PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Gurgel (ranked 37 p4p, 563 weight class) and Raimo Kivi (ranked 9 p4p, 72 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gurgel
vs
Kivi

183 cm
30
215
16 - 7 - 0

170 cm
23
209
17 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Gurgel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raimo Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Kivi pushes Gurgel up against the cage in a clinch.
Kivi misses with the head strike.
Kivi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gurgel is trying to pull guard but Kivi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kivi lands with a light punch inside.
Gurgel is trying to pull guard but Kivi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gurgel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Gurgel manages to pull guard.

Gurgel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kivi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gurgel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kivi wants to pass the guard but Gurgel is keeping the position.
Kivi stopping the sweep attempt from Gurgel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kivi trying to control but Gurgel is working from the bottom.
Kivi wants to pass the guard but Gurgel is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gurgel is trying to control the position but Kivi postures up.

Kivi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gurgel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kivi is aware though and is defending well.
Kivi wants to pass the guard but Gurgel is keeping the position.

Gurgel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kivi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gurgel.
Gurgel is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel trying to remain calm as Kivi controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gurgel regains half guard.
Gurgel wants to control but Kivi is keeping busy.

Gurgel looking for submissions off his back.
Gurgel wants to get back to full guard but Kivi has mounted him!
Gurgel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Gurgel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gurgel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kivi controlling the action here.

Gurgel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gurgel tries to get to full guard but Kivi has control of the leg.

Gurgel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Gurgel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gurgel tries to roll over but Kivi keeps him under control.
Gurgel is looking to get back to full guard here but Kivi has managed to pass to side control instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gurgel sneaks back into half guard.

Gurgel looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Kivi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kivi misses with a hook. Gurgel ducked under it nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Kivi. Those never looked like landing.
Fabio Gurgel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kivi throws a looping overhand right but Gurgel ducks down to avoid it.
Kivi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kivi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gurgel slips under a jab from Kivi.
Kivi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gurgel appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi throws a big shot that misses.
Gurgel feinted with a counter takedown.
A head kick misses from Kivi.
Gurgel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kivi.

Kivi has closed the distance and engaged Gurgel in a clinch.
Kivi misses with some punches.
Kivi pushes Gurgel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gurgel is trying to pull guard but Kivi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gurgel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kivi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gurgel tries to pull guard but Kivi won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Gurgel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gurgel jumps guard but Kivi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gurgel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel pulls guard successfully.

Gurgel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kivi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kivi passes Gurgel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gurgel is looking for a sweep. Kivi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kivi is looking to advance position but Gurgel won't allow it.
Kivi uses his free foot to push down on Gurgel's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gurgel.
Gurgel can't escape the position.
Raimo Kivi has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gurgel is trying desperately to improve position.
Gurgel regains half guard.
Gurgel trying to control here.
Gurgel regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kivi's guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kivi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kivi wants to sweep here but Gurgel controlling him for the moment.
Kivi wants to stand but Gurgel is controlling the position.
Kivi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gurgel trying to control the position from guard on top but Kivi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gurgel throwing strikes but missing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gurgel advances position into side control!

Gurgel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kivi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Kivi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kivi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gurgel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gurgel drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kivi sprawls and moves away.
Kivi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gurgel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Kivi clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kivi.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kivi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Gurgel jumps guard and drags Kivi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Gurgel throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kivi uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel tries to buck Kivi off but Kivi is having none of it.
Kivi trying to control the action but Gurgel is working from the bottom.
Kivi wants to stand but Gurgel has his arm trapped.
Gurgel manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Gurgel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kivi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gurgel.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gurgel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kivi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gurgel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Kivi trying to control but Gurgel postures up.
Kivi moves into full guard.
Kivi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gurgel tries to free his leg and advance position but Kivi is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel drops back looking for a leg! Kivi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kivi manages to kick Gurgel off! Gurgel jumps back into Kivi's guard.
Gurgel is pushing down on Kivi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kivi is fighting to maintain full guard but Gurgel has managed to sneak the leg through.

Gurgel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kivi sees it coming and defends easily.

Gurgel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Gurgel seems to be looking for submissions.
Gurgel wants to pass to mount but Kivi is defending the position.

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.

Gurgel 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.

Kivi is defending against the submission attempts here by Gurgel.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gurgel is looking for a kimura but Kivi is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gurgel to get the leverage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Gurgel clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kivi throws out a loose jab but Gurgel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gurgel is looking to counter the offense by Kivi and move into the clinch.
Gurgel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gurgel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kivi misses with a combination

and Gurgel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gurgel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gurgel has gone for a leg lock! Kivi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gurgel's guard.

Gurgel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gurgel seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gurgel looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kivi has picked Gurgel up and slammed him! Gurgel can't keep hold of the triangle and Kivi manages to pass to side control!
Gurgel is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee asks Kivi politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kivi prefers to stall for the moment though.
Gurgel can't do much from the bottom here.
Gurgel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kivi tries to pass to full mount but Gurgel defends it.
Gurgel gets full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi passes Gurgel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gurgel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kivi pulls his head out easily.
Kivi sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Gurgel with the active half guard here but Kivi passes nicely into side control.
Gurgel tries to buck Kivi off but Kivi is having none of it.
Gurgel is letting Kivi control him for a moment.
Kivi wants to stand but Gurgel is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel tries to buck Kivi off but Kivi is having none of it.
Kivi trying to control the position but Gurgel is working away.
Gurgel tries to bench press Kivi off him but Kivi keeps the position.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gurgel keeps working.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gurgel is looking to regain half guard here but Kivi keeps moving and retains side control.

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.
You can see the frustration on Gurgel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kivi moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Fabio Gurgel has been cut.
Kivi throws a big shot that misses.
Gurgel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kivi just misses with a punch to the body.
Gurgel seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Kivi dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Fabio Gurgel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kivi throws a head kick that misses.
Gurgel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kivi.
Kivi misses with a wild body shot.

Kivi closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Kivi.
Gurgel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kivi walks away with a smile on his face. Gurgel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kivi throws an off balance right hand

and Gurgel counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gurgel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kivi walks away with a smile on his face. Gurgel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gurgel takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Kivi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kivi misses with the head strike.
A short right from Kivi.
Gurgel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kivi smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabio Gurgel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gurgel gets tackled into the cage by Kivi. Kivi maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raimo Kivi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kivi cracks Gurgel with a nice body shot.
Gurgel blocks a body shot from Kivi.
Gurgel fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Gurgel successfully pulls guard.
Kivi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Gurgel has an active guard here but Kivi has managed to pass into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel is trying to control but Kivi manages to pass to mount!
Gurgel is working to get back to half guard.
Kivi wants to control the pace but Gurgel is squirming around nicely.
Gurgel regains half guard.

Gurgel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kivi pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel tries to roll over but Kivi keeps him under control.
Gurgel is working hard here to advance position.

Gurgel with the active half guard here but Kivi passes nicely into side control.
Gurgel is not content to let Kivi control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gurgel struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raimo Kivi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kivi 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 46:49
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 46:49
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimo Kivi!
Raimo Kivi is the new light heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Raimo Kivi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.