PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ardian Kurniawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakbar Shamuli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurniawan
vs
Shamuli

172 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

158 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ardian Kurniawan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hakbar Shamuli!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shamuli darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shamuli not doing much here.
Shamuli passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kurniawan!
Shamuli takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamuli's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Shamuli has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Shamuli wants to take his opponent's back but Kurniawan doesn't allow it.
Shamuli tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hakbar Shamuli was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Shamuli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kurniawan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shamuli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shamuli shoots for a takedown but Kurniawan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shamuli shoots in for a double leg but Kurniawan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ardian Kurniawan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakbar Shamuli.

Shamuli throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kurniawan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shamuli is in Kurniawan's guard.
Shamuli wants to pass the guard but Kurniawan is keeping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shamuli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hakbar Shamuli hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kurniawan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shamuli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shamuli darts in looking for a takedown but Kurniawan gets double underhooks and turns Shamuli into the cage.
Shamuli keeps control of Kurniawan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Shamuli is trying to trip Kurniawan. He has hold of a leg but Kurniawan is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Shamuli persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamuli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shamuli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shamuli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shamuli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kurniawan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shamuli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hakbar Shamuli was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Shamuli closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakbar Shamuli dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kurniawan stuffs the takedown.
Kurniawan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kurniawan goes for a double leg but Shamuli avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shamuli continues to drive forward.
Kurniawan working hard to break the clinch.
Shamuli has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kurniawan after a bit of a struggle.
Kurniawan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shamuli.
Kurniawan trying to control the position but instead, Shamuli has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kurniawan into the cage.
Shamuli prevents the takedown attempt.
Kurniawan can't break the clinch.
Shamuli tries to score a body lock takedown but Kurniawan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ardian Kurniawan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakbar Shamuli.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurniawan breaks from the clinch.
Shamuli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kurniawan is fending him off so far but Shamuli persists. Nope, Kurniawan circles away and we're back to standing.

Shamuli shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shamuli seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shamuli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamuli tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kurniawan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shamuli keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hakbar Shamuli wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shamuli fails to land the takedown.
Kurniawan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shamuli.
Shamuli fails to land the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shamuli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kurniawan pinned against the cage. Kurniawan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ardian Kurniawan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shamuli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shamuli is breathing heavily.
Kurniawan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Shamuli darts in looking for a takedown but Kurniawan gets double underhooks and turns Shamuli into the cage.
Shamuli prevents Kurniawan from breaking the clinch.
Shamuli has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kurniawan seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shamuli can turn it around.
Kurniawan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kurniawan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shamuli walks away with a smile on his face. Kurniawan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Kurniawan. No joy for Shamuli on that attempt.
Shamuli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kurniawan but Kurniawan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kurniawan stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Kurniawan as he connects with a hook.
Shamuli is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kurniawan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kurniawan moves in looking to clinch but Shamuli pushes him off.
Kurniawan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kurniawan lands a really nice looking cross but Shamuli seems unphased.
Kurniawan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
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!

Shamuli drives through with a takedown into Kurniawan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hakbar Shamuli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shamuli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurniawan is looking to stand up but Shamuli isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hakbar Shamuli 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. This is the final round!

Shamuli gets a double leg takedown into Kurniawan's guard.
Kurniawan wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurniawan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kurniawan wants to sweep here but Shamuli controlling him for the moment.
Kurniawan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shamuli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ardian Kurniawan wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kurniawan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shamuli stays in close to Kurniawan's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamuli stands and throws Kurniawan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kurniawan gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Shamuli tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamuli thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Shamuli content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hakbar Shamuli wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shamuli shoots in looking for a takedown. Kurniawan tries to sprawl out of it but Shamuli keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kurniawan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kurniawan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shamuli is defended easily by Kurniawan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kurniawan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hakbar Shamuli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shamuli or perhaps it was just good defense by Kurniawan, which made it look bad.
Ardian Kurniawan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakbar Shamuli.

Shamuli closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kurniawan's guard.
Ardian Kurniawan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shamuli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakbar Shamuli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shamuli 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakbar Shamuli!
Hakbar Shamuli made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I Takem Down Man !!! Wooooooo! '.