PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Kuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has chosen . as his entrance music. George Jones has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kuraba
vs
Jones

180 cm
23
170 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing
[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenji Kuraba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George Jones!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuraba.
Kuraba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jones circles away.

Jones looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kuraba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jones scores with a couple of nice shots.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuraba keeps working.
Kuraba tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Kuraba is trying to maintain the position but Jones is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuraba gets back to full guard.
Jones trying to control but Kuraba is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuraba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jones controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kuraba tries to strike from the bottom.
Jones with a nice head shot there.
Kuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuraba trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kuraba trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Jones throws a strike but Kuraba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kuraba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jones swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuraba is looking to advance position but Jones has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kuraba gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Kuraba trying to hold on to Jones's head to control him but Jones postures up.
Kuraba wants to improve his position but Jones is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones wants to take a breather but Kuraba is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up. George Jones was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Jones is looking to clinch but Kuraba is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Kuraba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuraba fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jones tries to clinch but Kuraba moves out of range.
Kuraba with a poor takedown

and Jones counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jones landing some decent shots from guard.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.
Kuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jones trying to control but Kuraba is working from the bottom.
Jones working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Jones stopping the sweep attempt from Kuraba.
Jones pushing down on Kuraba's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kuraba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jones working Kuraba over with strikes.
Kuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Jones not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuraba tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.
Kuraba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jones.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Kuraba is working away.
Jones thows a huge punch but Kuraba dodges it nicely.
Kuraba is trying to stand up here but Jones is controlling him well.
Kuraba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jones scoring with some ground and pound.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Kuraba wriggles free and stands up.
Kuraba with a poor takedown
and Kuraba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Kenji Kuraba has been cut.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuraba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuraba shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuraba as he avoids it easily.
Jones fails with the takedown.
Jones throws a right hand that Kuraba ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuraba also avoids with ease.
Kuraba has a takedown stuffed.
Jones attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Jones tries to clinch but Kuraba moves out of range.
Jones scores with a shot to the body.
Kuraba is breathing heavily.
Kuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuraba misses with a takedown
and Jones counters with a good low kick that Kuraba was not able to check.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuraba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Jones's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kuraba has his takedown stuffed

and Jones counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Jones takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kuraba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jones is trying to control. Kuraba wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kuraba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kuraba wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.
Jones is thwarting Kuraba's attempts to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kuraba is refusing to be controlled, as Jones sits in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones tries for a takedown but Kuraba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A big left from Jones misses.
Kuraba closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jones stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuraba. Kuraba gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenji Kuraba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jones thows a body shot but no joy.
Kuraba shoots in but Jones avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kuraba is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jones keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kuraba 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.
Kuraba wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Kuraba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuraba trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kuraba has gone for a leg lock! Jones slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kuraba's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones trying to control but Kuraba is working from the bottom.

Kuraba has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones postures up.
Jones thows a big elbow that misses.
George Jones has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kuraba is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kuraba keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kuraba keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Jones loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Kuraba is looking for a triangle but Jones pushes his legs off easily.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuraba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
Jones cracks Kuraba with a solid left hand.
Jones working some strikes from top position.
Jones throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuraba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jones with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuraba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jones is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuraba has wrist control.
Kuraba keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Kuraba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kuraba has his foot on Jones's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jones works his way back into a safe position though.
Jones throws a strike but Kuraba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kuraba trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Kuraba wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuraba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kuraba controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kenji Kuraba.
Jones wants to clinch up but Kuraba keeps it at a distance.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.
Kenji Kuraba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuraba pinned against the cage. Kuraba gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kuraba closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jones quickly recovers to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Kuraba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jones defends it well.
Kuraba seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kuraba wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Kuraba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jones is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Jones is defending against the submission attempts here by Kuraba.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control here.
Kuraba is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuraba wants to pass the guard but Jones is defending well.
Kuraba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's eight 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.
Kuraba trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.

Kuraba is looking for a kimura here.

Kuraba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jones sees it coming and defends easily.
Kuraba working the head and body with strikes.
Kuraba trying to pass the guard but Jones defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuraba is trying to control. Jones wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jones is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kuraba's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kuraba's back!
Kuraba takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Kuraba tries to escape but Jones has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Kuraba has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Jones.

Jones is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuraba tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kenji Kuraba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuraba throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jones. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kenji Kuraba.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for George Jones!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for George Jones!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for George Jones!

George Jones wins by unanimous decision!