PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denis Kurlaev (ranked 3286 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Booningham (ranked 2534 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Booningham is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kurlaev
vs
Booningham

185 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

200 cm
22
215 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Kurlaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Booningham!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Booningham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurlaev manages to avoid it.
Booningham misses with a lunging right hand
and Kurlaev counters with a three punch combo that has Booningham backing up. Booningham nods at Kurlaev to acknowledge the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Booningham.
Kurlaev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A shot to the body from Booningham misses
and Kurlaev counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Booningham lands with a good body shot.
Kurlaev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Denis Kurlaev has been cut.
Booningham throws a body punch but Kurlaev moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Kurlaev misses its target.
Booningham falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kurlaev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kurlaev.
Kurlaev throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Booningham breaks from the clinch.
Booningham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurlaev slips under a jab.
Kurlaev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Booningham keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booningham slips a jab and a cross from Kurlaev.
Booningham throws a poor cross that misses

and Kurlaev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Booningham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice defenses there by Kurlaev.
Booningham tests Kurlaev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kurlaev gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Booningham is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Booningham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurlaev manages to avoid it.
Kurlaev defending well as Booningham loads up on a big left hand.
Kurlaev takes one to the side of the head.
Kurlaev scores with a hook.
Kurlaev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Booningham darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Booningham lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booningham throws a hook but Kurlaev blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Booningham. Kurlaev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Booningham has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Kurlaev slips under a jab from Booningham.
It looked like Kurlaev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Booningham throws a sloppy body shot
and Kurlaev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Booningham misses with an uppercut. Kurlaev saw that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Booningham.

Kurlaev has Booningham up against the cage in a clinch.
Booningham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kurlaev has Booningham pushed against the cage.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kurlaev stalling against the cage.
Booningham working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kurlaev obliges.
Kurlaev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurlaev using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Booningham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kurlaev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Booningham backwards.
Kurlaev trying to land knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kurlaev.
Booningham blocks an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the head but Booningham blocks with his arms.
Kurlaev missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Booningham.
Booningham can't find room to land a body shot as Kurlaev controls the action.

Booningham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Booningham misses with a combination
and Kurlaev counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booningham connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kurlaev momentarily.
Booningham's corner calls for a 1-2. Booningham obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Denis Kurlaev's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Booningham misses with a double jab.
Kurlaev misses with a wild body shot.
Booningham lands a nice looking body shot.
Kurlaev walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kurlaev takes one to the chin there.
A jab from Booningham misses.
Booningham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kurlaev was well out of range. Poor timing from Booningham.
Booningham throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Booningham misses the target.
Booningham misses with a straight right.
Booningham throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurlaev.
Kurlaev is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Booningham dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Denis Kurlaev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Booningham thuds a left hand into Kurlaev's body.
Booningham throws a body shot but no joy.
Booningham bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kurlaev's head backwards.
Booningham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kurlaev.
A jab from Booningham misses.
Booningham has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kurlaev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kurlaev ducks under a wild hook from Booningham.
Kurlaev is looking to counter punch.
Booningham throws a body shot but no joy.
Kurlaev on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A swing and a miss from Booningham.
Denis Kurlaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurlaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Booningham.
Booningham misses with a right hand
and Kurlaev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Booningham throws a looping overhand right but Kurlaev ducks down to avoid it.
Kurlaev is looking to counter the offense by Booningham and move into the clinch.
Kurlaev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Booningham throws out the jab.
Booningham throws a jab when Kurlaev was well out of range.
Kurlaev seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurlaev closes the distance and clinches.
Kurlaev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Booninghams head.
Good body shot from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev lands a left hand.
Come on Kurlaev - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kurlaev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Daniel Booningham has been cut.
Kurlaev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev looking to throw knees to the head but Booningham is blocking nicely.

Booningham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Daniel Booningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booningham throws a body punch but Kurlaev moves out of range.
Kurlaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Booningham.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Booningham misses with a lunging right hand
and Kurlaev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kurlaev slips a straight right by Booningham.
Booningham jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurlaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Booningham circles away.
Kurlaev slips a straight right by Booningham.
Booningham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Booningham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kurlaev blocks a jab.
Booningham stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Kurlaev darts in and clinches Booningham up against the cage.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The referee calls for Kurlaev to work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kurlaev misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booningham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Booningham pushes off an throws an elbow but Kurlaev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Booningham scores with a shot to the side of Kurlaev's head.
Kurlaev tries to throw a body punch but Booningham avoids it by throwing Kurlaev back against the cage.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but Booningham blocks it.
Kurlaev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Booninghams head.
Booningham throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kurlaev gets through Booningham's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kurlaev misses with a punch to the body.
Booningham looking to slow down the pace here.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but Booningham blocks it.
Denis Kurlaev has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kurlaev scores with a knee to the head.
Kurlaev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Booningham avoids a wild elbow strike from Kurlaev.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kurlaev misses with a knee strike.
Kurlaev throws an elbow that misses.
Kurlaev throws a knee to the head but misses.
A short left from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev dodges an elbow strike from Booningham.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the fighters up against the cage, Kurlaev throws an elbow but misses.
Kurlaev can't find room to land a body shot as Booningham controls the action.
Booningham lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Denis Kurlaev will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kurlaev moves in looking to clinch but Booningham pushes him off.
Booningham with a jab.
Kurlaev is looking to wear down Booningham with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kurlaev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Daniel Booningham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Booningham takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Booningham throws out a loose jab but Kurlaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Booningham lands with an overhand left.
Kurlaev blocks a jab.
Booningham connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Booningham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kurlaev looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Kurlaev has closed the distance and engaged Booningham in a clinch.
Kurlaev lands with a left to the head.
Kurlaev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kurlaev looking to throw knees to the head but Booningham is blocking nicely.
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!
Kurlaev scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurlaev creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Booningham.
Booningham tries to break free but Kurlaev pushes him back against the cage.
Kurlaev has a couple of punches blocked by Booningham.
Kurlaev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Booningham backwards.
Kurlaev misses with a body punch.
Booningham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kurlaevs head.
Booningham misses with the head strike.
Kurlaev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Booningham is struggling to control the position.
Kurlaev comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Booningham blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kurlaev just misses with a elbow thrown towards Booningham's brow.
Booningham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kurlaev looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kurlaev misses with a punch to the body.
Booningham blocks an elbow strike from Kurlaev.
Nice body punch from Booningham.
Kurlaev presses Booningham against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kurlaev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kurlaev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Booningham tries to break free but Kurlaev pushes him back against the cage.

Booningham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Booningham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurlaev moves forwards but Booningham connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booningham throws the left hand but Kurlaev avoids the punch easily.
Kurlaev staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Booningham misses the target.
Booningham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Booningham looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kurlaev defending well as Booningham loads up on a big left hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Kurlaev misses the target.
Booningham throws a body shot but no joy.
Booningham loads up on a big right hand but Kurlaev slips the punch.
Booningham sizes up Kurlaev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Booningham displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Booningham ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Booningham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurlaev.
Booningham misses with a combination

and Kurlaev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kurlaev throws an elbow but misses.
Booningham tries to circle away but Kurlaev has him pinned against the cage.
Kurlaev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kurlaev throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kurlaev scores with a nice hook to the head.
Come on Booningham - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Booningham is trying to break the clinch but Kurlaev has him pressed against the cage.
Booningham wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kurlaev with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Booningham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Daniel Booningham.
I think Booningham has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Booningham!
Daniel Booningham decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.