PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Jurri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jurri has chosen Rising Darkness as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hanks
vs
Jurri

179 cm
32
175 lbs
26 - 12 - 1

183 cm
29
185 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent

Perkele!
Milwaukee's Best 160

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 26 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Hanks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kari Jurri!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Jurri misses the target.
Crunch! Jurri slams his shin into Hanks's torso.
Hanks chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jurri lands an overhand right.
Jurri thuds his right hand into Hanks's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jurri throws out a leg kick but Hanks moves out of range and Jurri only half commits.
Jurri scores with a punch to the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hanks.
Hanks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hanks throws a low kick, looking for Jurri's leg but Jurri calmly moves out of range.
Jurri misses with a head kick.
Decent striking displayed by Jurri there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jurri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jurri keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Decent striking displayed by Jurri there.
Jurri thows a body shot but no joy.
Hanks misses with a right hand

so Jurri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hanks controlling Jurri's posture.
Jurri throws a big right hand that misses.
Hanks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanks, not yet.
Jurri connects with a couple of short punches.
Hanks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jurri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jurri stopping the sweep attempt from Hanks.
Hanks seems keen to control Jurri's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hanks manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hanks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Jurri counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hanks's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jurri is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jurri is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanks has wrist control.
Jurri wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Hanks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jurri's guard.

Jurri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hanks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jurri tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jurri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hanks seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hanks has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hanks working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks with a flurry of punches that miss.

Jurri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jurri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hanks manages to get himself to full guard.
Jurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jurri is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanks has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jurri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jurri scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Jurri dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jurri manages to avoid it.
Hanks throws out a leg kick but Jurri moves out of range and Hanks only half commits.
Jurri throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hanks, right into the meat.
Jurri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jurri misses with a low kick.
The crowd cheers as Jurri lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hanks doesn't seem phased though.
Jurri lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hanks's sensitive parts.
Hanks feints and then cracks Jurri's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jurri down.
Jurri tries to land a front kick but Hanks steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jurri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanks.
Hanks feints a jab promting Jurri to slip. Hanks then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jurri slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Hanks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jurri can pounce on him.
Kari Jurri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanks throws a lazy uppercut

and Jurri counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jurri not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hanks taking some punishment here, with Jurri in his half guard.
Hanks trying to control from the bottom.
Kari Jurri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hanks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jurri.
Jurri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanks's head.
Hanks regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Jurri.
Jurri trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jurri trying to control but Hanks is working from the bottom.
Jurri throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jurri throwing strikes from guard but Hanks blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jurri working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jurri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jurri.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jurri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jurri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
Hanks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hanks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jurri looking to sit in guard and control but Hanks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hanks sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jurri is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jurri looking for a sweep. Not yet Jurri, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks postures up.
Hanks trying to control the position from guard on top but Jurri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jurri is on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hanks is on top in guard.
Jurri looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Jurri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Jurri checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jurri lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hanks at a distance.
Nice body kick from Jurri.
Hanks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jurri manages to avoid it.
Hanks throws a solid leg kick but Jurri takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hanks.
Hanks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jurri scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jurri lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jurri lands a glancing blow to the side of Hanks's head.
Jurri scores with a jab to the body.
Hanks takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jurri cracks Hanks with an open hand slap.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jurri steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanks.
Hanks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jurri jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jurri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hanks throws a big shot that misses.
Jurri feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hankss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hanks misses with a lunging right hand

and Jurri counters with a single leg into guard. Hanks didn't expect that.
Hanks controlling Jurri's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jurri manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanks trying to control the position from guard on top but Jurri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jurri tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hanks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Craig Hanks.
Jurri takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Jurri cracks the inside of Hanks's front leg.
A clash of legs there as Hanks blocks the low kick.
Hanks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jurri.
Jurri on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from Hanks.
Good leg kick by Jurri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hanks digs a good hook to Jurri's body.
Hanks scores with a nice strike.
Jurri avoids the body shot from Hanks.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jurri.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks misses with a straight right.
Jurri is looking to chop away at Hanks's legs.
Jurri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jurri throws a chopping leg kick but Hanks manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jurri pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hanks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hanks throws a head kick that misses

and Jurri counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jurri.
Jurri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jurri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jurri is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanks has wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jurri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jurri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hanks being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Jurri really dominated that round.
That's time! Hanks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Hanks.
Hanks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nice shot lands for Hanks.
Hanks lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jurri's sensitive parts.
Hanks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jurri wants to clinch.
Jurri scores with the left hand. Hanks knows he should have avoided that one.
Jurri just misses with a punch to the body.
Jurri misses with a body shot.
Hanks throws a leg kick that is checked

so Jurri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jurri stands up over Hanks, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks keeping moving, preventing Jurri from controlling successfully.
Jurri postures up in Hanks's guard and throws a big left but Hanks blocks it.
Hanks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jurri is one step ahead there.
Hanks looking to control.
Hanks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jurri is one step ahead there.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Jurri working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jurri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jurri throwing strikes from guard but Hanks blocks nicely.
Hanks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanks, not yet.
Hanks controlling the position.
Jurri throws a strike but Hanks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jurri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hanks gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jurri keeping moving, preventing Hanks from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Craig Hanks.
Hanks fails to land with a series of punches.

Jurri gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hanks misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jurri.
Jurri tries to pull guard but Hanks won't allow it.
Jurri tries to land knees in the clinch but Hanks avoids the damage to the body.
Jurri connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hanks's face.
Hanks fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jurri tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanks struggles to land a body shot inside as Jurri controls his hands.
Hanks scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jurri lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jurri tries to throw a body punch but Hanks avoids it by throwing Jurri back against the cage.
Hanks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hanks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jurri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanks.
Jurri lands a good knee to the midsection. Hanks won't want to take too many of those.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanks misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jurri connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hanks's face.
Jurri trying to land knees to the body.
Jurri is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hanks is defending well for now.
Hanks tries to work over Jurri's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hanks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hanks looks to score with a jab to the body but Jurri is just out of range.
Jurri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hanks thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Jurri dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jurri keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jurri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hanks is looking to wear down Jurri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jurri needs to keep his hands up - Hanks had a free shot at his head there.
Jurri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hanks on the side of the head.
Hanks throws a body kick that misses

and Jurri counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hanks's guard now.
Hanks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jurri content to stall in guard here.
Hanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jurri.
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!
Jurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanks utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hanks wants to get back to his feet but Jurri is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks wants to sweep but no luck.
Jurri wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Jurri is in close to Hanks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jurri throws an elbow that misses. Hanks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jurri's guard. Nice move by Hanks!

Hanks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jurri has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hanks has managed to get both his arms back between Jurri's legs - danger averted.
Jurri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanks is one step ahead there.
Craig Hanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks controlling from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hanks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jurri wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hanks has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Jurri to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Hanks is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Jurri pulls down on the head and he's put Hanks to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Kari Jurri!
Kari Jurri is the new middleweight champion!
Kari Jurri bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.