PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edwin Marquez (ranked 2313 p4p, 267 weight class) and Tatu Kurri (ranked 2230 p4p, 258 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marquez
vs
Kurri

195 cm
21
180 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

184 cm
19
176 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Edwin Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tatu Kurri!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurri shoots in but Marquez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Marquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kurri.
Marquez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kurri shoots in and drives through. Marquez sprawls well.
Marquez feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Edwin Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatu Kurri.
Marquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kurri throws out a counter right but Marquez avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri throws a lazy uppercut
and Marquez counters with a nice uppercut.
Marquez moves out of range as Kurri strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri throws a hook to the side of Marquez's head but Marquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Kurri shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marquez is trying to defend but Kurri finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marquez is trying to stand back up but Kurri is controlling him
Marquez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Kurri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Marquez is looking to escape.

Marquez manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Kurri keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Kurri is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marquez is defending well.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marquez looks to land a body kick but Kurri moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez stuffs the takedown.
Marquez digs a good body shot into Kurri's ribs.
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!
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.

Kurri shoots in and bounces Marquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurri is controlling him.
Marquez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kurri controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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!
Marquez wants to stand and escape but Kurri is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marquez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kurri presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marquez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kurri dives in and grabs Marquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marquez pushes down on Kurri's head and hops out.

Kurri shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marquez's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Marquez's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kurri won't allow Marquez to get back to his feet.
Kurri is in close to Marquez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kurri.
Marquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurri is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurri trying to control the position from guard on top but Marquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kurri manages to pass to side control.

Kurri is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Marquez sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurri prevents Marquez from standing back up.
Kurri scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurri drops an elbow to the side of Marquez's head.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet.
Kurri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Marquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kurri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marquez tries to kick Kurri off but Kurri keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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 Edwin Marquez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kurri misses with a takedown
and Marquez counters with a one-two to the body.
Marquez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kurri takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marquez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marquez but Marquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kurri shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Marquez as he jumps to the side.
Marquez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Edwin Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatu Kurri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Marquez thuds a left hand into Kurri's body.
Kurri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Edwin Marquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marquez wants to land a leg kick but Kurri is out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kurri.
A counter left hand to the body from Marquez misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kurri.
Marquez is looking to wear down Kurri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kurri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Marquez counters with a left and a right that stings Kurri.
Marquez scores with a hook.

Kurri shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Marquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Marquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kurri can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marquez wants to get back to his feet.
Kurri lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Marquez down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marquez some visible discomfort.
Kurri prevents Marquez from escaping the position.
Check out the look on Kurri's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Marquez is trying to buck Kurri off.

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!
Marquez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kurri has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kurri sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Marquez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Marquez is trying to buck Kurri off.
Kurri is chipping away with strikes.

Kurri wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marquez, who protects the arm well.
Kurri prevents Marquez from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurri slows the pace down.
Kurri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marquez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kurri trying to control the action but Marquez is working from the bottom.

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!
Marquez tries to escape but Kurri is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwin Marquez dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A head kick misses from Marquez.
Tatu Kurri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marquez cracks Kurri with an open hand slap.
Kurri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Marquez but Marquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Kurri backs away, Marquez returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kurri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marquez.
Kurri throws out a counter right but Marquez avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Marquez misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kurri checks a leg kick.
Kurri gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Marquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Marquez.
Kurri with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Marquez scores with a hook to the body.
Kurri takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Tatu Kurri has been cut.
Marquez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kurri's face.
Kurri tries for a takedown but Marquez manages to get underhooks.
Edwin Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tatu Kurri.
Marquez tries to work over Kurri's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marquez has Kurri pressed against the cage.
Marquez scores with a nice hook to the head.
The referee calls for Marquez to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurri was well out of range. Poor timing from Marquez.
Kurri moves away from the strike by Marquez.
Marquez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kurri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kurri is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Marquez.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kurri gets the takedown into side control.
Kurri controlling from side mount.
Kurri is looking to take a break and control but Marquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kurri trying to control the position but Marquez is working away.
Marquez is trying to buck Kurri off.
Kurri throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Marquez wants to get back to his feet but Kurri drags him back down.
Tatu Kurri has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kurri is trying to get an arm triangle but Marquez is defending well.
Marquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kurri scores with punches from side control.
Marquez pushes Kurri away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kurri gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kurri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Marquez wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Kurri has hold of Marquez's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Marquez seems comfortable defending it but Kurri has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Marquez is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Marquez is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Kurri couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tatu Kurri!
Tatu Kurri decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
Edwin Marquez was interviewed post fight and said 'I hate your face. But, like, really. I really hate your face.'.