PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Rees Mogg (ranked 600 p4p, 1584 weight class) and Krisko Kurtev (ranked 86 p4p, 227 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rees Mogg
vs
Kurtev

180 cm
33
192
25 - 11 - 0

189 cm
29
193
12 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Rees Mogg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Krisko Kurtev!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurtev tries to close the distance and clinch but Rees Mogg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Krisko Kurtev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rees Mogg throws a body punch but Kurtev moves out of range.
Rees Mogg throws out a loose jab but Kurtev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rees Mogg misses with a looping left.

Kurtev clinches up with Rees Mogg and pushes him back against the cage.
Rees Mogg throws an elbow that misses.
Rees Mogg tries to work over Kurtev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kurtev is working for takedown but Rees Mogg is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kurtev pulls Rees Mogg into guard.
Kurtev trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Our spies down at at MY YARD Resurrect inform us that Kurtev has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurtev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rees Mogg trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurtev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rees Mogg slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kurtev keeping full guard, as Rees Mogg tries to pass.

Rees Mogg gets to his feet - Kurtev follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rees Mogg misses with a straight left.
Rees Mogg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kurtev! But no joy.
Rees Mogg circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rees Mogg definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rees Mogg swinging wildly here.

Kurtev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rees Mogg's half guard.
Kurtev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rees Mogg wants to get back to full guard.
Rees Mogg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurtev.
Kurtev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kurtev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rees Mogg is trying to control but can't.
Kurtev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rees Mogg defending well though.
Kurtev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kurtev is thwarting Rees Mogg's attempts to control the position.
Kurtev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kurtev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rees Mogg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurtev is working away from the top position though.
Kurtev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rees Mogg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurtev.
Rees Mogg is staying active underneath Kurtev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kurtev lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rees Mogg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rees Mogg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurtev.
Rees Mogg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurtev.
Kurtev is thwarting Rees Mogg's attempts to control the position.
Rees Mogg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurtev.
Kurtev with the ground and pound but Rees Mogg uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kurtev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kurtev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kurtev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rees Mogg keeping moving, preventing Kurtev from controlling successfully.
Kurtev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rees Mogg trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kurtev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kurtev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kurtev throwing strikes from guard but Rees Mogg blocks nicely.
Kurtev throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rees Mogg has momentary wrist control but Kurtev slips an elbow through the middle.
Kurtev throwing strikes from guard but Rees Mogg blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Krisko Kurtev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kurtev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rees Mogg is trying to maintain the position but Kurtev is very close to passing his half guard.
Kurtev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kurtev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rees Mogg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kurtev thows a huge punch but Rees Mogg dodges it nicely.
Kurtev working over Rees Mogg with some ground and pound. Rees Mogg looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kurtev throwing shots but Rees Mogg is blocking nicely.
Kurtev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rees Mogg's head.
Kurtev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rees Mogg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurtev.
Rees Mogg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kurtev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kurtev trying to control the action but Rees Mogg is working from the bottom.
Kurtev working Rees Mogg over with strikes.
Kurtev throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rees Mogg to regain full guard.
Kurtev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kurtev postures up.
Kurtev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kurtev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev throws a big right hand that misses.
Rees Mogg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kurtev trying to control but Rees Mogg is working from the bottom.
Kurtev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurtev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kurtev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Krisko Kurtev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurtev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurtev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rees Mogg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kurtev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rees Mogg swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Krisko Kurtev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rees Mogg clinches up against the cage.
Rees Mogg can't break the clinch.
Kurtev looking for a takedown.
Kurtev jumps guard but Rees Mogg stands there with Kurtev around his waist. Kurtev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rees Mogg fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rees Mogg working aggressively here.
Rees Mogg prevents the takedown attempt.
Jacob Rees Mogg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Krisko Kurtev.
Rees Mogg lands a shoulder strike.
Kurtev wants a takedown.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rees Mogg just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kurtev's brow.
Kurtev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rees Mogg prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rees Mogg avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kurtev wants a takedown.
Rees Mogg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kurtev.
Kurtev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kurtev fails to pull guard.
A nice left hand lands by Rees Mogg.
Rees Mogg lands a nice elbow.
Rees Mogg misses with some punches.
Rees Mogg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kurtev.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rees Mogg escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Krisko Kurtev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kurtev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rees Mogg did well to prevent Kurtev getting side control.
Kurtev winds up and cracks Rees Mogg with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kurtev thows a huge punch but Rees Mogg dodges it nicely.
Rees Mogg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rees Mogg.
Rees Mogg has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kurtev trying to control but Rees Mogg is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rees Mogg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rees Mogg working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kurtev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kurtev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kurtev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurtev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rees Mogg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kurtev postures up in Rees Mogg's guard and throws a big left but Rees Mogg blocks it.
Kurtev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jacob Rees Mogg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Kurtev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kurtev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kurtev landing with the ground and pound.
Rees Mogg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kurtev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurtev trying to control the position from guard on top but Rees Mogg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Jacob Rees Mogg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rees Mogg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rees Mogg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kurtev has a takedown stuffed.
Kurtev shoots in for a double leg but Rees Mogg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Krisko Kurtev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rees Mogg moves into the clinch.
Kurtev blocking some punches.
Rees Mogg lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rees Mogg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kurtev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Kurtev pulls guard successfully.
Kurtev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rees Mogg is one step ahead there.
Rees Mogg postures up.
Kurtev has his hands on Rees Mogg's head, controlling the position.
Rees Mogg slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kurtev holds on and takes a little breather.
Rees Mogg won't allow Kurtev to sweep him here.
Rees Mogg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kurtev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rees Mogg is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kurtev closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rees Mogg lands a nice elbow.
Rees Mogg swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short left from Rees Mogg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krisko Kurtev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kurtev 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krisko Kurtev!
An out of breath Krisko Kurtev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Jacob Rees Mogg had this to say: 'Humpty Dumpty would approve.'.