PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kendall Maivia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kurkku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kendall Maivia has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Maivia
vs
Kurkku

175 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

165 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

GC 4 LIFE CLOTHING ITUMS $15 OR LESS

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kendall Maivia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Kurkku!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurkku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maivia paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kurkku decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maivia tries to roll over but Kurkku keeps him under control.
Maivia is refusing to be controlled, as Kurkku sits in half guard.
Kurkku is looking to stall here but Maivia recovers full guard.
Maivia keeping moving, preventing Kurkku from controlling successfully.
Maivia is adopting a defensive guard.
Kurkku must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kurkku tries to free his leg and advance position but Maivia is retaining full guard.
Maivia tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maivia tries to clinch there but Kurkku circles away.
Kurkku keeps the fight on the outside.
Kurkku throws a series of punches but Maivia avoids them all with ease.
Kurkku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maivia paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kurkku takes the fight into the clinch.

Kurkku lands a takedown into guard.

Maivia looking for a guillotine here but Kurkku defends easily.

Kurkku stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Maivia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Kurkku counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Maivia looking to control.
Maivia looking for a sweep. Not yet Maivia, not yet.
Maivia lands with a heel strike from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maivia keeping full guard, as Kurkku tries to pass.
Maivia keeping moving, preventing Kurkku from controlling successfully.
Kurkku pushes down on Maivia's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maivia wants to control but Kurkku is keeping busy.
Kurkku trying to mount his opponent but Maivia defends it.
Maivia gets full guard.
Kurkku looks gassed!
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!
Maivia keeping moving, preventing Kurkku from controlling successfully.

Maivia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maivia looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maivia looking for a guillotine here but Kurkku defends easily.
Maivia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Maivia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurkku stands and throws Maivia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kurkku tries to move to mount but Maivia blocks the move with his legs.
Kurkku trying to control the action but Maivia is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kurkku has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kurkku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Maivia rushes Kurkku and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Maivia has hold of one of Kurkku's legs. Kurkku is fighting the takedown attempt but Maivia gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Maivia wants to control from the top but Kurkku keeps moving.

Kurkku had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Maivia is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kurkku Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Maivia's back instead.
Kurkku is trying to stick to Maivia's back but Maivia is turning into Kurkku. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kurkku's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Maivia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kurkku dominated that round.
That's time! Maivia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maivia lands a nice shot to the body.

Maivia shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
John Kurkku has got the better of the ground game so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurkku is on top in guard.
Maivia working a defensive guard here.

Kurkku stands up from Maivia's guard - Kurkku perhaps looking for a knockout.

Maivia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Maivia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maivia has taken the fight to the clinch.

Maivia decides to pull guard.
Kurkku wants to pass the guard but Maivia is keeping the position.

Kurkku stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Maivia has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Kurkku manages to get his head free but now Maivia has transitioned to an armbar! Kurkku grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Maivia! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kendall Maivia!