PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mazard Unis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shefki Kuqi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Unis's entrance music is War is the Answer. A fine choice. This should be fireworks!

Unis
vs
Kuqi

185 cm
24
180 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

172 cm
21
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Mazard Unis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Shefki Kuqi!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Unis as he avoids it easily.
Unis slips a jab and a cross from Kuqi.
Kuqi fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuqi.
Mazard Unis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shefki Kuqi.
Kuqi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Kuqi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Unis did well to prevent Kuqi getting side control.
Kuqi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kuqi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kuqi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Unis is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi throwing shots but Unis is blocking nicely.
Unis has hold of Kuqi's hands but Kuqi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuqi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Unis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Unis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kuqi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Unis wants to get back to full guard.
Kuqi is nestled in close to Unis, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kuqi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuqi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Unis defending well though.
Kuqi is trying to control. Unis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kuqi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Unis is refusing to be controlled, as Kuqi sits in half guard.
Kuqi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Unis's head.
Kuqi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Kuqi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Unis is refusing to be controlled, as Kuqi sits in half guard.
Unis tries to get to full guard but Kuqi has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kuqi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Unis defending well though.
Kuqi trying to control the action but Unis is working from the bottom.
Unis is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuqi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuqi trying to control from half guard but Unis is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shefki Kuqi was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Unis throws a push kick but Kuqi slaps the foot to one side.

Kuqi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Unis on his heels. He'll look to pass Unis's guard now, I'm sure.
Kuqi trying to control the position from guard on top but Unis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuqi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kuqi connects with a couple of short punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuqi postures up in Unis's guard and throws a big left but Unis blocks it.
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!
Kuqi chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shefki Kuqi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kuqi tries to clinch but Unis moves out of range.
Kuqi shoots in but no luck this time.
Kuqi lands a nice looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuqi. Unis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body punch from Unis.
Unis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kuqi.
Unis throws a hook but Kuqi avoids it easily.
Unis throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuqi.
Kuqi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Unis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mazard Unis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shefki Kuqi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Unis sprawls well. Unis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kuqi gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kuqi is defended easily by Unis.
Kuqi misses with a low kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Unis.
Unis feints and then cracks Kuqi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kuqi down.
Mazard Unis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Unis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuqi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Unis did well to prevent Kuqi getting side control.
Kuqi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kuqi is trying to control. Unis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Unis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuqi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuqi throwing shots but Unis is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Unis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Unis tries to get to full guard but Kuqi has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Unis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kuqi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shefki Kuqi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuqi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuqi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kuqi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Unis keeps working.

Shefki Kuqi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kuqi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuqi shoots for a takedown but Unis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Unis lands a nice looking body kick.
Mazard Unis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuqi tries for a takedown but Unis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kuqi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shefki Kuqi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Unis looks to land a combination but Kuqi avoids it well.
Kuqi has a takedown stuffed.
Mazard Unis is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuqi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Unis swivels and escapes.
Kuqi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kuqi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Unis on his heels. He'll look to pass Unis's guard now, I'm sure.
Kuqi throwing strikes from guard but Unis blocks nicely.
Kuqi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Unis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Unis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi landing some decent shots from guard.
Unis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuqi is one step ahead there.
Kuqi wants to control from the top but Unis keeps moving.
Kuqi throws a big right hand that misses.
Mazard Unis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuqi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kuqi wants to control from the top but Unis keeps moving.
Unis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuqi manages to get himself to full guard.
Unis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Unis wants to control from the top but Kuqi keeps moving.
Unis won't allow Kuqi to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mazard Unis wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kuqi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Unis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mazard Unis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shefki Kuqi.
Kuqi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Unis stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuqi. Kuqi gets slowly back to his feet.
Unis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kuqi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kuqi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Unis is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi looks for a takedown but Unis sprawls well.
Unis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice sprawl there from Unis as Kuqi shoots in.

Kuqi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kuqi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuqi wants to control from the top but Unis keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuqi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shefki Kuqi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kuqi 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shefki Kuqi!