PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ansgar Kurucz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Lemieux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurucz comes to the cage accompanied by Marek Ztraceny - Sex s Ex. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurucz
vs
Lemieux

169 cm
26
139 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

165 cm
27
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ansgar Kurucz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Lemieux!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Kurucz.
A head kick misses from Kurucz.
Kurucz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lemieux.
Lemieux avoids the head kick by Kurucz.
Kurucz explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kurucz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lemieux.
Lemieux avoids the head kick by Kurucz.
Lemieux throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kurucz.
Kurucz wants to land a leg kick but Lemieux is out of range.
Kurucz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lemieux wants to clinch but Kurucz slips to the side
and Kurucz finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kurucz throws a right and a left that both miss.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Lemieux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've been hearing reports that Kurucz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kurucz misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurucz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lemieux tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kurucz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kurucz tries a head kick but it misses.
Kurucz tries a head kick but it misses.
Lemieux fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lemieux's coach down at Pitbull MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lemieux's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kurucz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lemieux is able to avoid easily.

Kurucz drives through and clinches with Lemieux against the cage.

Lemieux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lemieux tries to close the distance and clinch but Kurucz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kurucz drives through and clinches with Lemieux against the cage.
Kurucz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kurucz avoiding damage as Lemieux throws knees to the body.
Lemieux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kurucz creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lemieux's defenses.
Kurucz lands a knee to the head.
Kurucz lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A bit of stalling here from Lemieux.
Lemieux takes an elbow to the temple.
Kurucz with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kurucz missing with knees to the body.
Lemieux keeps control of Kurucz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lemieux landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kurucz wants to get back to striking at distance but Lemieux won't allow it.
Lemieux managing to block the knees to the body from Kurucz.
Kurucz tries to break free but Lemieux pushes him back against the cage.

Lemieux tightens his grip and picks Kurucz up, before dumping him to the ground. Kurucz manages to land in guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lemieux throwing strikes but missing.
Lemieux trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurucz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lemieux must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurucz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lemieux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurucz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kurucz has a closed guard, preventing Lemieux from standing up.
Lemieux throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurucz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kurucz wants to stand and escape but Lemieux is having none of it.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lemieux not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lemieux trying to control but Kurucz is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lemieux is in close to Kurucz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pierre Lemieux will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kurucz throws a head kick that misses.
Lemieux takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lemieux drops his hands momentarily and Kurucz takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A combination from Kurucz does no damage.
Kurucz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lemieux was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurucz.
Lemieux looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kurucz swats away the attempt to clinch by Lemieux.
Kurucz missing with a left hand there. Lemieux was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lemieux wants to clinch up but Kurucz keeps it at a distance.
Kurucz lands with a kick to the temple. Lemieux shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Lemieux wants to clinch.

Lemieux shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kurucz napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurucz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lemieux.
Kurucz is being controlled here.
Lemieux creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kurucz sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lemieux lands a nice forearm strike.
Lemieux working the ground and pound but Kurucz is defending the strikes.
Kurucz is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lemieux is controlling him well.
Lemieux working the ground and pound.
Lemieux is trying to ground and pound but Kurucz uses the momentary lack of control by Lemieux to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lemieux wants to take a breather but Kurucz is having none of it.
Kurucz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lemieux.
Lemieux looks to land a strike but Kurucz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lemieux trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurucz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lemieux keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kurucz's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lemieux stands up over Kurucz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurucz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lemieux.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lemieux throws an elbow that misses. Kurucz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lemieux's guard. Nice move by Kurucz!
Lemieux looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kurucz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lemieux trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Lemieux is trying desperately to improve position.
Lemieux manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux is looking for a sweep. Kurucz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lemieux is trying to maintain the position but Kurucz is very close to passing his half guard.
Lemieux is looking for a sweep. Kurucz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurucz tries to stand but can't do so whilst Lemieux controls his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pierre Lemieux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kurucz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kurucz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kurucz misses with a low kick as Lemieux jumps back.
A head kick misses from Kurucz.
Ansgar Kurucz is winning the standup battle so far.
Lemieux wants to clinch.
Kurucz throws a head kick but Lemieux moves out of range.

Lemieux drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kurucz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lemieux throws a strike but Kurucz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Lemieux is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kurucz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lemieux.
Kurucz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lemieux tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kurucz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kurucz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lemieux.
Lemieux missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lemieux prevents Kurucz from standing back up.
Lemieux wants to pass the guard but Kurucz is defending well.
Lemieux missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lemieux not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lemieux throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux looks to land a strike but Kurucz avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Lemieux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lemieux throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kurucz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lemieux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lemieux with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ansgar Kurucz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux scoring with some ground and pound.
Lemieux chips away with some ground and pound.
Kurucz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lemieux chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lemieux throws a big elbow that misses.
Lemieux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lemieux postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lemieux trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurucz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lemieux postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pierre Lemieux is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lemieux trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lemieux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kurucz is keeping the position for now.
Lemieux is working Kurucz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pierre Lemieux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lemieux 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pierre Lemieux!
An out of breath and clearly excited Pierre Lemieux thanked Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).