PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Blacks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alpo Kurkinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blacks
vs
Kurkinen

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Blacks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alpo Kurkinen!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blacks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kurkinen avoids it really well and circles away.
Blacks swats away the attempt to clinch by Kurkinen.
Blacks stuffs the takedown.
Blacks shoots in for a double leg but Kurkinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blacks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kurkinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Blacks looks to land a combination but Kurkinen avoids it well.
Blacks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Blacks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurkinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blacks swivels and escapes.
Kurkinen moves out of range as Blacks strikes.
Kurkinen leaves Blacks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Blacks gets tackled into the cage by Kurkinen. Kurkinen maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurkinen working hard to break the clinch.
Blacks has had enough of the clinch but Kurkinen keeps him there for the moment.
Blacks is looking to control Kurkinen's arms but Kurkinen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Blacks has his back to the cage.
Kurkinen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Blacks up against the cage.
Blacks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kurkinen smiles and moves away.
Kurkinen misses with a head kick.
Kurkinen shoots in looking for a takedown but Blacks manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kurkinen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kurkinen closes the distance and clinches up with Blacks, looking for a takedown. Kurkinen pushes Blacks against the cage but Blacks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kurkinen throws a sloppy head kick
and Blacks counters with a body kick.
Kurkinen looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurkinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Blacks or perhaps it was just good defense by Kurkinen which made him look bad.
Blacks fails with a takedown attempt.
Blacks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kurkinen defends it nicely.
Blacks misses with a double jab.
Blacks lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kurkinen takes a step back to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurkinen closes the distance and clinches up with Blacks, looking for a takedown. Kurkinen pushes Blacks against the cage but Blacks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurkinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Blacks. Blacks gets slowly back to his feet.
Blacks slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Blacks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kurkinen circles away.
Kurkinen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Blacks shoots for a double leg takedown but Kurkinen sprawls well. He's pushed Blacks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kurkinen darts in and clinches Blacks up against the cage.
Kurkinen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Blacks stops a takedown attempt from Kurkinen.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kurkinen is trying to push Blacks away but Blacks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blacks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kurkinen avoids it.

Kurkinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kurkinen shoots in and drives through. Blacks sprawls well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurkinen fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Kurkinen with that takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blacks shoots in but Kurkinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alpo Kurkinen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kurkinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blacks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blacks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kurkinen pinned against the cage. Kurkinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kurkinen darts in and clinches Blacks up against the cage.
Kurkinen pushes Blacks back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blacks misses with a body punch.
Kurkinen wants a takedown but no success here.
Kurkinen is struggling to control the position.
Blacks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kurkinen to keep the fight standing.
Kurkinen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurkinen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kurkinen is looking to take this one to the mat.
A frustrated look appears on Kurkinen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Blacks is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Blacks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blacks is trying to force a seperation but Kurkinen has the dominant position.

Kurkinen decides to pull guard.

Blacks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kurkinen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kurkinen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kurkinen!
Kurkinen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blacks struggling a bit here.
Blacks tries to improve position but can't.

Kurkinen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kurkinen takes a little break here. Blacks wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Blacks is not content to let Kurkinen control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurkinen with the ground and pound but Blacks regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Kurkinen seems to be working for a kimura but Blacks defends the submission attempt.
Kurkinen is trying to control. Blacks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Blacks is trying to maintain the position but Kurkinen is very close to passing his half guard.
Kurkinen content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blacks wants to control but Kurkinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurkinen is controlling the pace.

Kurkinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Blacks is just riding it out for now. Kurkinen eventually gives up the hold.
Blacks regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alpo Kurkinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kurkinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Blacks defends it nicely.
Blacks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kurkinen is fending him off so far but Blacks persists. Nope, Kurkinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Kurkinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Blacks swivels and escapes.
Jack Blacks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blacks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Blacks or perhaps it was just good defense by Kurkinen which made him look bad.
Blacks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kurkinen circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Blacks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Blacks as Kurkinen shoots in.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kurkinen.
Kurkinen tries for a takedown but Blacks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurkinen moves into the clinch successfully.
Kurkinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blacks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Kurkinen gets control of Blacks's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kurkinen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kurkinen keeping moving, preventing Blacks from controlling successfully.
Blacks stopping the sweep attempt from Kurkinen.
Kurkinen is trying to hold Blacks in close to prevent damage but Blacks has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurkinen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurkinen working a defensive guard but Blacks passes into half guard.

Blacks escapes and gets back to his feet.
Jack Blacks is winning the standup battle so far.

Kurkinen clinches.
Kurkinen wants to take the fight to the mat but Blacks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Blacks prevents Kurkinen from breaking the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurkinen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blacks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Blacks is trying to pull guard but Kurkinen has him pressed against the cage.
Blacks is trying to force a seperation but Kurkinen has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blacks using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kurkinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blacks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kurkinen walks away with a smile on his face. Blacks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Some wild striking there from Blacks.

Kurkinen instigates a clinch.
Blacks is trying to pull guard but Kurkinen has him pressed against the cage.
Kurkinen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blacks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kurkinen has Blacks pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blacks manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Blacks has had enough of the clinch but Kurkinen keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurkinen effectively controlling the action here.
Blacks is trying to pull guard but Kurkinen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Blacks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Blacks is working for takedown but Kurkinen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kurkinen digs a right hand into Blacks's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Blacks's gas tank.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kurkinen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kurkinen decides to pull guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kurkinen can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurkinen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jack Blacks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alpo Kurkinen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blacks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alpo Kurkinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kurkinen 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alpo Kurkinen!