PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurokawa Kenji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russo has chosen Destroy Everything as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kenji
vs
Russo

175 cm
21
212 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
215 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kurokawa Kenji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jimmy Russo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenji displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Russo throws out the jab.
Nice jab there from Kenji.
Russo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russo tries for a takedown but Kenji sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kenji thows a body shot but no joy.
Russo takes one to the chin there.
Kenji throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jimmy Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kenji moves away from the strike by Russo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Russo moves forwards but Kenji connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kenji digs a good body shot into Russo's ribs.
Kenji slips a jab and a cross from Russo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Russo misses with a double jab
letting Kenji counter with a right hand.
Kenji connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Russo's hands.
Kenji lands a jab to Russo's midsection.
Russo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kenji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kenji swivels and escapes.
Kenji pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kenji throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo shoots and misses
and Kenji makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kurokawa Kenji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Russo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenji scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Russo doesn't seem bothered though.
Russo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Kenji counter with a right hand.
Russo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kenji counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kenji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russo.
Kenji swings for the body but Russo moves out of range.
Russo tries for a takedown but Kenji circles away easily
enabling Kenji to counter with a crisp jab.
Kenji is looking to wear down Russo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Russo throws a combination that misses
and Kenji counters with a stiff right hand.
Russo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kenji connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kurokawa Kenji is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kenji looks to throw the jab but Russo is out of range.
Kenji fails to land with a series of punches.
Kenji uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Russo.
Russo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kenji.
Russo misses with a takedown attempt
and Kenji counters with a straight right hand.
Kenji slips a straight right by Russo.
Kenji is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji throws a body punch but Russo moves out of range.
Good shot there by Kenji.
Kenji slips a straight right by Russo.
Kenji lands a nice shot to the body.
Russo throws a jab but it's blocked by Kenji.
Kenji throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kenji uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Russo misses the jab.
Russo misses with a looping right.
Russo ducks right into an uppercut from Kenji.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurokawa Kenji dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kenji comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kenji slips under a jab from Russo.
Kenji blocks a jab.
Russo throws an overhand right that lands on Kenji's shoulder, as Kenji tries to avoid the shot.
Russo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kenji counters with a right hand to the body.
Russo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kenji in his tracks.
Kenji swings for the body but Russo moves out of range.
Russo looks to land a right hand but Kenji moved out of range.
Kenji misses with a hook. Russo ducked under it nicely.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Kenji.
Russo might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo misses with a double jab
and Kenji counters with a right hand to the body.
Kenji looks to throw the jab but Russo is out of range.
Kenji throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Russo counter with a right hand.

It looks like Kurokawa Kenji has been cut.
Russo walks into a stiff left hand from Kenji.
Russo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Russo misses with an uppercut. Kenji saw that one coming.
Russo misses with a wild combination.
Kenji fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenji scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Russo doesn't seem bothered though.
Russo is trying desperately to land a takedown but Kenji is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Russo.
Kenji connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Russo momentarily.
Kenji swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Russo counters with a straight right hand.
Russo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kurokawa Kenji is winning the standup battle so far.
Russo throws a hook but Kenji avoids it easily.
Kenji is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Russo connects with a looping right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kenji loads up on a big right hand but Russo slips the punch.
Russo looks to land a left hand but Kenji moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a combination that misses
and Russo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Russo lands with a hook. Kenji tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kenji stuffs the takedown attempt from Russo. Russo gets slowly back to his feet.
Russo misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Kenji.
Kenji ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russo moves away.
Russo shoots and misses
and Kenji connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A swing and a miss from Russo.
Russo with a poor takedown
and Kenji counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kurokawa Kenji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Russo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kenji trying to keep a closed guard but Russo is proving a slippery customer.
Kenji controlling the position.
Russo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenji wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kenji is trying to control the position but Russo postures up.
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 Kurokawa Kenji will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kurokawa Kenji's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Russo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kenji.
Russo throws a hook but Kenji blocks it.
Kenji fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Russo connects with a nice looking jab.
Kenji takes a swing at Russo's ribcage but misses.
Russo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Russo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kenji misses with a straight left.
Russo lands a jab to Kenji's midsection.
Russo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo tries for a takedown but Kenji circles away easily
and Kenji counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Russo misses with an uppercut. Kenji saw that one coming.
Kenji misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russo.
Russo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kenji pinned against the cage. Kenji gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Russo missing with a left hand there. Kenji was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

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.
Russo moves out of range as Kenji strikes.
Russo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Russo misses with a body shot.
Kenji throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kenji displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Russo.
Kurokawa Kenji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Russo.
A swing and a miss from Kenji.
Russo misses with a hook.
Kenji just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jab by Kenji.
Russo throws out a loose jab but Kenji uses good head movement to avoid it.
Russo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Russo misses the body punch
and Kenji cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jimmy Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russo loads up on a big right hand but Kenji slips the punch.

Russo scores with a takedown into Kenji's guard.
Russo trying to control but Kenji is working from the bottom.
Russo looking to sit in guard and control but Kenji gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kenji has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Russo has his foot on Kenji's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kenji works his way back into a safe position though.

Russo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kenji uses it to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kenji 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurokawa Kenji!