PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Katsuo Kuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JZ Rakuba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kuro
vs
Rakuba

170 cm
22
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Mustang Fight Food

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsuo Kuro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JZ Rakuba!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuro tries to clinch up but Rakuba circles away and keeps his distance.
Rakuba looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kuro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kuro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kuro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rakuba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Rakuba working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kuro wants to stand but Rakuba is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rakuba can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kuro controls the pace.
Kuro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuro has gone for a leg lock! Rakuba slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kuro's guard.

Rakuba drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rakuba jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kuro trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Katsuo Kuro just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kuro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice takedown defense from Rakuba. No joy for Kuro on that attempt.
Kuro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuro shoots in but no luck this time.

Rakuba drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rakuba thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kuro can't do much from the bottom here.
Kuro gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Rakuba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rakuba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kuro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rakuba on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuro tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Rakuba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kuro, who protects the arm well.
Kuro manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kuro manages to get to full guard.
Rakuba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rakuba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kuro wants to stand up but Rakuba is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rakuba slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kuro is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rakuba off and has taken his back!
Kuro controls the action.
Kuro lands shots from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuro has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Rakuba's body.
Kuro struggling to keep hold of the position.
Kuro throwing damaging strikes from the back! Rakuba could be in trouble here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuo Kuro dominated that round.
That's time! Kuro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rakuba checks a leg kick.
Rakuba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuro.
Kuro misses with a two punch combination.

Kuro moves into the clinch.

Kuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rakuba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuro scores with a head kick.

Rakuba is rocked!

It looks like JZ Rakuba has been cut.
Kuro misses with a head kick.
Rakuba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuro.

Kuro forces Rakuba back against the cage and clinches.

Kuro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuro throws a body punch but Rakuba moves out of range.
Kuro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rakuba.
Kuro throws a right hand that Rakuba ducks under and follows up with a left that Rakuba also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some wild striking there from Kuro.
Kuro scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuro tries to land a front kick but Rakuba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Kuro gets a clinch.
Kuro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rakuba smiles and moves away.
Rakuba has a takedown stuffed.
Rakuba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rakuba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuro shoots and misses

and Rakuba counters with a single leg into guard. Kuro didn't expect that.
Rakuba passes Kuro's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Rakuba is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kuro wants to get back to his feet.
Kuro trying to control but Rakuba postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuro moves into full guard.
Kuro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rakuba looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kuro passes into side control!
Rakuba is looking for a sweep.
Kuro tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kuro takes a little break here. Rakuba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kuro tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kuro moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuro moves into full mount!
Rakuba is squirming around, avoiding Kuro's attempts to control the action.
Rakuba bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kuro wants to stand up but Rakuba is controlling him.
Kuro is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Rakuba pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuro is keeping the position for now.
Kuro wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuro wants to stand but Rakuba is controlling the position.
Rakuba advances position into side control!

Rakuba is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kuro is looking to reverse the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rakuba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rakuba is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kuro has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kuro!
Kuro content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuo Kuro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on JZ Rakuba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rakuba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuro.
Kuro has his takedown stuffed

and Rakuba counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kuro controlling the position.
Rakuba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuro trying to control the position.

Kuro working for a triangle but Rakuba defends it easily.
Kuro is trying to keep Rakuba in close.
Kuro is pulling down on Rakuba's head to control his posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rakuba wants to pass the guard but Kuro is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kuro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rakuba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rakuba is working for a submission of some sort.
Kuro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rakuba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rakuba's back!
Rakuba rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rakuba is pressing down on Kuro's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kuro pushing down on Rakuba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kuro is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuro stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Kuro is looking to clinch but Rakuba is avoiding it.
Rakuba takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Kuro forces Rakuba back against the cage and clinches.
Kuro lands a knee to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuro landing knees to the head.
Kuro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rakuba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Katsuo Kuro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuro manages to break the clinch.
Kuro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Kuro clinches with his opponent.
Rakuba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuro pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Kuro manages to break the clinch.
Kuro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuro moves in looking to clinch but Rakuba pushes him off.
Kuro is looking to clinch but Rakuba is avoiding it.
Katsuo Kuro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuro pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakuba on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kuro shoots and misses

and Rakuba counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kuro's guard now.
Rakuba looking to pass the guard.
Kuro trying to keep a closed guard but Rakuba is proving a slippery customer.
Rakuba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuro trying to control the position.

Kuro working for a triangle but Rakuba defends it easily.
Kuro is pulling down on Rakuba's head to control his posture.

Kuro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rakuba is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A leg kick checked by Rakuba.
Rakuba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuro with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rakuba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rakuba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuro manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rakuba has Kuro in his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuro content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
JZ Rakuba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katsuo Kuro!