PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between deacon james (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fejha Kurko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

james
vs
Kurko

187 cm
24
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
24
210 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, deacon james!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fejha Kurko!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kurko showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are battling for position here. james manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
james working a defensive guard here.
james preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
james 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.
Kurko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as james works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
james avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
james looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurko is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurko throwing strikes from guard but james blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kurko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kurko showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
james wants to control but Kurko is keeping busy.

james is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kurko pulls his head out easily.
james avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurko.
james on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
james trying to hold on to Kurko's head to control him but Kurko postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
james gets full guard.
Kurko should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kurko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two 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.
Kurko trying to control but james is working from the bottom.
james bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurko's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurko is on top in guard.
Kurko with a flurry of punches that miss.
james striking off his back but it's not causing Kurko any problems.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kurko tries to free his leg and advance position but james is retaining full guard.
james is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kurko dives into side control.
Kurko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kurko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but james sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
james tries to improve position but can't.
Kurko cracks james with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
james manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
james tries to get to full guard but Kurko has control of the leg.
Kurko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kurko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kurko trying to control the action but james is working from the bottom.
Kurko prevents james from improving his position.
Kurko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
james tries to get to full guard but Kurko has control of the leg.
james taking some punishment here, with Kurko in his half guard.
Well, if Kurko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james is looking to improve his position.
Kurko lands strikes from half guard.
Kurko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kurko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. james defending well though.
james is trying to maintain the position but Kurko is very close to passing his half guard.
Nice strikes from Kurko there.
Kurko thows a huge punch but james dodges it nicely.
james trying to control but Kurko postures up.
james is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fejha Kurko dominated that round.
That's time! james's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kurko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
james trying to control the position.
Kurko throwing strikes but missing.
james can't keep his opponent in guard - Kurko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kurko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Kurko.
Kurko lands with a punch from half guard.
james wants to control but Kurko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks james with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kurko drops an elbow to the side of james's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurko working james over with strikes.
james tries to roll over but Kurko keeps him under control.
james avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurko.
Kurko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kurko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
james is trying to get back to full guard.
james is pressing down on Kurko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
james working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kurko.
Fejha Kurko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurko pushing down on james's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
james trying to control here.
james is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kurko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
james is looking for a sweep. Kurko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
james trying to hold on to Kurko's head to control him but Kurko postures up.
Kurko trying to control the action but james is working from the bottom.
Kurko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kurko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kurko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurko is thwarting james's attempts to control the position.
Kurko trying to control the action but james is working from the bottom.
Kurko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control james kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kurko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kurko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ground and pound from Kurko.
Kurko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kurko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
james tries to roll over but Kurko keeps him under control.
james looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
james wants to control but Kurko is keeping busy.
james keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kurko working james over with strikes.
Kurko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kurko stops james from getting back to his feet.
Kurko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
james keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kurko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kurko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fejha Kurko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

james throws a leg kick but Kurko moved away.

Kurko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
james is trying to stand up here but Kurko is controlling him well.
james is looking to control Kurko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can james avoid being mounted?
james regains full guard. Nicely done.
james working a defensive guard here.
Kurko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kurko wants to control from the top but james keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurko controlling from the top position.
james 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.
Kurko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kurko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
james can't keep his opponent in guard - Kurko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
james is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
deacon james has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kurko drops an elbow to the side of james's head.
Nice strikes from Kurko there.
james is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
james is pressing down on Kurko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kurko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kurko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
james keeping moving, preventing Kurko from controlling successfully.
Kurko chips away with some ground and pound.
Kurko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurko looking to pass the guard.

james is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

james is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurko is aware though and is defending well.
Kurko passes into half guard.
Kurko is looking to stall here but james recovers full guard.
james wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurko forces his way into half guard.
Fejha Kurko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
james has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurko is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kurko lands with a punch from half guard.
Kurko slips a nice elbow through james's hands, connecting with james's forehead.
Kurko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

james looking for submissions off his back.
Kurko is nestled in close to james, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
james is staying active underneath Kurko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kurko in particular looking to stall.
Kurko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fejha Kurko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fejha Kurko!