PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudolf Varga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uali Kurzhez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rudolf Varga had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Uali Kurzhez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Varga
vs
Kurzhez

190 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
24
212 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rudolf Varga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Uali Kurzhez!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurzhez shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Varga eats them both and turns towards Kurzhez to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Rudolf Varga has been cut.
Varga misses with a two punch combination.
Kurzhez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kurzhez swinging wildly here.
Varga tries to clinch
and Kurzhez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Varga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kurzhez.

Kurzhez gets caught napping as Varga dives in and scores a takedown. Kurzhez manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kurzhez is pulling down on Varga's head to control his posture.
Varga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kurzhez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Varga connects with a couple of short punches.
Varga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurzhez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Varga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurzhez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Varga looking to sit in guard and control but Kurzhez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kurzhez controlling from the top position.
Varga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurzhez is one step ahead there.
Varga is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varga not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Varga is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurzhez defends it well.
Kurzhez gets full guard.
Varga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Varga throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurzhez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kurzhez trying to keep a closed guard but Varga is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varga tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurzhez is retaining full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kurzhez holds on and takes a little breather.
Kurzhez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Varga.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Uali Kurzhez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kurzhez misses with the combination.
Varga misses with a looping left.
Kurzhez throws a series of punches but Varga avoids them all with ease.
Kurzhez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Varga shoots and misses
and Kurzhez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Varga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kurzhez clinches up with Varga and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Kurzhez - that landed with a thud.
Kurzhez works on Varga's body with a couple of short punches.
Varga is breathing heavily.
Kurzhez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Varga.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurzhez missing with knees to the body.

Kurzhez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Varga throws a front kick that sends Kurzhez stumbling back into the cage.
Kurzhez misses with a series of wild punches.
Kurzhez thows a leg kick but Varga checks it
and Varga counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Kurzhez has Varga up against the cage in a clinch.
Varga tries to land knees in the clinch but Kurzhez avoids the damage to the body.
Kurzhez tries a body shot but Varga blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Varga drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kurzhez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kurzhez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Varga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Uali Kurzhez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Varga's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Good shot there by Kurzhez.
Kurzhez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Varga checks it well.
Kurzhez misses with a double jab.
Rudolf Varga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Varga throws a sloppy head kick and Kurzhez moves out of range easily.
Kurzhez lands a nice hook to Varga's body. Varga takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kurzhez scores with a punch to the head.
Kurzhez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kurzhez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Varga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurzhez misses with a wild combination.

Varga rushes Kurzhez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kurzhez prevents the takedown attempt.
Varga blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kurzhez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Varga gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varga is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kurzhez is breathing heavily.
Varga digs a right hand into Kurzhez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kurzhez's gas tank.
Varga connects with a knee to the head.
Kurzhez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kurzhez manages to break the clinch.
Varga is looking to clinch.
Varga takes one to the chin there.
Varga fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurzhez manages to avoid it.
Varga tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kurzhez counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Varga explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Varga looking to score a takedown here. Kurzhez is defending well but Varga drives through and ends up in Kurzhez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varga won't allow Kurzhez to get back to his feet.
Varga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurzhez controlling the position.
Varga with a flurry of punches that miss.
Varga working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kurzhez's head.
Varga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Varga postures up.
Varga trying to control but Kurzhez is working from the bottom.
Kurzhez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varga wants to control from the top but Kurzhez keeps moving.
Kurzhez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Varga tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurzhez is retaining full guard.
Kurzhez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Varga's guard.
Varga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurzhez is one step ahead there.
Varga is looking to sweep but instead, Kurzhez has passed into half guard.
Kurzhez is taking a breather. Varga says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurzhez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kurzhez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Varga is looking for a sweep. Kurzhez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Uali Kurzhez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Varga's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch combination from Varga misses.
Varga throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kurzhez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Varga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kurzhez pinned against the cage. Kurzhez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Uali Kurzhez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Varga tries to bum rush Kurzhez with a series of wild strikes but Kurzhez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kurzhez looks for a takedown but Varga sprawls well.
Kurzhez misses with a series of wild punches.
Varga tries to clinch there but Kurzhez circles away.
A punch combination from Varga misses.
Varga tries to clinch but Kurzhez moves out of range.
Kurzhez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurzhez throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Kurzhez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kurzhez throws a front kick aimed at Varga's knee but Varga avoids it well.
Varga looks to land a combination but Kurzhez avoids it well.

Varga gets caught flat footed, as Kurzhez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Varga wants to stand and escape but Kurzhez is having none of it.
Kurzhez won't allow Varga to sweep him here.
Kurzhez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Varga is looking to stand back up but Kurzhez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Varga.
Still in half guard, Kurzhez seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurzhez stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Varga to get to his feet.

Kurzhez rushes Varga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kurzhez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Varga slips a jab and a cross from Kurzhez.
Varga takes a swing at Kurzhez's ribcage but misses.
Varga throws a sloppy head kick and Kurzhez moves out of range easily.
Kurzhez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Varga tries to clinch but Kurzhez moves out of range.
A left and a right from Kurzhez both land. Nice combination.
Varga looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kurzhez swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Kurzhez.
Kurzhez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Varga tries a head kick but it misses.
Kurzhez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Varga circles away quickly and effectively.
Kurzhez scores with a nice right hand.
Kurzhez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kurzhez throws a leg kick
and Varga counters with a straight right hand.
Varga tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kurzhez counters with a nice uppercut.
Varga misses with a body kick.

Kurzhez forces Varga back against the cage and clinches.
Varga missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurzhez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Varga or not.
Kurzhez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Varga pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Varga scores a nice knee to the body.

Kurzhez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kurzhez moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Varga closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kurzhez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A bone on bone clash there as Varga blocks the leg kick.
Varga shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kurzhez but Kurzhez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Kurzhez. Those never looked like landing.
Rudolf Varga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Uali Kurzhez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Varga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uali Kurzhez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kurzhez 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Uali Kurzhez!