Kuriliv gets caught flat footed, as Joker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv lands a decent punch to the body there.
Kuriliv throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kuriliv striking from the bottom.
Kuriliv striking off his back but it's not causing Joker any problems.
Joker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuriliv swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joker trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuriliv is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kuriliv lands an upkick as Joker stands over him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kuriliv gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Joker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Joker postures up and lands a big shot to Kuriliv's brow.
Kuriliv trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv striking off his back.

Joker drops back looking for a leg! Kuriliv is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kuriliv manages to kick Joker off! Joker jumps back into Kuriliv's guard.
Kuriliv punching from the bottom.
Kuriliv throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kuriliv trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kuriliv striking from his own guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joker with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kuriliv counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Joker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuriliv landing with the ground and pound.
Kuriliv distracts Joker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Kuriliv dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kuriliv will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kuriliv scores a takedown into full mount!
Joker is looking to get to half guard.
Kuriliv is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Joker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kuriliv thowing shots but they're missing.
Alexander Kuriliv overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joker taking shots to the head.
Kuriliv landing shots from mount.
Joker tries to lock up and control but Kuriliv gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuriliv putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuriliv raining down shots from the mount!
Joker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kuriliv working Joker over with strikes here.
Kuriliv working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kuriliv scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joker?
Kuriliv lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kuriliv cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kuriliv lands a big shot there that rocks Joker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuriliv landing shots from mount.
Joker tries to reverse the position but Kuriliv maintains control.
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kuriliv lands a heavy elbow.
Kuriliv scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joker?
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two 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.
Joker tries to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
Kuriliv lands a big elbow.
Joker is trying desperately to improve position.
Kuriliv lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Joker tries to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Kuriliv.
Kuriliv landing strikes from the mount.
Kuriliv lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Joker is looking to get to half guard.
Joker tries to hold on but Kuriliv postures up.
Kuriliv prevents Joker from getting the reversal.
Joker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuriliv lands a nice shot to the head.
Kuriliv scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kuriliv postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Joker looks a forlorn figure.
Kuriliv prevents Joker from getting the reversal.
Joker wants to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
Kuriliv fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Joker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Joker in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Joker is working to get back to half guard.
Joker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The referee warns Joker that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kuriliv lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kuriliv looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kuriliv working the ground and pound effectively.
Kuriliv landing punches.
Joker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kuriliv lands a nice shot to the head.
Kuriliv scoring with strikes but Joker is staying in there.
Kuriliv lands a heavy elbow.
Kuriliv punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kuriliv with a couple of short strikes.
The referee warns Joker that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Joker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kuriliv lands a big shot there that rocks Joker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Joker wants to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
Kuriliv scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joker?
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Joker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kuriliv has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Joker's face.
Kuriliv punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kuriliv with good strikes from the mount here!
Kuriliv lands a big elbow.
Kuriliv landing shots from mount.
Kuriliv putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kuriliv has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Joker's face.
Kuriliv dominating with strikes here.
Kuriliv landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuriliv in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kuriliv pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Joker is working to get back to half guard.
Kuriliv with a couple of short strikes.
Joker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Joker throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Joker tries to lock up and control but Kuriliv gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Joker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kuriliv with good strikes from the mount here!
Joker is in a horrible position here. Kuriliv smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Joker wants to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
Kuriliv punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Joker flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Joker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kuriliv with shots to the head and body - Joker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kuriliv putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kuriliv postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Joker looks a forlorn figure.
Kuriliv lands a big shot there that rocks Joker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuriliv working Joker over with strikes here.
Kuriliv landing punches.
Joker is working to get back to half guard.
Kuriliv avoids the attempt from Joker to control.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Joker is bucking up trying to escape but Kuriliv cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kuriliv prevents Joker from getting the reversal.
Joker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kuriliv avoids the attempt from Joker to control.
Joker is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kuriliv is staying active.
Kuriliv is landing with some decent strikes but Joker is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Joker is working to get back to half guard.
Joker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kuriliv lands a nice shot to the head.
Kuriliv fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Joker tries to hold on but Kuriliv pushes him away.
BOOM! Kuriliv connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kuriliv connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Joker is trying to escape the mount.
Kuriliv raining down shots from the mount!
Joker working to try and regain half guard.
Kuriliv with shots to the head and body - Joker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuriliv fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Joker is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuriliv has a good base and remains in mount.
Cristopher Joker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Kuriliv showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuriliv has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Alexander Kuriliv!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Alexander Kuriliv!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Alexander Kuriliv!

Alexander Kuriliv wins by unanimous decision!