PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ken Ichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kei Kurono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ken Ichi looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Ichi
vs
Kurono

192 cm
25
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ken Ichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kei Kurono!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ichi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kurono tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ichi is in Kurono's guard.
Kurono striking off his back but it's not causing Ichi any problems.
Ichi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ichi trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurono is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ichi stands up and waves to Kurono to follow him.

Ichi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ichi controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurono looking for a guillotine here but Ichi defends easily.
Kurono throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ichi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kurono is proving hard to escape from.
Ichi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ichi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ichi trying to control but Kurono is working from the bottom.
Kurono looks winded!
Ichi stays in close to Kurono's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kurono keeping moving, preventing Ichi from controlling successfully.
Ichi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurono is looking for a triangle but Ichi pushes his legs off easily.

Ichi stands up from Kurono's guard - Ichi perhaps looking for a knockout.

Ichi moves into the clinch.

Ichi gets control of Kurono's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ichi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Ichi looking for a guillotine here but Kurono defends easily.

Ichi is looking for a triangle but Kurono pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichi keeping moving, preventing Kurono from controlling successfully.
Kurono showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Ichi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurono gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ichi is trying to control the position but Kurono postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurono not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Ichi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kurono gets caught napping as Ichi dives in and scores a takedown. Kurono manages to retain guard.
Ken Ichi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ichi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kurono not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ichi stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kurono is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ichi's half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ichi trying to hold on to Kurono's head to control him but Kurono postures up.
Kurono stops Ichi from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurono is trying to control. Ichi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Ichi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurono prevents Ichi from improving his position.
Kurono seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kurono trying to control from half guard but Ichi is working away.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kei Kurono wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ichi has Kurono up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ichi has hold of one of Kurono's legs. Kurono is fighting the takedown attempt but Ichi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Ichi stands up and waves to Kurono to follow him.

Kurono shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kurono showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ichi wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurono perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kurono is looking to take a break and control but Ichi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ichi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kurono pulls his head out easily.
Kurono drops an elbow to the side of Ichi's head.
Kurono wants to take a breather but Ichi is having none of it.
Ichi pushes Kurono off looking to stand but Kurono dives back in and keeps control.
Ichi is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Ichi is trying to control but can't.

Kurono seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kurono scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ichi keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Kurono slows the pace down in half guard.
Ichi is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurono with the ground and pound but Ichi uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kurono cracks Ichi with a solid left hand.
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 Ken Ichi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ichi feints and as Kurono raises his hands in defense, Ichi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kurono doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kurono is striking from the bottom but Ichi uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Ichi stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Ichi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ichi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ichi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ichi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kurono defends it easily.
Kurono controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ichi controls Kurono momentarily but Kurono frees himself.

Kurono got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ichi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kurono has managed to get both his arms back between Ichi's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurono is standing up over Ichi. Ichi looks to escape but Kurono dives into side control.
Kurono wants to control but Ichi is keeping him busy.
Kurono just content to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ichi is not content to let Kurono control the position.
Kurono working away.
Kurono staying calm.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kei Kurono wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ichi shoots in and gets a takedown into Kurono's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ichi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kurono, up you get!

Kurono gets the takedown into side control.
Ichi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ichi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ichi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kurono.
Kurono throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ichi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ichi wants to control but Kurono is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ichi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ichi trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Ichi is desperately trying to improve his position but Kurono has a good base and remains in mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ichi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kurono controlling the pace for now.
Ichi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurono fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Ichi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ichi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Ichi!