PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Bampton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Kurczakowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurczakowski has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! 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.

Bampton
vs
Kurczakowski

200 cm
20
245 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

187 cm
23
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bartholomew Bampton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pawel Kurczakowski!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurczakowski changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bampton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kurczakowski looks gassed!
Bampton is looking for a sweep.
Bampton struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The ground and pound from Kurczakowski seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bampton wants to control but Kurczakowski postures up.
Bampton gets back to half guard.
Bampton connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Kurczakowski prevents Bampton from standing back up.

Bampton is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurczakowski.
Kurczakowski 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.
Bampton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bampton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurczakowski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bampton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurczakowski is one step ahead there.
Kurczakowski trying to control but Bampton is working from the bottom.
Bampton will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kurczakowski throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kurczakowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Bampton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bampton is trying to control the position but Kurczakowski postures up.
Bampton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pawel Kurczakowski wasn't active enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bampton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bampton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bampton wants to clinch up but Kurczakowski keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bampton clinches.
Kurczakowski has had enough of the clinch but Bampton keeps him there for the moment.
Bampton wants a takedown.
Bampton taking a breather.
Bampton can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Maybe Bampton would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Kurczakowski tries to pull guard but Bampton won't allow it.
Bampton slowing the pace effectively.
Kurczakowski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bampton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kurczakowski avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kurczakowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bampton just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kurczakowski pulls guard effortlessly.
Kurczakowski is pulling down on Bampton's head. It's preventing any offense from Bampton, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bampton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Kurczakowski pushes Bampton off and gets back to his feet.
Bampton with a poor takedown

and Kurczakowski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bampton won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bartholomew Bampton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurczakowski advances to full mount.

Kurczakowski stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Kurczakowski dominated 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.

Kurczakowski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bampton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kurczakowski. That did some damage!
Bampton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kurczakowski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kurczakowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Bampton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kurczakowski passes into side control, despite Bampton's attempt to control the position.
Bampton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kurczakowski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bampton is staying active underneath Kurczakowski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bampton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bampton keeping hold of Kurczakowski's head, controlling as best he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nice strikes from Kurczakowski there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kurczakowski wants to advance to full mount but Bampton doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Kurczakowski stands and steps away. Bampton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kurczakowski throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Bampton scores with a takedown into Kurczakowski's guard.
Bampton preventing the sweep.

Kurczakowski manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bampton tries to clinch up

and Kurczakowski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kurczakowski seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kurczakowski is trying to control the action in half guard but Bampton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pawel Kurczakowski was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Kurczakowski has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kurczakowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bampton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kurczakowski jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bampton walks away with a smile on his face. Kurczakowski gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bartholomew Bampton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Kurczakowski.
Kurczakowski throws a head kick but Bampton moves out of range.
Bampton shoots in for a double leg but Kurczakowski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bampton shoots and misses

and Kurczakowski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bampton won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurczakowski trying to control the action but Bampton is working from the bottom.
Bampton wants to get back to his feet but Kurczakowski is dominant here and he's now got Bampton's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Kurczakowski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kurczakowski shoots in and bounces Bampton off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kurczakowski wants to pass the guard but Bampton is keeping the position.
Kurczakowski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kurczakowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Bampton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bampton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurczakowski is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bampton kicks Kurczakowski off and gets to his feet.
Kurczakowski tries for a takedown but Bampton circles away easily
and Bampton counters with a slapping leg kick.
Bampton shoots in for a takedown but Kurczakowski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bampton pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kurczakowski.
Kurczakowski tries to advance to mount but Bampton denies him.
Kurczakowski is looking to take a break and control but Bampton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurczakowski stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Kurczakowski drives through and clinches with Bampton against the cage.
Kurczakowski tries to pull guard but Bampton won't allow it.

Bampton pulls Kurczakowski into guard.
Pawel Kurczakowski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurczakowski is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kurczakowski trying to control but Bampton is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurczakowski drops back looking for a leg! Bampton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bampton manages to kick Kurczakowski off! Kurczakowski jumps back into Bampton's guard.
Kurczakowski trying to control but Bampton is working from the bottom.
Pawel Kurczakowski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bampton trying to control the position.

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.
Kurczakowski wants to control from the top but Bampton keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pawel Kurczakowski was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bampton with a poor takedown

and Kurczakowski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bampton's guard now.
Bampton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kurczakowski controls the pace.
Kurczakowski is pushing down on Bampton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bampton is fighting to maintain full guard but Kurczakowski has managed to sneak the leg through.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Kurczakowski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kurczakowski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Kurczakowski!