PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Krisko Kurtev (ranked 229 p4p, 1010 weight class) and Simon Hedegaard (ranked 35 p4p, 145 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kurtev
vs
Hedegaard

189 cm
34
193
24 - 27 - 0

208 cm
28
195
24 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
New Standard

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Krisko Kurtev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hedegaard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kurtev is trying to control Hedegaard's posture but Hedegaard avoids it.
Kurtev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hedegaard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hedegaard in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kurtev is looking to regain half guard here but Hedegaard keeps moving and retains side control.

Hedegaard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kurtev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kurtev wants to control but Hedegaard postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hedegaard tries to advance to mount but Kurtev denies him.

Hedegaard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kurtev, who protects the arm well.
Kurtev is trying to control Hedegaard's posture but Hedegaard avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hedegaard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurtev is trying to get back to half guard.
Kurtev sneaks back into half guard.
Hedegaard is keen to just control but Kurtev is a slippery customer.
Hedegaard not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hedegaard tries to pass to full mount but Kurtev defends it.

Hedegaard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kurtev misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kurtev throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kurtev is trying to maintain the position but Hedegaard is very close to passing his half guard.
Kurtev misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Hedegaard seems to be working for a kimura but Kurtev defends the submission attempt.
Kurtev is trying to control but Hedegaard passes into side control!
Hedegaard working the body and head with strikes.
Kurtev manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hedegaard's best efforts.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hedegaard working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Hedegaard is working for a kimura but Kurtev is defending it quite comfortably.
Kurtev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hedegaard is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurtev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurtev throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Hedegaard manages to pass to side control.
Kurtev throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Hedegaard trying to control the action but Kurtev is working from the bottom.
Kurtev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hedegaard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kurtev's legs.
Kurtev tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hedegaard trying to control the position but Kurtev is working away.
Kurtev misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Kurtev throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hedegaard trying to control the position but Kurtev is working away.
Hedegaard advances to full mount.
Kurtev manages to control the position for a moment.
Hedegaard tries to control but Kurtev wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurtev wants to hold on but Hedegaard pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Hedegaard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kurtev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Hedegaard feints and as Kurtev raises his hands in defense, Hedegaard changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kurtev manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Hedegaard has clasped his hands together around Kurtev's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hedegaard throwing strikes but Kurtev manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kurtev throws a strike aimed at the side of Hedegaard's head but Hedegaard avoids it well.
Kurtev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kurtev throws a strike aimed at the side of Hedegaard's head but Hedegaard avoids it well.
Hedegaard manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hedegaard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kurtev actively working from the bottom here.
Kurtev 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.

Hedegaard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hedegaard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtev tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Kurtev has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Hedegaard escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Hedegaard!
Kurtev tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hedegaard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hedegaard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kurtev throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Kurtev can't do much from the bottom here.
Kurtev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hedegaard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hedegaard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurtev keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hedegaard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kurtev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kurtev is trying to control Hedegaard's posture but Hedegaard avoids it.
Kurtev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hedegaard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurtev keeps working.
Simon Hedegaard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurtev tries to improve position but can't.

Hedegaard tries for a kimura but Kurtev is defending well.
Kurtev sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev gets back to full guard.
Kurtev trying to strike off his back.
Hedegaard pushing down on Kurtev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hedegaard working the head and body with strikes.

Hedegaard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hedegaard is looking to advance position but Kurtev won't allow it.

Hedegaard seems to be looking for submissions.
Kurtev striking from half guard on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurtev gets back to full guard.
Hedegaard postures up.
Hedegaard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hedegaard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kurtev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kurtev keeping moving, preventing Hedegaard from controlling successfully.
Kurtev throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hedegaard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Hedegaard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

Kurtev is looking to clinch.

Kurtev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hedegaard to the ground. Kurtev is now in Hedegaard's guard.
Kurtev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurtev is looking to work some ground and pound but Hedegaard has wrist control.
Kurtev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hedegaard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hedegaard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurtev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hedegaard working for a triangle but Kurtev defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hedegaard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurtev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Hedegaard is tightening it up a little... Kurtev has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Kurtev reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Kurtev taps out! Nice BJJ there by Hedegaard!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Simon Hedegaard!
Simon Hedegaard is the new middleweight champion!
Simon Hedegaard made sure to mention his sponsor, Altitude Clothing in his post fight interview.