PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Riggs (ranked 7450 p4p, 562 weight class) and Tatu Kurri (ranked 4248 p4p, 427 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Riggs
vs
Kurri

177 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Martin Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tatu Kurri!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Riggs throws a body punch but Kurri moves out of range.
Riggs swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kurri! But no joy.
Kurri takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Riggs misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kurri misses with a looping right.
Riggs throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kurri counters with a takedown into side control.

Kurri looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riggs is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggs avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kurri.

Kurri is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Riggs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The strikes coming from Kurri are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Riggs is looking to regain half guard here but Kurri keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs has one of Kurri's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
An elbow from Kurri crashes against the mat.

Kurri is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Riggs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kurri looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Riggs is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kurri off and has taken his back!
Riggs doesn't have the hooks in and Kurri manages to turn into his guard.
Kurri postures up and lands a big shot to Riggs's brow.
Kurri advances to half guard.
Kurri is nestled in close to Riggs, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Well, if Kurri is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kurri trying to control from Riggs's half guard. Riggs has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riggs is keeping the position for now.
Riggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurri is one step ahead there.
Kurri is looking to work some ground and pound but Riggs has wrist control.
Kurri trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kurri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kurri stopping the sweep attempt from Riggs.
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!
Kurri is pushing down on Riggs's leg trying to pass to half guard. Riggs is fighting to maintain full guard but Kurri has managed to sneak the leg through.
Riggs trying to hold on to Kurri's head to control him but Kurri postures up.
Kurri frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kurri is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Riggs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kurri.

Kurri is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Riggs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kurri.
Riggs has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurri is working away from the top position though.
Kurri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riggs is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurri trying to control the action but Riggs is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kurri seems to be looking for submissions.
My spies in K.O Heaven inform me that Kurri has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Riggs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Riggs moves into full guard.
Kurri looking to pass the guard.
Kurri stopping the sweep attempt from Riggs.
Kurri lands a couple of digs.
Kurri trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.

Riggs has his foot on Kurri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurri works his way back into a safe position though.
Riggs looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Kurri from controlling successfully.
Kurri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Kurri dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Riggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurri.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurri moves away.
Riggs throws a series of punches but Kurri moves out of range.
Riggs just misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kurri throws a body shot but no joy.
Riggs tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kurri counters with a takedown into side control.

Kurri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kurri tries to advance to mount but Riggs denies him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri is looking to take a break and control but Riggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kurri is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Riggs is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri working the ground and pound but Riggs is defending the strikes.

Kurri wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riggs, who protects the arm well.
Kurri throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Kurri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Riggs is trying to control Kurri's posture but Kurri avoids it.
Tatu Kurri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riggs tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kurri wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The strikes coming from Kurri are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Riggs struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs defending against the ground and pound.
Riggs is trying to control Kurri's posture but Kurri avoids it.

Kurri tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kurri has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
An elbow from Kurri crashes against the mat.

Kurri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurri is looking to take a break and control but Riggs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kurri working away.

Kurri is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Riggs has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kurri is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Riggs knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs looks to move to half guard but instead Kurri has passed into mount! Damn!
Kurri landing strikes, looking to finish!
Riggs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riggs is squirming around, avoiding Kurri's attempts to control the action.
Riggs takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Riggs tries to reverse the position but Kurri maintains control.

Kurri looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Kurri looking for a guillotine from mount but Riggs is having none of it.
Riggs tries to hold on but Kurri postures up.
Kurri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kurri tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The referee warns Riggs that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kurri throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Riggs keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Riggs is working hard here to advance position.
Kurri looking to finish Riggs with some ground and pound. This is bad for Riggs!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurri trying to control but Riggs is having none of it.

Kurri is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Riggs is surviving well by controlling Kurri's body position as best he can.
Riggs taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatu Kurri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Riggs throws a body punch but Kurri moves out of range.
Riggs digs a good body shot into Kurri's ribs.
Riggs throws a body punch but Kurri moves out of range.
Martin Riggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riggs lands a lovely overhand right.
Riggs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurri was well out of range. Poor timing from Riggs.
Kurri darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Riggs avoids the body shot from Kurri.
Kurri misses the jab.

Riggs closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kurri did well to prevent Riggs getting side control.
Kurri is not content to let Riggs control the position.

Riggs is working for a submission of some sort.

Kurri looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri is not content to let Riggs control the position.
Riggs not doing much here.
Kurri works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kurri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riggs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kurri looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurri, not yet.

Kurri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Riggs is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kurri tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riggs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riggs trying to control but Kurri is working from the bottom.

Riggs thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kurri is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Riggs has his hands clasped together but Kurri extends and breaks Riggs's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kurri.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tatu Kurri!