PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denis Kurlaev (ranked 2823 p4p, 333 weight class) and Tony Twist (ranked 3414 p4p, 385 weight class). Denis Kurlaev is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kurlaev
vs
Twist

185 cm
21
220 lbs
4 - 6 - 1

187 cm
24
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Dark Knight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Denis Kurlaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Twist!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Twist misses.
Kurlaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Twist.
Twist throws out a powerful jab.
Kurlaev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Twist jabs Kurlaev right on the nose. Kurlaev blinks but takes it well.
Twist misses with a series of wild punches.
Twist misses with a takedown
and Kurlaev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Twist clinches with his opponent.
Twist looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Twist avoids the elbow strike from Kurlaev, against the ropes.
Kurlaev creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kurlaev scores a nice knee to the body.
Kurlaev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Twist is defending well for now.
Twist blocks an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev tries a body shot but Twist blocks it.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Twist's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Twist blocks the elbow strike.
Twist lands a body shot.
Twist is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kurlaev scores with a knee to the head.

Twist breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Denis Kurlaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Twist on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A left and a right from Twist both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Denis Kurlaev has been cut.
Twist scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Twist ducks under a wild hook from Kurlaev.

Twist moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurlaev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Twist has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Kurlaev.
Twist takes a knee right on the jaw!
Twist has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kurlaev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Denis Kurlaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Twist.
Twist misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Twist.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Twist misses with the head strike.
Twist misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Twist misses with some punches.
Kurlaev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Twist tries to pull guard but Kurlaev forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Twist blocks an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev misses with a punch to the body.
Twist working hard to break the clinch.
Twist tries to pull guard but Kurlaev won't allow it.
Kurlaev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Twist blocks it with crossed arms.
Twist lands a body shot.
Twist presses Kurlaev against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kurlaev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kurlaev misses with some punches.
Twist struggles to land a body shot inside as Kurlaev controls his hands.
Kurlaev lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Twist dodges an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev throws an elbow that misses.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Twist avoids it.

Twist pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Twist has Kurlaev up against the ropes in a clinch.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but Twist blocks it.
Kurlaev working Twist over with knees to the body.
Twist lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kurlaev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Twist's elbow.
Twist fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kurlaev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Twist doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurlaev throws an elbow but it misses.
Twist wants a takedown but no success here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kurlaev.
Twist is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kurlaev is defending well for now.
Twist goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Twist misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kurlaev throws a knee to the head but misses.

Twist's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Twist throws a nice looking combination but Kurlaev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Twist gets a clinch.
Kurlaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kurlaev digs a right hand into Twist's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Twist's gas tank.
Twist lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Twist doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Twist fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kurlaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kurlaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short body shot lands from Kurlaev as the two fighters clinch.
Twist prevents a body shot from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kurlaev tries to land knees in the clinch but Twist avoids the damage to the body.
Twist is working Kurlaev over against the ropes.
Kurlaev trying to land knees to the body.
Twist looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Denis Kurlaev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Denis Kurlaev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Twist rushes Kurlaev and presses him up against the ropes.
Twist wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kurlaev has him pressed against the ropes.
Twist on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kurlaev tries to throw a body punch but Twist avoids it by throwing Kurlaev back against the ropes.
Twist lands a shot to the body.
Kurlaev lands a body shot in the clinch.
Twist cracks Kurlaev with a nice body shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kurlaev scores a nice knee to the body.
Twist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kurlaev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Twist avoiding damage as Kurlaev throws knees to the body.
Twist working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Twist lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kurlaev.
Kurlaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurlaev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Nice body punch from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Twist blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurlaev with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kurlaev tries to throw a body punch but Twist avoids it by throwing Kurlaev back against the ropes.
Kurlaev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Twist tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kurlaev's elbow.

Twist breaks the clinch.

Twist clinches.
Denis Kurlaev has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kurlaev misses with an elbow over the top.
Kurlaev throws a head punch that misses.
Twist lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Twist lands an uppercut.
Twist works on Kurlaev's body with a couple of short punches.
Twist lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kurlaev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kurlaev stops a takedown attempt from Twist.

Twist gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurlaev tries to get to full guard but Twist has control of the leg.

Twist is looking for a kimura but Kurlaev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Twist to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Twist takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kurlaev trying to control but Twist postures up.
Kurlaev wants to improve his position but Twist is controlling well.
Twist wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurlaev keeps working.
Kurlaev is controlling Twist's trapped leg to prevent Twist from advancing to side control.
Twist thows a huge punch but Kurlaev dodges it nicely.
Kurlaev is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurlaev punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Twist controlling the action here.
Twist blocks the strikes from Kurlaev.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kurlaev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kurlaev wants it to stay on the feet.
Twist chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tony Twist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kurlaev.

Twist closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kurlaev blocks a body shot from Twist.
Kurlaev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Twist has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kurlaev gets underhooks to prevent Twist's takedown attempt.
Denis Kurlaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Twist.
Twist blocks a body shot from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but Twist blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Twist drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kurlaev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Twist drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kurlaev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Twist tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Twist pushes off an throws an elbow but Kurlaev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kurlaev throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Twist blocks it with crossed arms.
Good body shot from Kurlaev.
Twist lands with a left to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kurlaev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Kurlaev.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kurlaev.
Kurlaev is pressed up against the ropes. Twist has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kurlaev down to the mat. Kurlaev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kurlaev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Twist uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kurlaev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Kurlaev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Denis Kurlaev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Twist keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Twist slips a jab from Kurlaev.
Twist swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Twist misses with a leg kick.

Kurlaev rushes Twist and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Twist on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Twist doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Twist takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Kurlaev.
Kurlaev throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurlaev lands a nice shot to the body.
Twist is working for takedown but Kurlaev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kurlaev throws an elbow but it misses.
Twist takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kurlaev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Twist lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Twist takes a knee right on the jaw!
Twist doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Twist tries a body shot but Kurlaev blocks it.
Kurlaev misses with a knee strike.
Kurlaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Twist tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kurlaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurlaev keeps control of Twist as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kurlaev misses with a knee to the head.
Kurlaev unloads a knee to the mid-section. Twist lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kurlaev lands with a right to the head.
Kurlaev works on Twist's body with a couple of short punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev presses Twist against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kurlaev lands a body shot.
Kurlaev lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kurlaev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kurlaev lands an elbow inside.
A nice left hand lands by Kurlaev.
Nice body punch from Kurlaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Twist looking to slow down the pace here.
Kurlaev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the head but Twist blocks with his arms.
Kurlaev trying to land knees to the body.
Twist blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kurlaev throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kurlaev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Twist goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kurlaev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Twist working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Twist's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Twist lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kurlaev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Twist can't get the takedown.
Twist can't get the takedown.
Denis Kurlaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Twist.
Kurlaev pushes Twist back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kurlaev.
Twist blocking some punches.
Kurlaev lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kurlaev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Twist is defending well for now.

Twist breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Twist moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Twist throws a combination that misses
letting Kurlaev counter with a right hand.
Twist moves away from the strike by Kurlaev.
Tony Twist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denis Kurlaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Twist throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kurlaev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Twist looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kurlaev avoids the body shot from Twist.

Kurlaev pushes Twist up against the ropes in a clinch.
Kurlaev keeps control of Twist as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Twist misses with the head strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Twist lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Twist dodges an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Twist tries a body shot but Kurlaev blocks it.
Twist tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Twist tries a body shot but Kurlaev blocks it.
Kurlaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Twist can do to turn this around?
Kurlaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Twist fails to land.
Twist struggles to land a body shot inside as Kurlaev controls his hands.
Twist tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kurlaev avoids it.
Kurlaev blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Kurlaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kurlaev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight for Denis Kurlaev!
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight for Denis Kurlaev!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Denis Kurlaev!

Denis Kurlaev wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Denis Kurlaev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.