PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cory Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenshiro Kasumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel comes to the cage accompanied by Immortal Technique-Point of no return. Kasumi has chosen Ai Wo Torimodose aka Song of Manliness as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kenshiro Kasumi told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Steel
vs
Kasumi

184 cm
39
212 lbs
26 - 22 - 1

185 cm
35
220 lbs
14 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 26 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cory Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshiro Kasumi!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kasumi blocks a jab.
Kasumi dodges the punch combination from Steel.
Kasumi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kasumi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Steel's head.
Steel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kasumi swings for the body but Steel moves out of range.
Steel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kasumi ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Cory Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasumi digs a good hook to Steel's body.
Kasumi jabs Steel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Steel swinging wildly here.
Steel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Steel gets caught napping as Kasumi dives in and scores a takedown. Steel manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but Kasumi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kasumi is standing up over Steel. Steel looks to escape but Kasumi dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasumi controls the position.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but Kasumi drags him back down.
Kasumi tries to move to mount but Steel blocks the move with his legs.
Kasumi tries to score with some ground and pound. Steel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Kasumi tries for a kimura but Steel is defending well.
Steel bucks up and tries to throw Kasumi off but instead Kasumi has got his back!
I would not like to be Steel right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kasumi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Steel has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kasumi throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steel is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Kasumi.

Steel preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kasumi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel is trying to stand back up.
Steel avoids the strikes from Kasumi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to stand back up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Steel holding both Kasumi 's hands and preventing any damage.

Kasumi looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasumi just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Steel is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kasumi gets his way!
Steel is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is taking a good look at Steel as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Kasumi!
Steel is taking damage to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshiro Kasumi dominated that round.
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.

Steel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kasumi.
Cory Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kasumi misses with a low kick.
Steel throws a body punch but Kasumi moves out of range.
Kasumi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steel.
Nice uppercut there from Kasumi.
Steel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kasumi throws a head kick that misses.
Kasumi thumps Steel with a low kick.
Steel throws a right and a left that Kasumi avoids nicely.
Kasumi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Steel finds it's way round the side to connect with Kasumi's head.
Kasumi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steel blocks the body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Steel does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kasumi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Steel. Steel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kasumi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Steel counters with a left and a right that stings Kasumi.
Kasumi throws a body punch but Steel moves out of range.
Steel lands a jab to the nose.
Kasumi misses with a jab to the body
and Steel counters with a stiff right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kasumi connects with a high kick.
Steel misses with a wild combination.
A left and a right from Kasumi both land. Nice combination.
Kasumi lands a jab.
Steel takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel misses with an uppercut
and Kasumi counters with a stiff right hand.
Kasumi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Steel lands a jab.
Steel throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Kasumi to counter with a crisp jab.
Steel misses with a double jab
and Kasumi counters with a straight right hand.
Kenshiro Kasumi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steel checks a low kick from Kasumi.
Steel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kasumi circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kasumi. Steel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steel misses with a looping left.
Kasumi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kasumi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Steel misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Steel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Steel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kasumi misses with a two punch combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kasumi.
Kasumi misses with a head kick.
Kasumi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kasumi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Steel rather than just go for the knockout.
Steel throws a series of strikes that have Kasumi backpedaling.
Steel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kasumi counters with a good, hard body kick but Steel shrugs it off.
Steel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kasumi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Steel throws an off balance right hand
and Kasumi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kasumi lands a leg kick that knocks Steel off balance momentarily.
Kasumi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
An inside leg kick lands from Kasumi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Steel thows a body shot but no joy.
Kasumi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice shot lands for Kasumi.
Kasumi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Steel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kasumi throws a body punch but Steel moves out of range.
Steel works over Kasumi's head and body with a nice combination.

Kasumi is rocked!
Kasumi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kasumi is still on wobbly legs! Can Steel finish him?
Steel flashes Kasumi a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Kasumi's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Kasumi crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Steel punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Cory Steel!
Cory Steel bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.