PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tatu Kurri (ranked 3414 p4p, 355 weight class) and Steve Anderson (ranked 4444 p4p, 439 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kurri
vs
Anderson

184 cm
19
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tatu Kurri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kurri at a distance.

Anderson darts in and clinches Kurri up against the cage.
Kurri has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Anderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kurri is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Anderson is defending well.

Anderson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Anderson slips a nice elbow through Kurri's hands, connecting with Kurri's forehead.

Kurri looking for submissions off his back.
Anderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kurri is working to get back to half guard.
Anderson seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kurri is holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kurri is looking to get to half guard.

Anderson looking to secure an arm triangle but Kurri defends it well.
Kurri's coaches at K.O Heaven have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Kurri is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kurri is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Anderson breaks from Kurri's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Anderson prevents Kurri from getting the reversal.
Anderson blocks Kurri's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kurri defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Anderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson prevents Kurri from getting the reversal.
Kurri is squirming around, avoiding Anderson's attempts to control the action.
Anderson prevents Kurri from getting the reversal.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Anderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kurri wants to control but Anderson is having none of it.
Anderson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Poor strikes thrown by Anderson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kurri is squirming around, avoiding Anderson's attempts to control the action.

Anderson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Anderson prevents Kurri from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kurri manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Kurri is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.
Kurri looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurri, not yet.

Kurri looking for a guillotine here but Anderson defends easily.
Anderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurri is retaining full guard.

Kurri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Anderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Kurri keeps moving.
Kurri trying to keep a closed guard but Anderson is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kurri is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kurri escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Anderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kurri working for a triangle but Anderson defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Anderson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kurri shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anderson defends it nicely.
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurri is just out of range.
Kurri keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurri throwing a counter right hand but Anderson manages to avoid it.
Kurri fails to land the takedown.
Anderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Anderson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kurri was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Anderson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Anderson connects with the punch.
Kurri avoids a punch combination nicely.
It looked like Kurri wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kurri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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

Kurri is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.

Kurri has his foot on Anderson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Anderson works his way back into a safe position though.
Anderson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Anderson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kurri manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Anderson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kurri controlling the position for now.
Anderson wants to pass the guard but Kurri is defending well.

Kurri looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Anderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kurri is trying to control but Anderson manages to pass to mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurri is desperately trying to improve his position but Anderson has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson avoids the attempt from Kurri to control.
Anderson wants to control the pace but Kurri is squirming around nicely.
Kurri really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Anderson unloads with some shots from mount but Kurri bucks and avoids them well.
Kurri really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kurri bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Anderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anderson has his foot on Kurri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurri works his way back into a safe position though.

Kurri thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kurri connects with a couple of short punches.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Anderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurri is one step ahead there.
Anderson has momentary wrist control but Kurri slips an elbow through the middle.
Kurri wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.
Kurri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anderson's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anderson wants to sweep here but Kurri controlling him for the moment.
Kurri advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Anderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Anderson tries to clinch but Kurri moves out of range.
Kurri fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anderson misses with a two punch combination.
Kurri is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Anderson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Anderson misses with an uppercut. Kurri saw that one coming.
Anderson throws out a loose jab but Kurri uses good head movement to avoid it.

Anderson gets caught flat footed, as Kurri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kurri passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri stalling.

Kurri is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Anderson is just riding it out for now. Kurri eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Kurri wants to work for an arm triangle but Anderson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Anderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kurri wants to pass to mount but Anderson is defending the position.
Kurri sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anderson defending well though.
Anderson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Anderson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Anderson is on top in guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kurri holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control but Kurri is working from the bottom.

Anderson drops back looking for a leg! Kurri is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kurri manages to kick Anderson off! Anderson jumps back into Kurri's guard.

Kurri looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Anderson is defending well. Kurri quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Anderson has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Kurri celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tatu Kurri!
Tatu Kurri decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.