PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Milhouse Van Houten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Kourdakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kourdakov has chosen Sonata Arctica - San Sebastian as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Van Houten
vs
Kourdakov

171 cm
19
134 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Milhouse Van Houten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Kourdakov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kourdakov doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Houten circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kourdakov.
Van Houten tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kourdakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kourdakov trying to control the position but Van Houten is working away.
Kourdakov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Van Houten kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
You can see the frustration on Van Houten's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kourdakov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Van Houten is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kourdakov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Van Houten keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houten tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kourdakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Van Houten throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Van Houten struggling a bit here.
Kourdakov controlling the position from side mount.
Kourdakov working the ground and pound but Van Houten is defending the strikes.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Houten stuffs the takedown.

Kourdakov feints and as Van Houten raises his hands in defense, Kourdakov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kourdakov passes Van Houten's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kourdakov is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Houten is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Houten is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Van Houten moves into full guard.
Van Houten keeping moving, preventing Kourdakov from controlling successfully.
Kourdakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Houten swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Van Houten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kourdakov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kourdakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Van Houten is retaining full guard.
Kourdakov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kourdakov wants to control from the top but Van Houten keeps moving.
Van Houten keeping full guard, as Kourdakov tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov trying to control but Van Houten is working from the bottom.
Van Houten manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kourdakov manages to get himself to full guard.
Kourdakov wants to sweep but no luck.
Kourdakov striking off his back but it's not causing Van Houten any problems.
Kourdakov wants to sweep here but Van Houten controlling him for the moment.
Kourdakov trying to strike off his back.
Van Houten wanted to stand there but Kourdakov had control of the position.
Van Houten stands and throws Kourdakov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Van Houten is breathing heavily.

Van Houten is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kourdakov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kourdakov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Van Houten thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kourdakov is looking for a sweep.
Van Houten trying to control the position but Kourdakov is working away.
Kourdakov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Van Houten wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Kourdakov dominated that round.
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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov wants to control but Van Houten is keeping him busy.
Van Houten is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Houten is not content to let Kourdakov control the position.
Van Houten tries to bench press Kourdakov off him but Kourdakov keeps the position.
Kourdakov is looking to take a break and control but Van Houten is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Van Houten is looking for a sweep.
Kourdakov scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Houten taking a bit of punishment here - Kourdakov scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourdakov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kourdakov landing punches.
Van Houten is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Houten is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kourdakov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Van Houten is working to get back to half guard.
Kourdakov with a couple of short strikes.
Kourdakov dominating with strikes here.
Van Houten in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kourdakov cracks Van Houten with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Van Houten is squirming around, avoiding Kourdakov's attempts to control the action.
Kourdakov controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Van Houten?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kourdakov unloading with bombs!
Van Houten is bucking up trying to escape but Kourdakov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kourdakov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kourdakov with good strikes from the mount here!
Van Houten squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Van Houten really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kourdakov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Van Houten wants to control but Kourdakov is having none of it.
Kourdakov tries to control but Van Houten wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sergei Kourdakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kourdakov looking to control but Van Houten is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov trying to control but Van Houten is having none of it.
Kourdakov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Van Houten?
Van Houten in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kourdakov wants to control the pace but Van Houten is squirming around nicely.
Kourdakov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Van Houten?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Van Houten really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kourdakov looking to control but Van Houten is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kourdakov landing shots from mount.
Kourdakov scoring with strikes but Van Houten is staying in there.
Kourdakov landing shots from mount.
Van Houten is squirming around, avoiding Kourdakov's attempts to control the action.
Kourdakov avoids the attempt from Van Houten to control.

Kourdakov looking to secure an arm triangle but Van Houten defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Kourdakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kourdakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Van Houten has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kourdakov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kourdakov distracts Van Houten with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Van Houten working for submissions but it's allowed Kourdakov to get to half guard.
Kourdakov trying to control from half guard but Van Houten is working away.
Kourdakov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Van Houten is trying to get back to full guard.
Kourdakov is tying to control. Van Houten wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Houten taking some punishment here, with Kourdakov in his half guard.
Ground and pound from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov wants to take a breather but Van Houten is having none of it.
Kourdakov working Van Houten over with strikes.
Van Houten is trying to get back to full guard.
Kourdakov working over Van Houten with some ground and pound. Van Houten looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kourdakov trying to control from half guard but Van Houten is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kourdakov shoots in and bounces Van Houten off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kourdakov lands a couple of digs.
Kourdakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kourdakov lands a couple of elbows.
Kourdakov wants to control from the top but Van Houten keeps moving.
Kourdakov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kourdakov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Van Houten keeping moving, preventing Kourdakov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Houten is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kourdakov won't allow Van Houten to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kourdakov.
Van Houten is trying to improve his position.
Van Houten is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kourdakov connects with a decent elbow.
Kourdakov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kourdakov controls the position.
Kourdakov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Van Houten down.
Kourdakov landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov grinds an elbow into Van Houten's temple.
Van Houten is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Van Houten is not content to let Kourdakov control the position.
Van Houten is trying to get back to half guard.
Milhouse Van Houten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kourdakov moves into full mount!
The referee warns Van Houten that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sergei Kourdakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kourdakov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Van Houten is looking to escape.
Van Houten keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Kourdakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kourdakov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Kourdakov!