PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Ulriksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eerikki Kurki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Ulriksen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ulriksen
vs
Kurki

183 cm
22
196 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
197 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Victor Ulriksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eerikki Kurki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurki misses with a straight left.

Kurki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ulriksen did well to prevent Kurki getting side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kurki wants to pass to mount but Ulriksen is defending the position.
Ulriksen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
My spies in Arne's Combat & Mead Hall inform me that Kurki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kurki is nestled in close to Ulriksen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ulriksen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ulriksen trying to control here.
Ulriksen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ulriksen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurki is working away from the top position though.
Kurki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ulriksen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ulriksen trying to control but Kurki postures up.
Ulriksen is looking for a sweep. Kurki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ulriksen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurki tries to pass to full mount but Ulriksen defends it.
Kurki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ulriksen is staying active underneath Kurki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ulriksen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurki is working away from the top position though.
Kurki throws a strike but Ulriksen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ulriksen controls Kurki momentarily but Kurki frees himself.
Kurki throws a strike but Ulriksen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kurki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kurki working a defensive guard here.

Kurki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kurki looks to land a strike but Ulriksen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ulriksen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kurki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ulriksen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ulriksen keeping full guard, as Kurki tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ulriksen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ulriksen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurki passes Ulriksen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kurki is looking to advance position but Ulriksen won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurki is thwarting Ulriksen's attempts to control the position.
Ulriksen keeping control of the position.
Kurki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ulriksen!
Kurki trying to control but Ulriksen is having none of it.
Ulriksen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kurki throws some wild stikes that Ulriksen manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Kurki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ulriksen can't escape the position.
Ulriksen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ulriksen wants to control but Kurki is keeping busy.
Ulriksen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kurki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kurki trying to control from half guard but Ulriksen is working away.
Ulriksen is looking to control Kurki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ulriksen avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurki trying to control the action but Ulriksen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eerikki Kurki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ulriksen tries to clinch up but Kurki circles away and keeps his distance.
Ulriksen shoots in looking for a takedown but Kurki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ulriksen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kurki misses with an uppercut. Ulriksen saw that one coming.
Ulriksen ducks under a wild hook from Kurki.
Ulriksen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ulriksen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ulriksen shoots and misses
and Kurki counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Ulriksen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kurki gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ulriksen throwing strikes from guard but Kurki blocks nicely.
Ulriksen wants to control from the top but Kurki keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kurki holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ulriksen is one step ahead there.
Ulriksen wants to control from the top but Kurki keeps moving.
Kurki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ulriksen is one step ahead there.

Kurki looking for a guillotine here but Ulriksen defends easily.
Kurki looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurki, not yet.
Kurki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ulriksen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurki keeping moving, preventing Ulriksen from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Victor Ulriksen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ulriksen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ulriksen moves in looking to clinch but Kurki pushes him off.
Ulriksen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kurki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ulriksen somewhat.
Kurki connects with a body shot that sends Ulriksen's belly button to the back.
Ulriksen ducks right into an uppercut from Kurki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kurki throws a right hand that Ulriksen ducks under and follows up with a left that Ulriksen also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ulriksen is defended easily by Kurki.
Ulriksen tries for a takedown but Kurki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ulriksen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ulriksen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kurki missing with a left hand there. Ulriksen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ulriksen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurki.
Kurki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ulriksen defends well and Kurki ends up having to push Ulriksen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kurki is trying to force a seperation but Ulriksen has the dominant position.
Ulriksen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kurki fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kurki throws a jab but it's blocked by Ulriksen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurki loads up on a big right hand but Ulriksen slips the punch.
Ulriksen slips a jab from Kurki.
Kurki misses with a straight right.
Ulriksen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kurki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ulriksen tries to clinch up but Kurki circles away and keeps his distance.
Kurki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big left from Kurki misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ulriksen has Kurki up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ulriksen breaks the clinch.
Kurki throws a jab but it's blocked by Ulriksen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eerikki Kurki 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!

Ulriksen moves in looking to clinch but Kurki pushes him off.

Ulriksen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kurki looking to control.
Ulriksen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ulriksen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ulriksen is keen to just control but Kurki is a slippery customer.
Kurki wants to control but Ulriksen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurki wants to get back to full guard.
Ulriksen content to control rather than advance.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kurki wants to improve his position but Ulriksen is controlling well.
Ulriksen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kurki is looking to control Ulriksen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurki avoid being mounted?
Kurki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulriksen misses with a head shot. Kurki uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kurki keeping moving, preventing Ulriksen from controlling successfully.
Kurki wants to sweep but no luck.

Kurki is looking for a triangle but Ulriksen pushes his legs off easily.
Kurki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ulriksen trying to control but Kurki is working from the bottom.
Kurki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ulriksen controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurki is trying to control the position but Ulriksen postures up.
Kurki has Ulriksen pulled in close to control his posture.
Ulriksen trying to control but Kurki is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Victor Ulriksen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kurki with a hook.
Kurki might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Kurki misses the jab.
Kurki throws an off balance right hand
and Ulriksen counters with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ulriksen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ulriksen.
Kurki connects with a looping right hand.
Eerikki Kurki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kurki misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen shoots and misses
and Kurki counters with a nice uppercut.
Kurki slips a jab from Ulriksen.
Ulriksen defending well as Kurki loads up on a big left hand.
Ulriksen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kurki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ulriksen somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Ulriksen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kurki.
Kurki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ulriksen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kurki throws an overhand right that lands on Ulriksen's shoulder, as Ulriksen tries to avoid the shot.
Kurki throws a jab when Ulriksen was well out of range.
Kurki connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ulriksen. Ulriksen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Victor Ulriksen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurki lands a nice shot that snaps Ulriksen's head back.
Ulriksen throws a shot from downtown. Kurki moves away and avoids it.
Kurki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kurki wants it to stay on the feet.
Kurki throws a jab but it's blocked by Ulriksen.
Kurki misses with a body shot.

Kurki looking to score a takedown here. Ulriksen is defending well but Kurki drives through and ends up in Ulriksen's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ulriksen keeping full guard, as Kurki tries to pass.
Kurki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kurki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ulriksen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ulriksen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eerikki Kurki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kurki 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eerikki Kurki!