PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Sturm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Hurley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hank Hurley looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Sturm
vs
Hurley

178 cm
23
169 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Felix Sturm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hank Hurley!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sturm looks for a takedown but Hurley sprawls well.

Sturm shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hurley manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Sturm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sturm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sturm won't allow Hurley to get back to his feet.
Sturm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sturm is stalling in the full guard.
Hurley wants to get back to his feet but Sturm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Sturm is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Sturm drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hurley dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sturm is on top in guard.

Sturm has gone for a leg lock! Hurley slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sturm's guard.
Sturm is breathing heavily.
Hurley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sturm's guard.
Sturm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hurley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sturm's guard.

Hurley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sturm.
Hurley throws the left hand but Sturm avoids the punch easily.
Sturm keeps the fight on the outside.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch but Sturm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sturm avoids the head kick by Hurley.

Sturm gets the takedown into side control.
Hurley wants to control but Sturm postures up.
Sturm throws a strike aimed at the side of Hurley's head but Hurley avoids it well.
Sturm grinds an elbow into Hurley's temple.

Sturm wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hurley, who protects the arm well.

Sturm is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hurley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm trying to control the action but Hurley is working from the bottom.

Sturm thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hurley stops Sturm from passing to mount.

Sturm tries for a kimura but Hurley is defending well.
Hurley trying to remain calm as Sturm controls from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Sturm goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hurley has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sturm but great work by Hurley.

Hurley stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hurley tries to clinch but Sturm is having none of it.
Hurley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sturm shoots in for a takedown but Hurley shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Sturm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sturm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hank Hurley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hurley looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch but Sturm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sturm on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like Felix Sturm has been cut.

Sturm drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hurley is looking to stand up but Sturm isn't so interested in that idea.
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 Felix Sturm will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Felix Sturm's cut.
That's time! Sturm's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sturm shoots for a double leg takedown but Hurley sprawls well. He's pushed Sturm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hurley throws a right hand that Sturm ducks under and follows up with a left that Sturm also avoids with ease.
A nice combination there by Hurley.
Hurley throws a right hand that Sturm ducks under and follows up with a left that Sturm also avoids with ease.
Sturm looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hurley is fending him off so far but Sturm persists. Nope, Hurley circles away and we're back to standing.
Hurley tries to clinch up.

Sturm shoots in and bounces Hurley off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hurley is trying to control the position but Sturm postures up.
Hurley wants to stand but Sturm is controlling the position.
Sturm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hurley is trying to keep Sturm in close.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sturm with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sturm looking to pass the guard.
Sturm slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sturm prevents Hurley from escaping the position.
Sturm trying to control the position but Hurley is working away.

Sturm wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hurley, who protects the arm well.

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.
Hurley is looking to reverse the position.
Hurley prevents Sturm from improving position.
Sturm scores with punches from side control.

Sturm tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sturm has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hurley tries to buck Sturm off but Sturm is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sturm in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hurley wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sturm in side control, throwing shots but Hurley defends.

Sturm is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hurley has escaped the position, nice work there.

Sturm tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sturm has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

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.
You can see the frustration on Hurley's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sturm is looking to take a break and control but Hurley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sturm tries to advance to mount but Hurley denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felix Sturm's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sturm throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hurley's waist but Hurley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sturm off to one side.
Hurley connects with the punch.
Sturm shoots in looking for a takedown. Hurley tries to sprawl out of it but Sturm keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hurley manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hurley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sturm shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hurley but Hurley pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Sturm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sturm fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sturm misses with a takedown attempt - Hurley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hurley tries to clinch up.
Hurley ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sturm circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hurley tries to clinch there but Sturm circles away.
Hurley misses with a series of wild punches.
Hurley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sturm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sturm swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sturm shoots in and drives through. Hurley sprawls well.

Hurley drops Sturm with a beautiful combination! Sturm stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Hurley is looking for the KO!

Sturm is rocked!
Hurley scores with a jab to the body.
Oh Sturm is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hurley is looking to clinch.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch but Sturm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sturm looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hurley is fending him off so far but Sturm persists. Nope, Hurley circles away and we're back to standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hurley tries a head kick but it misses.
Hurley ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sturm on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sturm seems to have got his legs back now.

Hurley moves into range and clinches up with Sturm.
Sturm tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hurley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sturm looking for a takedown.
Hurley stops a takedown attempt from Sturm.
Hurley has had enough of the clinch but Sturm keeps him there for the moment.
Sturm drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hurley pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurley throws a head kick but Sturm moves out of range.
Hurley stuffs the takedown attempt from Sturm. Sturm gets slowly back to his feet.
Hurley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sturm tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hurley swivels and escapes.
Hurley tries to close the distance and clinch but Sturm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sturm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hurley keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sturm shoots for a double leg takedown but Hurley sprawls well. He's pushed Sturm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hurley misses with a wild combination.

Sturm scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Sturm 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.
Hurley won't allow Sturm to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurley is trying to escape back to his feet but Sturm uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Sturm is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hurley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sturm thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hurley is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sturm has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Sturm has hold of Hurley's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Hurley tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Sturm cranks the arm and Hurley screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Hurley, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Felix Sturm!