PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between C G Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kurosawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurosawa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: War drums. Akira Kurosawa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

G Stark
vs
Kurosawa

180 cm
29
177 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

173 cm
27
183 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, C G Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Kurosawa!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stark tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Stark moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kurosawa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stark.
A big left from Stark misses.
Stark lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Akira Kurosawa has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurosawa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That kick from Kurosawa tenderised Stark's leg. Stark is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kurosawa throws a head kick that Stark semi-blocks.
Kurosawa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stark.
Stark cracks Kurosawa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A telegraphed right hand from Stark misses the target.
Stark takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kurosawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
A low kick from Stark is predictable there
and Kurosawa counters with an inside leg kick.
Stark swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kurosawa makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Stark really felt that one!
Stark is breathing heavily.
Kurosawa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stark lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Kurosawa dives in and scores a takedown into Stark's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kurosawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurosawa showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kurosawa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stark is keeping the position for now.
Stark wants to stand but Kurosawa is controlling the position.

Kurosawa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa advances position into side control!
Stark is looking to reverse the position.
Stark is not content to let Kurosawa control the position.

Kurosawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kurosawa is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stark is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurosawa swings around for an armbar but Stark sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kurosawa's guard.
Stark wanted to stand there but Kurosawa had control of the position.

Kurosawa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stark is aware though and is defending well.
Kurosawa controls Stark momentarily but Stark frees himself.

Kurosawa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Stark works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa tries to roll over but Stark keeps him under control.
Stark tries to stand and escape but Kurosawa is controlling the position.
Kurosawa is trying to maintain the position but Stark is very close to passing his half guard.
Kurosawa is in trouble now - Stark has advanced to mount!
Stark controlling from the full mount.
Kurosawa is in all sorts of trouble here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kurosawa wants to control but Stark is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kurosawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Akira Kurosawa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stark throws a shot from downtown. Kurosawa moves away and avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Stark.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stark. Kurosawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stark stuffs the takedown.
Stark throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kurosawa.
Stark tries a low kick but Kurosawa avoids it.
Kurosawa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stark sprawls well. Stark wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kurosawa gets slowly back to his feet.
Kurosawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stark.
Kurosawa walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
C G Stark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stark looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurosawa is just out of range.
Kurosawa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stark.
An inside leg kick from Kurosawa misses.
Kurosawa on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark throws an off balance right hand
and Kurosawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Stark throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A punch combination from Stark misses.
Stark looks to throw the jab but Kurosawa is out of range.
Kurosawa lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Stark takes a swing at Kurosawa's ribcage but misses.
Stark throws out a leg kick but Kurosawa moves out of range and Stark only half commits.
A punch combination from Stark misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stark thows a body shot but no joy.
Stark stuffs the takedown attempt from Kurosawa. Kurosawa gets slowly back to his feet.
C G Stark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kurosawa.
Stark throws a sloppy body shot
and Kurosawa counters with a slapping leg kick.

Kurosawa moves into the clinch.
Stark trying to stall but Kurosawa improves his position.
Stark can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Kurosawa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kurosawa lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Stark backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stark is looking to control Kurosawa's arms but Kurosawa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stark has his back to the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Kurosawa.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nice body punch from Kurosawa.
Kurosawa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A right hand to the body from Kurosawa.
Kurosawa goes for a takedown attempt but Stark pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kurosawa avoids the body shot from Stark.
Stark misses the body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Stark takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stark thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kurosawa slips under a jab.
Kurosawa throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Stark takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa lands with a nice body kick.
Kurosawa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kurosawa.

Kurosawa gets a clinch.
Stark is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kurosawa lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Kurosawa.
Kurosawa has Stark pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stark manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kurosawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
Kurosawa wants to take the fight to the mat but Stark manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stark is trying to maintain a safe position but Kurosawa gets an underhook and turns Stark into the cage.
Kurosawa pushes Stark back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kurosawa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stark is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kurosawa looking to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kurosawa lands a shoulder strike.
Kurosawa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stark is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kurosawa is keeping busy.
Kurosawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Stark controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Kurosawa.
Kurosawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Stark controls his hands.
Stark stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kurosawa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kurosawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.
Kurosawa misses with an elbow strike.
Stark stops a takedown attempt from Kurosawa.
Akira Kurosawa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kurosawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kurosawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Akira Kurosawa'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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stark misses with a hook
and Kurosawa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kurosawa.
Kurosawa on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kurosawa thumps Stark with a low kick.
Stark tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kurosawa avoids the body shot from Stark.

Kurosawa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stark defends it well.

Kurosawa is working for a kimura but Stark is defending it quite comfortably.
Stark on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stark tries to get out of the position.
Kurosawa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura but Stark is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kurosawa to get the leverage.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stark defends it well.
Akira Kurosawa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurosawa wants to take a breather but Stark is having none of it.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stark defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurosawa is working for a kimura but Stark is defending it quite comfortably.

Kurosawa seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Stark has recovered full guard.
Kurosawa pushing down on Stark's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stark is not content to let Kurosawa control the position.
Kurosawa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kurosawa not doing much here.

Kurosawa is working for a kimura but Stark is defending it quite comfortably.
Stark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kurosawa on the ground.
Kurosawa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is in trouble now - Kurosawa has advanced to mount!

Kurosawa looking to secure an arm triangle but Stark defends it well.
Stark tries to get back to half guard but can't.
C G Stark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurosawa is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Stark is in real trouble.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kurosawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurosawa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kurosawa!