PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akio Kurosaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vic Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper has chosen Pink Floyd - Lucifer Sam as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Vic Cooper has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kurosaki
vs
Cooper

183 cm
22
187 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Héritage!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akio Kurosaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vic Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper avoids the body shot from Kurosaki.
Cooper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kurosaki throws a head kick that misses.
Cooper checks the leg kick nicely there.
A telegraphed right hand from Kurosaki misses the target.
Cooper moves out of range as Kurosaki strikes.
Cooper wants to counter with a clinch but Kurosaki pushes him away.
Kurosaki misses with a head kick.
A punch lands to the side of Kurosaki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've been told by Kurosaki's head coaches at Masaru Fighting Systems II that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kurosaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cooper manages to avoid it.
Kurosaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kurosaki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cooper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kurosaki's calf.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cooper swings for the body but Kurosaki moves out of range.
Kurosaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kurosaki throws a push kick but Cooper slaps the foot to one side.
Kurosaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooper was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurosaki.
Akio Kurosaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown but Kurosaki shows good takedown defense.

Cooper clinches with his opponent.
Kurosaki takes an elbow to the temple.
Cooper on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kurosaki has a couple of punches blocked by Cooper.
Kurosaki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Cooper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kurosaki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cooper misses with some punches.

Kurosaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cooper scores with a punch to the head.
Kurosaki pushes Cooper away with a front kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kurosaki.
Cooper checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kurosaki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cooper stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper punishes Kurosaki's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosaki scores with a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Cooper.
Kurosaki tries a low kick but Cooper avoids it.
Cooper gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kurosaki.

Cooper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kurosaki, pushing him back against the cage.
Kurosaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cooper blocking some punches.
Kurosaki can't break the clinch.
Cooper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kurosaki has a couple of punches blocked by Cooper.
Kurosaki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kurosaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Kurosaki misses with the head strike.
Cooper stalling the fight.
Cooper working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cooper.
Kurosaki throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Kurosaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A solid body kick from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kurosaki loads up on a big right hand but Cooper slips the punch.
Cooper wants to counter the offense by Kurosaki and move into the clinch position.
Kurosaki ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Cooper pushes Kurosaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki throws a punch but it's blocked by Cooper.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cooper throws an elbow but misses.
Cooper lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Akio Kurosaki has been cut.
Cooper lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cooper prevents Kurosaki from breaking the clinch.

Kurosaki breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurosaki avoids the body shot from Cooper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cooper crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kurosaki - the referee stops the clock and Cooper gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kurosaki. Cooper manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cooper. Kurosaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cooper fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kurosaki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kurosaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cooper manages to avoid it.
Akio Kurosaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooper blocks a low kick nicely.
Kurosaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Cooper.
Kurosaki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cooper's sensitive parts.
Cooper keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Cooper turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kurosaki misses with the combination.
Cooper digs a good body shot into Kurosaki's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Akio Kurosaki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Akio Kurosaki's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Kurosaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kurosaki looks to land a body kick but Cooper moved away.
Cooper wants to counter with a clinch but Kurosaki pushes him away.
Cooper throws a right hand that Kurosaki ducks under and follows up with a left that Kurosaki also avoids with ease.

Cooper throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kurosaki was covering up waiting for the punch and Cooper finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kurosaki looking to control.
Kurosaki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cooper is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cooper is pushing down on Kurosaki's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kurosaki is fighting to maintain full guard but Cooper has managed to sneak the leg through.

Cooper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cooper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cooper wants to control but Kurosaki is keeping him busy.
Cooper is stalling here. Kurosaki is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Cooper seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kurosaki has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is looking for a sweep.

Kurosaki stands up and beckons Cooper to his feet.
Cooper scores with a shot to the body.
Kurosaki throws a push kick but Cooper slaps the foot to one side.
A shot to the body from Cooper misses
and Kurosaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kurosaki thuds a left hand into Cooper's body.
Kurosaki throws a head kick that Cooper semi-blocks.
Cooper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki sizes up Cooper with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kurosaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kurosaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cooper was well out of range. Poor timing from Kurosaki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosaki throws a sloppy head kick and Cooper moves out of range easily.
Kurosaki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cooper.

Cooper forces Kurosaki back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cooper prevents Kurosaki from breaking the clinch.
Cooper misses with an elbow strike.
Cooper misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kurosaki manages to break the clinch.
Cooper takes a kick to the side of the head.
Cooper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kurosaki as he avoids it easily.
Kurosaki misses with a low kick.
Cooper is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Cooper is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kurosaki rather than just go for the knockout.
Kurosaki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cooper's head.
Kurosaki throws the kick towards the body but Cooper avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper walks into a jab.
Kurosaki misses with a wild body shot.
Kurosaki throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kurosaki - that will leave a mark!
Cooper connects with a crisp jab.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cooper crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kurosaki - the referee stops the clock and Cooper gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kurosaki. Cooper manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kurosaki ducks under a wild hook from Cooper.
Cooper throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cooper dips to his left and cracks Kurosaki with an uppercut!
Cooper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kurosaki misses with a wild body shot.
Cooper steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki misses with a hook.
Cooper misses with an uppercut
and Kurosaki counters with a series of strikes. Cooper will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cooper is looking to clinch but Kurosaki is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cooper doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kurosaki counters with a slapping leg kick.
Akio Kurosaki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vic Cooper.
Cooper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kurosaki.
A left lands for Kurosaki.
Cooper tries to bum rush Kurosaki with a series of wild strikes but Kurosaki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kurosaki uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Cooper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kurosaki's calf.
Kurosaki swings for the body but Cooper moves out of range.
Akio Kurosaki is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick lands from Kurosaki.
Cooper has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kurosaki half committed to a counter leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kurosaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akio Kurosaki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Akio Kurosaki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cooper takes a swing at Kurosaki's ribcage but misses.
A cross from Cooper lands.
Kurosaki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cooper lands a body shot.
A lazy left from Kurosaki finds it's target.
Kurosaki fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kurosaki.
Cooper drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kurosaki defends it well.
Kurosaki misses with a low kick.
Cooper misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Kurosaki.
Cooper throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kurosaki.
Kurosaki takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurosaki misses with a head kick.
Kurosaki catches Cooper with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cooper thuds his right hand into Kurosaki's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kurosaki misses with a low kick as Cooper jumps back.
Kurosaki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooper tries to close the distance and clinch but Kurosaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Kurosaki wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kurosaki throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cooper.
Cooper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurosaki manages to avoid it.
Cooper misses with a shot to the body
letting Kurosaki counter with a right hand.
Kurosaki connects with a leg kick. Cooper looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A good leg kick by Kurosaki.
Kurosaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cooper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kurosaki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Vic Cooper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kurosaki if he has to take too many more of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurosaki misses the shot to the body.
Cooper is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Cooper's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kurosaki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cooper scrambles back to his feet.
Cooper throws a body kick that misses.
Kurosaki throws a body kick that misses.
Kurosaki lands with an overhand left.

Cooper closes the distance and clinches.
Cooper lands a damaging elbow.
Kurosaki tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cooper avoids it.
Cooper throws an elbow that misses.
A short uppercut from Cooper.
Kurosaki throws a head punch that misses.
Cooper throws a head punch that misses.
Cooper has Kurosaki pressed against the cage, preventing Kurosaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kurosaki.
Cooper blocks an uppercut.
Kurosaki can't break the clinch.
Kurosaki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cooper can do to turn this around?
Kurosaki wants to stall.
Cooper tries to score a body lock takedown but Kurosaki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kurosaki.
A short right from Cooper.
Kurosaki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kurosaki wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Kurosaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kurosaki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cooper.
A big right from Kurosaki misses.
Kurosaki misses with a kick to the body

and Cooper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cooper slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cooper looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kurosaki wants to control but Cooper is keeping busy.
Akio Kurosaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cooper has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Cooper goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kurosaki is on top in guard.

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 Akio Kurosaki.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kurosaki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akio Kurosaki!