PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Kriss (ranked 5586 p4p, 403 weight class) and Justin Purcell (ranked 24001 p4p, 457 weight class). Justin Purcell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kriss
vs
Purcell

169 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
27
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Kriss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Purcell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Purcell scores with a takedown into Kriss's guard.
Purcell controlling from the top position.
Kriss controlling the position.
Purcell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kriss's guard.
Kriss on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kriss tries to get out of the position.
Kriss wants to get back to his feet.
Purcell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purcell's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Kriss. Those never looked like landing.
Purcell throws a leg kick which misses Kriss's front leg but catches the back leg as Kriss tries to avoid it.
Chris Kriss is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Purcell cracks the inside of Kriss's front leg.
Chris Kriss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Purcell has Kriss up against the cage in a clinch.
Purcell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kriss smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Purcell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kriss throwing a counter right hand but Purcell manages to avoid it.
Purcell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kriss tries to keep at a distance but Purcell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Purcell tries to pull guard but Kriss won't allow it.

Kriss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kriss ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Purcell moves away.

Purcell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kriss did well to prevent Purcell getting side control.
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!
Purcell slows the pace down in half guard.
Kriss is positioning himself well to prevent Purcell advancing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Purcell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
More stalling from Purcell.
Kriss pushes Purcell off looking to stand but Purcell dives back in and keeps control.

Purcell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kriss defends it well.
Purcell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Purcell is looking for a kimura here.
Purcell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kriss gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kriss has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Purcell is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Purcell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kriss avoids it.

Purcell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Purcell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Purcell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kriss throws a head kick that misses
and Purcell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Kriss finds it's way through Purcell's defenses.
Purcell doesn't manage to clinch there - Kriss circles away.
Purcell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kriss takes one to the chin there.

Purcell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Purcell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Purcell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kriss avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Purcell tries for a takedown. No joy.
Purcell is looking to take this one to the mat.
Chris Kriss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Purcell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriss is pushing Purcell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Purcell misses with an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purcell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Purcell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kriss avoids it.
Purcell throws a punch but it's blocked by Kriss.
Kriss missing with knees to the body.
Kriss misses with a punch on the inside.
Purcell jumps guard but Kriss stands there with Purcell around his waist. Purcell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Purcell working Kriss over with knees to the body.
Purcell throws a punch but it's blocked by Kriss.
Purcell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kriss pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Purcell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kriss pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kriss stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Purcell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kriss gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Purcell has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kriss seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Purcell can turn it around.
Kriss is pushing Purcell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Purcell has Kriss pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kriss manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Purcell looking for a takedown.
Kriss dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kriss holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kriss stalling in the clinch.
Purcell landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriss avoiding damage as Purcell throws knees to the body.
Purcell has Kriss pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kriss manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Purcell tries to pull guard but Kriss holds him up against the cage and eventually Purcell drops back down to his feet.
Kriss prevents a takedown attempt there.
Purcell is breathing heavily.
Kriss stalling against the cage.
Purcell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Purcell has Kriss pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kriss manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kriss blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Purcell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kriss avoids it.
Purcell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kriss is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Purcell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Purcell gets control of Kriss's arms and successfully pulls guard. Purcell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Kriss gets to his feet. Purcell looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kriss wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kriss lands with a good body shot.
Purcell avoids the head kick by Kriss.
Purcell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kriss scores with a nice strike.
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!
Kriss fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Purcell on the side of the head.
Purcell moves away from the strike by Kriss.
Purcell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kriss paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Kriss misses the target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kriss!

It looks like Justin Purcell has been cut.
Kriss throws the left hand but Purcell avoids the punch easily.
Kriss misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Kriss dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Purcell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kriss looks to land a combination but Purcell avoids it well.
Kriss misses with a straight left.
Kriss scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Purcell doesn't seem bothered though.
Purcell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kriss paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Purcell tries to clinch up.
Purcell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kriss.
Kriss throws a right and a left that Purcell avoids nicely.
Kriss throws an overhand right that lands on Purcell's shoulder, as Purcell tries to avoid the shot.

Purcell pushes Kriss up against the cage in a clinch.
Purcell drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kriss gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Purcell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kriss walks away with a smile on his face. Purcell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Purcell doesn't manage to clinch there - Kriss circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Purcell finds it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kriss.
Purcell dodges the punch combination from Kriss.
Kriss lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Purcell circles away quickly and effectively.
Purcell tries to close the distance and clinch but Kriss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Purcell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kriss.
Purcell staying out of range there.
Kriss throws a head kick that misses.
Purcell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chris Kriss has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Purcell.
Kriss stuffs the takedown attempt from Purcell. Purcell gets slowly back to his feet.
Purcell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Purcell moves away from the strike by Kriss.
The fighters circling - Kriss throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriss just misses with a punch to the body.
Purcell misses with a takedown
and Kriss counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kriss misses the jab.
Despite the aggression on Purcell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Purcell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kriss was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Purcell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kriss's waist but Kriss gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Purcell off to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kriss misses with a straight right.
Kriss misses with a body shot.
Kriss bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Purcell's head backwards.
Kriss throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Purcell looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Purcell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kriss as he avoids it easily.
Purcell delivers a nice body kick.
Purcell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kriss defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Purcell slips a jab and a cross from Kriss.
Purcell tries to clinch but Kriss moves out of range.
Kriss throws a looping overhand right but Purcell ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Kriss does it's job there.
Kriss throws a series of punches but Purcell avoids them all with ease.
A combination from Kriss does no damage.
Kriss displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Purcell.
Purcell uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kriss.
Kriss lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kriss on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kriss cracks Purcell with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kriss throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriss takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Purcell moves out of range as Kriss strikes.
Purcell tries to clinch up but Kriss circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Purcell moves into the clinch.
Purcell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kriss avoids it.
Kriss taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Purcell lands a hook to the side of the head.
Purcell is looking to take this one to the mat.
Purcell is trying to pull guard but Kriss turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Purcell can't get the takedown.

Kriss breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Kriss showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kriss 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Kriss!
In his post fight interview, Chris Kriss started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.