PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Kurotiva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Lii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lii has chosen Legend of the Ocean as his entrance music. Andrei Kurotiva had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kurotiva
vs
Lii

179 cm
24
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
32
168 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrei Kurotiva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Lii!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kurotiva enables Lii to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kurotiva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kurotiva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lii has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kurotiva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lii.
Kurotiva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lii passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Lii tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Lii is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kurotiva has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kurotiva is trying to control Lii's posture but Lii avoids it.
Lii working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurotiva is trying to control Lii's posture but Lii avoids it.
Lii misses with the ground and pound.

Lii is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kurotiva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Lii is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kurotiva knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lii has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kurotiva wants to hold on but Lii pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lii is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kurotiva is surviving well by controlling Lii's body position as best he can.

Lii looking for a guillotine from mount but Kurotiva is having none of it.
Lii prevents Kurotiva from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurotiva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Lii swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kurotiva is now in Lii's guard. A big mistake from Lii there, giving up the dominant position!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lii can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lii looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kurotiva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lii keeping moving, preventing Kurotiva from controlling successfully.

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

Lii is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lii keeping moving, preventing Kurotiva from controlling successfully.
Kurotiva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lii keeping moving, preventing Kurotiva from controlling successfully.

Kurotiva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lii has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kurotiva has managed to get both his arms back between Lii's legs - danger averted.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lii had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kurotiva defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurotiva wants to control from the top but Lii keeps moving.
Kurotiva postures up in Lii's guard and throws a big left but Lii blocks it.
Kurotiva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kurotiva wants to control from the top but Lii keeps moving.
Kurotiva is looking to stand up but Lii won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Lii is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kurotiva won't allow Lii to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Lii dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kurotiva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lii paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kurotiva on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Lii. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Kurotiva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lii.
Lii with a hook.
Kurotiva tries to bum rush Lii with a series of wild strikes but Lii uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lii lands with a cross.
Kurotiva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Andrei Kurotiva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lii throws a series of punches but Kurotiva moves out of range.
Lii stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lii wants it to stay on the feet.
Kurotiva ducks right into an uppercut from Lii.
Lii takes a swing at Kurotiva's ribcage but misses.
Kurotiva misses with a leg kick

and Lii counters with a single leg into guard. Kurotiva didn't expect that.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kurotiva keeping moving, preventing Lii from controlling successfully.
Lii throwing strikes but missing.
Kurotiva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lii.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lii throwing strikes but missing.

Lii 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.

Lii postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kurotiva is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lii, into his guard.

Lii is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kurotiva defends well.
Kurotiva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lii is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kurotiva looking to sit in guard and control but Lii gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lii drops back looking for a leg! Kurotiva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kurotiva manages to kick Lii off! Lii jumps back into Kurotiva's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lii trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurotiva trying to keep a closed guard but Lii is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurotiva wants to get back to his feet but Lii is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Lii drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kurotiva dives on top into guard.
Kurotiva trying to control the position from guard on top but Lii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lii working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurotiva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Lii is tightening it up a little... Kurotiva has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Kurotiva reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Kurotiva taps out! Nice BJJ there by Lii!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Luke Lii!
A very excited looking Luke Lii made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.