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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Askren (ranked 1062 p4p, 1894 weight class) and Tatu Kurri (ranked 149 p4p, 254 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.
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| 175 cm
34
180
17 - 5 - 2 |
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184 cm
32
176
18 - 10 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 17 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Askren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tatu Kurri!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurri slips under a jab.
Kurri with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Askren misses with a body shot.
Kurri throws a jab but it's blocked by Askren.
Askren throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kurri is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Askren punishes Kurri's body with a nice straight punch.
Askren checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kurri misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Askren wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Askren swings for the body but Kurri moves out of range.
Kurri clobbers Askren with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askren misses with a wild body shot.
Askren just misses with a punch to the body.
Askren on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kurri doesn't manage to clinch there - Askren circles away.
Askren tries to sprawl but Kurri drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurri is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kurri's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kurri's back!
Askren is hanging on to Kurri's back as he tries to escape.
Askren doesn't have the hooks in and Kurri manages to turn into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurri trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.
Askren is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kurri defends well.
Askren pulls Kurri in close to prevent any damage.
Kurri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Askren seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Kurri trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Askren pulls Kurri in close to prevent any damage.
Askren not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kurri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kurri seems to be looking for submissions.
Kurri wants to pass to mount but Askren is defending the position.
Kurri is looking to take a break and control but Askren is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Askren sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Askren is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kurri's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kurri's back!
Askren is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kurri just trying to survive but Askren is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kurri is trying to break free.
Kurri breaks Askren's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kurri wants to control from the top but Askren keeps moving.
Askren controls Kurri momentarily but Kurri frees himself.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Askren seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurri trying to control but Askren is working from the bottom.
Kurri forces his way into half guard.
Askren is refusing to be controlled, as Kurri sits in half guard.
Askren won't allow Kurri to pass to mount.
Askren is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kurri's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kurri's back!
Kurri manages to reverse the position and now he's in Askren's guard. Nice work there by Kurri.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tatu Kurri dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Kurri blocks a jab.
Askren scores with a nice strike.
Kurri on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Askren misses with a body shot.
Askren throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And Kurri tries to counter it with a takedown but Askren pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Askren is looking to wear down Kurri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Askren throws a hook but Kurri blocks it.
Askren lands a jab.
Askren avoids a punch combination nicely.
Askren checks the leg kick nicely there.
Askren throws a hook to the side of Kurri's head but Kurri sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Askren on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Askren slips a straight right by Kurri.
Kurri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kurri is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Some wild striking there from Askren.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Askren misses with a hook. Kurri ducked under it nicely.
Askren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurri manages to avoid it.
Askren looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurri is just out of range.
Askren swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Askren misses with the combination.
Matt Askren is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kurri misses with a hook. Askren ducked under it nicely.
Askren throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kurri sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Askren throws the left hand but Kurri avoids the punch easily.
Askren avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kurri gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Askren misses with a hook to the ribs.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Askren lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kurri prevents a body shot from Askren.
Askren swings wildly with an uppercut but Kurri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kurri taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Askren.
Kurri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Askren backwards.
Askren stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurri breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kurri shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kurri not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kurri stands and throws Askren's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kurri tries to move to mount but Askren blocks the move with his legs.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurri working away.
Askren is not content to let Kurri control the position.
Kurri working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kurri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Askren keeps working.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Askren is trying to improve his position.
Askren sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kurri is looking to advance position but Askren won't allow it.
Askren is looking to improve his position.
Askren is working hard here to advance position.
Kurri is trying to work for a kimura but Askren is defending well.
Askren makes his way to full guard, as Kurri worked for a kimura.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Askren will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Kurri scores with a jab to the body.
Kurri is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Askren's half guard.
Askren is trying to get back to full guard.
Tatu Kurri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurri is working for a kimura but Askren is defending it quite comfortably.
Askren keeping control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurri is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Askren holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kurri is looking for a kimura here.
Askren is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kurri seems to be working for a kimura but Askren defends the submission attempt.
Kurri looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kurri is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Askren is working to get back to half guard.
Kurri landing shots from mount.
Kurri moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Askren has worked his arm free - good work by Askren!
Askren manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Askren does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kurri seems to be working for a kimura but Askren defends the submission attempt.
Kurri is looking for a kimura but Askren is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kurri to get the leverage.
Askren blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kurri.
Kurri performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kurri is working for a kimura but Askren is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are battling for position here. Askren manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Askren can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kurri controls the pace.
Kurri looking to pass the guard.
Askren preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Askren tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kurri trying to control the position from guard on top but Askren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurri looking to sit in guard and control but Askren gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kurri keeping full guard, as Askren tries to pass.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tatu Kurri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kurri 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatu Kurri!
Tatu Kurri decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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