PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tye Sweeney (ranked 6466 p4p, 5650 weight class) and Lukas Kurz (ranked 727 p4p, 670 weight class). Lukas Kurz struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sweeney
vs
Kurz

188 cm
25
188
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
198
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tye Sweeney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lukas Kurz!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sweeney gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kurz to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sweeney tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sweeney trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kurz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sweeney is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweeney looking for a sweep. Not yet Sweeney, not yet.
Kurz stays in close to Sweeney's body and controls the position.
Sweeney keeping full guard, as Kurz tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sweeney decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kurz is staying active underneath Sweeney, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kurz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sweeney.

Sweeney seems to be working for a kimura but Kurz defends the submission attempt.
Sweeney seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurz does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney prevents Kurz from improving his position.
Kurz tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kurz tries to roll over but Sweeney keeps him under control.
Kurz looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sweeney seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurz gets caught flat footed, as Sweeney shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kurz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sweeney has passed into half guard!
Kurz wants to control but Sweeney is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sweeney is working for a submission of some sort.
Sweeney thows a huge punch but Kurz dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sweeney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sweeney postures up in Kurz's guard and throws a big left but Kurz blocks it.
Sweeney trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kurz has his foot on Sweeney's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sweeney works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurz looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurz, not yet.
Kurz looks winded!
Sweeney pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kurz is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tye Sweeney will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sweeney tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kurz defends well and Sweeney ends up having to push Kurz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kurz turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kurz manages to end up in side control.
Kurz lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sweeney down.
Sweeney is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sweeney is looking for a sweep. Kurz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sweeney has hold of Kurz's hands but Kurz slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurz trying to control the action but Sweeney is working from the bottom.
Lukas Kurz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurz slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sweeney's head.

Kurz is working for a submission of some sort.

Sweeney looking for submissions off his back.
Kurz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kurz content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Sweeney looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sweeney tries to get to full guard but Kurz has control of the leg.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kurz looks for the body kick but Sweeney saw that one coming.
Sweeney shoots in for a takedown but Kurz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kurz tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kurz tries to sprawl but Sweeney drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kurz gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurz wants to get back to his feet but Sweeney is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kurz has his hands on Sweeney's head, controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kurz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kurz keeping moving, preventing Sweeney from controlling successfully.
Kurz 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.
Sweeney wants to control from the top but Kurz keeps moving.
Kurz seems keen to control Sweeney's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sweeney throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kurz drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sweeney is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kurz lands a couple of digs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sweeney escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lukas Kurz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sweeney goes for a double leg but Kurz avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kurz continues to drive forward.
Kurz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Kurz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kurz working away.
Kurz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kurz controls the position.
Kurz trying to control the action but Sweeney is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurz controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurz wants to control but Sweeney is keeping him busy.
Kurz working the head and body with strikes.
Kurz taking a breather here.
Kurz working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kurz tries for a kimura but Sweeney is defending well.
Sweeney takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kurz working away.
Sweeney manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kurz is taking a breather. Sweeney says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kurz trying to control from half guard but Sweeney is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sweeney.

Kurz moves into range and clinches up with Sweeney.

Sweeney breaks the clinch.
Sweeney tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kurz makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Sweeney shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kurz's guard.
Kurz is looking to stand up but Sweeney isn't so interested in that idea.

Kurz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sweeney defends well.
Kurz is adopting a defensive guard.
Kurz wants to improve his position but instead Sweeney has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sweeney looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sweeney is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lukas Kurz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lukas Kurz!
A very excited looking Lukas Kurz 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.