PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kadas Kurapanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Vermeer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kurapanu
vs
Vermeer

165 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kadas Kurapanu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Alexander Vermeer!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vermeer misses with a two punch combination.
Kurapanu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kurapanu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vermeer throws a body shot but no joy.
Kurapanu closes the distance and clinches up with Vermeer, looking for a takedown. Kurapanu pushes Vermeer against the cage but Vermeer circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kadas Kurapanu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurapanu staying out of range there.
Kurapanu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vermeer pinned against the cage. Vermeer gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurapanu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vermeer.
Kurapanu changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kurapanu shoots in for a takedown but Vermeer shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kurapanu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurapanu fails with the takedown.
A nice side step and Vermeer releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Vermeer works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kurapanu.
Vermeer lands with a hook. Kurapanu tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kurapanu shoots in but no luck this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vermeer. Kurapanu does a little dance to reset his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kurapanu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kurapanu.
Vermeer connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kurapanu throws a body shot but no joy.
Kurapanu goes for a double leg but Vermeer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vermeer continues to drive forward.
A little jabbing left from Vermeer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kurapanu walks into a jab.
Vermeer ducks right into an uppercut from Kurapanu.
Kurapanu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Vermeer lands the left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurapanu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vermeer.
Vermeer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kurapanu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kurapanu misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurapanu scores with a takedown into Vermeer's guard.
Vermeer is looking to stand up but Kurapanu isn't so interested in that idea.

Kurapanu postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vermeer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kurapanu, into his guard.

Kurapanu is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Kurapanu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vermeer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Vermeer looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kurapanu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kurapanu tries to get out of the position.
Vermeer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Vermeer stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Vermeer lands with a nice body punch.

Vermeer gets caught napping as Kurapanu dives in and scores a takedown. Vermeer manages to retain guard.
Vermeer looking for a sweep. Not yet Vermeer, not yet.
Kurapanu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vermeer wants to stand up but Kurapanu is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Vermeer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vermeer moves into the clinch.
Vermeer tries to stall but Kurapanu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Vermeer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kurapanu is looking for a takedown.
Kurapanu goes for a takedown attempt but Vermeer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kadas Kurapanu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurapanu fails with the takedown
and Vermeer counters with a stiff right hand.
A big left from Kurapanu misses.
Alexander Vermeer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kurapanu tries for a takedown but Vermeer circles away easily
and Vermeer counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurapanu avoids the body shot from Vermeer.
Kurapanu dives in for a single leg takedown but Vermeer sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeer misses with a lunging right hand

and Kurapanu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kurapanu lands with a punch from half guard.
Kurapanu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vermeer's head.
Kurapanu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vermeer pushes Kurapanu off looking to stand but Kurapanu dives back in and keeps control.
Vermeer controlling the position well.
Vermeer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vermeer wants to get back to his feet.
Vermeer is holding on to half guard well.
Vermeer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vermeer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurapanu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurapanu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Vermeer trying to hold on to Kurapanu's head to control him but Kurapanu postures up.
Kurapanu not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vermeer trying to control but Kurapanu postures up.
Kurapanu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vermeer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vermeer is not content to let Kurapanu control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer tries to get to full guard but Kurapanu has control of the leg.
Kurapanu winds up and cracks Vermeer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kurapanu is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vermeer pushes Kurapanu off looking to stand but Kurapanu dives back in and keeps control.
Vermeer trying to control but Kurapanu postures up.

Kurapanu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vermeer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kurapanu.
Kurapanu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer is trying to stand up here but Kurapanu is controlling him well.

Kurapanu seems to be looking for submissions.
Vermeer is trying is best to control the position here.
Kurapanu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vermeer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurapanu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vermeer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurapanu.
Vermeer has his hands clasped together around Kurapanu's back. He's all about the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kadas Kurapanu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vermeer throws a body punch but Kurapanu moves out of range.
Vermeer works the jab nicely.
Vermeer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Vermeer has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kurapanu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vermeer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Kurapanu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kurapanu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vermeer defends it well.
Vermeer trying to control but Kurapanu postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vermeer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurapanu.
Vermeer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurapanu is working away from the top position though.

Vermeer is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurapanu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vermeer holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kurapanu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kurapanu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vermeer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kurapanu.
Vermeer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurapanu is working away from the top position though.

Kurapanu is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vermeer is trying is best to control the position here.
Kurapanu stops Vermeer from getting back to his feet.
Vermeer slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kurapanu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurapanu throws a big elbow that misses.
Vermeer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurapanu is controlling him.
Vermeer managing to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vermeer throws a head punch that misses.
Vermeer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kurapanu wants a takedown but no success here.
Kurapanu can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kadas Kurapanu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vermeer.
A short uppercut from Vermeer.
Vermeer stalling the fight.
Vermeer pushes Kurapanu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kurapanu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vermeer pulls his leg out and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vermeer. Kurapanu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kurapanu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kurapanu tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vermeer defends well and Kurapanu ends up having to push Vermeer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vermeer throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kurapanu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurapanu scoring with punches from side control.
Kurapanu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vermeer defending against the ground and pound.
Vermeer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kurapanu's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Vermeer is trying to control but can't.
Vermeer moves into full guard.
Vermeer wants to get back to his feet but Kurapanu is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vermeer seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Vermeer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vermeer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Vermeer!