PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pepe Arvo Kurva (ranked 1559 p4p, 4755 weight class) and William Anthony (ranked 220 p4p, 476 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kurva
vs
Anthony

182 cm
21
190
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
185
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Pepe Arvo Kurva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, William Anthony!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony shoots and misses
and Anthony takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kurva takes a swing at Anthony's ribcage but misses.
Anthony tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Anthony avoids the body shot from Kurva.
Anthony feints the counter takedown.

Anthony shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Anthony was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kurva managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Anthony.

Anthony is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kurva is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ground and pound from Anthony seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Kurva's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurva dodges the ground and pound from Anthony.
Anthony works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Anthony lands a few punches from side control.
Anthony looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Anthony in side control, throwing shots but Kurva defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony looks up at the clock and then as Kurva takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Anthony smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Anthony tries to score with some ground and pound. Kurva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kurva takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kurva is looking to regain half guard here but Anthony keeps moving and retains side control.

Anthony stands up.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kurva but Kurva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kurva is looking to counter punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Anthony.
Pepe Arvo Kurva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Anthony.
A telegraphed right hand from Kurva misses the target.
And Anthony tries to counter it with a takedown but Kurva pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kurva sprawls well. Kurva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anthony gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurva lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Anthony at a distance.
Anthony throws a lazy uppercut
and Kurva counters with a straight right hand.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Anthony.
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!
Anthony cracks Kurva with a big right hand but Kurva just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Anthony thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Anthony misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kurva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Anthony.
Anthony working away.
Anthony misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kurva knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Anthony on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony misses with the ground and pound.
Kurva controls the position for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Anthony wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kurva, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kurva tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Anthony wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kurva manages to get back to half guard.
Kurva has his hands clasped together around Anthony's back. He's all about the action.
Anthony missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Anthony is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kurva is looking to control Anthony's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurva avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Anthony slips a nice elbow through Kurva's hands, connecting with Kurva's forehead.
Anthony has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kurva is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anthony.
Kurva is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurva is refusing to be controlled, as Anthony sits in half guard.
Kurva is trying to maintain the position but Anthony is very close to passing his half guard.
Anthony lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Anthony dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Anthony shoots in but Kurva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anthony goes for a double leg but Kurva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kurva continues to drive forward.
Kurva with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kurva lands a nice hook to Anthony's body. Anthony takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Anthony keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anthony dives in and grabs Kurva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kurva pushes down on Anthony's head and hops out.
Pepe Arvo Kurva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Anthony.
Anthony throws a right hand that misses
and Kurva counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anthony thinking.
Kurva lands a nice looking body shot.
Pepe Arvo Kurva is winning the standup battle so far.
Anthony keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anthony fails to land the takedown.

Anthony looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anthony postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Anthony throws an elbow that misses. Kurva uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anthony's guard. Nice move by Kurva!

Kurva trying to control the position from guard on top but Anthony is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kurva has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Anthony bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurva's guard.

Kurva looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurva, not yet.
Kurva has his hands on Anthony's head, controlling the position.
Kurva keeping full guard, as Anthony tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anthony distracts Kurva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Anthony works over Kurva with some ground and pound from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anthony accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anthony working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kurva's head.
Anthony trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurva is trying to keep Anthony in close.
Anthony 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.
Anthony trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurva looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Anthony in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Anthony fails with the takedown.
Kurva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anthony changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kurva tries to avoid it but Anthony manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kurva to the ground. Kurva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Anthony on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kurva lunges at Anthony with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Anthony's hand.
Anthony shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kurva but Kurva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Anthony takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anthony doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kurva counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anthony with a poor takedown
and Kurva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kurva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pepe Arvo Kurva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kurva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anthony was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurva.
Anthony with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kurva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anthony shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kurva counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anthony has a takedown stuffed.
An attempted straight right counter from Kurva misses the target.
Kurva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kurva is looking to wear down Anthony with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
No luck for Anthony with that takedown attempt.
Kurva lands a glancing blow to the side of Anthony's head.
Anthony dives in for a single leg takedown but Kurva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kurva takes a swing at Anthony's ribcage but misses.
Anthony with the counter takedown but Kurva avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pepe Arvo Kurva dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Anthony ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kurva. Anthony does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anthony swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anthony fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kurva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anthony feints the counter takedown.
Anthony is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kurva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anthony misses with a takedown attempt - Kurva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pepe Arvo Kurva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Anthony.
Anthony looks to land a left hand but Kurva moved out of range nicely.
Kurva throws a body punch but Anthony moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Anthony or perhaps it was just good defense by Kurva, which made it look bad.
Kurva looks to score with a jab to the body but Anthony is just out of range.
Kurva misses the shot to the body.
Kurva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anthony can do to turn this around?
Anthony with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kurva counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurva throws a body shot but no joy.
Anthony throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Anthony throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kurva's waist but Kurva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Anthony off to one side.
Kurva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anthony was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurva.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kurva. Anthony does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anthony shoots in looking for a takedown. Kurva tries to sprawl out of it but Anthony keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kurva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anthony has a takedown stuffed.
Kurva is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Anthony fails to land the takedown.
Anthony takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheers as Kurva lands an impressive looking overhand right. Anthony doesn't seem phased though.
No joy there for Kurva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurva misses with a body shot.
Anthony feints the counter takedown.
Anthony shoots in looking for a takedown. Kurva tries to sprawl out of it but Anthony keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kurva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Anthony shoots in but Kurva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anthony fails to land the takedown.
Anthony uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kurva.
Kurva takes a swing at Anthony's ribcage but misses.
Kurva throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anthony fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Anthony shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kurva napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurva is looking for a sweep.
Kurva sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kurva wants to control but Anthony is keeping busy.
Kurva tries to roll over but Anthony keeps him under control.
Kurva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kurva tries to get out of the position.
William Anthony has got the better of the ground game so far.
Anthony is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kurva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kurva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kurva is looking to control Anthony's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurva avoid being mounted?

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.
Anthony tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kurva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kurva is refusing to be controlled, as Anthony sits in half guard.
Anthony tries to pass to full mount but Kurva defends it.
Kurva tries to get to full guard but Anthony has control of the leg.
Kurva is looking to control Anthony's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurva avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurva makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kurva.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pepe Arvo Kurva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kurva 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pepe Arvo Kurva!