PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ismet Kurtovic (ranked 5407 p4p, 5611 weight class) and Kyle McKenna (ranked 460 p4p, 470 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurtovic
vs
McKenna

185 cm
22
180
1 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
170
5 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ismet Kurtovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kyle McKenna!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurtovic with a poor takedown

and McKenna moves into the clinch.

McKenna pulls guard effortlessly.
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.
McKenna is pulling down on Kurtovic's head to control his posture.
Kurtovic prevents McKenna from getting back to his feet.
McKenna controlling the position.
McKenna throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
McKenna looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kurtovic wants to control from the top but McKenna keeps moving.
Kurtovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McKenna controls Kurtovic momentarily but Kurtovic frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtovic sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McKenna closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McKenna.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenna pressing his opponent against the cage.
McKenna prevents the takedown attempt.
Kurtovic has McKenna pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McKenna manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismet Kurtovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McKenna manages to break the clinch.

Kurtovic drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kurtovic definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kurtovic tries to move into full mount but can't pass McKenna's legs.
Kurtovic wants to control for a moment but McKenna uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
McKenna flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kurtovic scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Kurtovic is looking for a kimura but McKenna is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kurtovic to get the leverage.
McKenna is refusing to be controlled, as Kurtovic sits in half guard.
McKenna is trying to control but can't.
Well, if Kurtovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McKenna is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurtovic drops an elbow to the side of McKenna's head.
Kurtovic is trying to control. McKenna wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kurtovic is working for a submission of some sort.
McKenna works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic sitting in guard, not really doing much.

McKenna pushes Kurtovic off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A combination from McKenna does no damage.

McKenna shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kurtovic manages to get to full guard.

McKenna drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kurtovic dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kurtovic sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kurtovic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McKenna swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kurtovic looking to sit in guard and control but McKenna gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKenna looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurtovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

McKenna feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kyle McKenna has got the better of the ground game so far.
McKenna trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kurtovic's guard.
McKenna looking to pass the guard.
McKenna stopping the sweep attempt from Kurtovic.
Kurtovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McKenna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurtovic controls McKenna momentarily but McKenna frees himself.
Kurtovic wants to sweep here but McKenna controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kurtovic is trying hard to land a takedown here. McKenna sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kurtovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McKenna throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

McKenna shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kurtovic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McKenna content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McKenna is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurtovic is trying to control the position but McKenna postures up.

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

Kurtovic closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McKenna quickly recovers to half guard.
McKenna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurtovic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kurtovic is trying to control. McKenna wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kurtovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kurtovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kurtovic trying to control the action but McKenna is working from the bottom.
Kurtovic is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McKenna is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenna trying to control from the bottom.

Kurtovic is looking for a kimura but McKenna is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kurtovic to get the leverage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McKenna makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McKenna.
McKenna wants to stand and escape but Kurtovic is having none of it.
McKenna trying to keep a closed guard but Kurtovic is proving a slippery customer.
McKenna is looking to stand up but Kurtovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Kurtovic postures up.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform us that McKenna has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McKenna avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kurtovic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McKenna looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kurtovic working the head with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

McKenna forces Kurtovic back against the cage and clinches.

McKenna is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kurtovic can't fight it off and eventually McKenna manages to take the fight to the floor. Kurtovic looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kurtovic is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and McKenna dives into side control.
McKenna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

McKenna wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurtovic keeps working.
Kurtovic regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKenna tries to stand and escape but Kurtovic is controlling the position.
McKenna throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kurtovic to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenna wants to stand and escape but instead Kurtovic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Kurtovic throwing strikes from guard but McKenna blocks nicely.
McKenna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurtovic is one step ahead there.
McKenna keeping moving, preventing Kurtovic from controlling successfully.
McKenna has momentary wrist control but Kurtovic slips an elbow through the middle.
McKenna keeping moving, preventing Kurtovic from controlling successfully.
Kurtovic stopping the sweep attempt from McKenna.
McKenna striking off his back but it's not causing Kurtovic any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic being controlled here momentarily.
McKenna keeping moving, preventing Kurtovic from controlling successfully.

McKenna is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kurtovic defends well.
McKenna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kurtovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurtovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kurtovic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kurtovic is looking to take a break and control but McKenna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McKenna struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurtovic in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McKenna is not content to let Kurtovic control the position.
Kurtovic tries to move to mount but McKenna blocks the move with his legs.

Kurtovic looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kurtovic looks up at the clock and then as McKenna takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kurtovic smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
McKenna tries to bench press Kurtovic off him but Kurtovic keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on McKenna's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kurtovic is trying to get an arm triangle but McKenna is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenna manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kurtovic's best efforts.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kurtovic lands a nice short elbow.
McKenna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kurtovic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kurtovic moves into full mount! McKenna won't be happy about that!
Kurtovic wants to control the pace but McKenna is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McKenna is trying desperately to improve position.
Ismet Kurtovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyle McKenna is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McKenna taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ismet Kurtovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McKenna 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle McKenna!