PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bo Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Kurose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Kurose

185 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bo Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Kurose!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Kurose.
Kurose is looking to clinch.
Kurose throws out a leg kick but Smith moves out of range and Kurose only half commits.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Kurose misses with a series of wild punches.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kurose counters with a body kick that stops Smith in his tracks momentarily.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kurose. Kurose obviously looking to wear him down.
Smith blocks a head kick by Kurose.
Smith walks into a jab.
Smith moves out of range as Kurose strikes.
Smith fails with the takedown

and Kurose counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose advances to half guard.
Kurose prevents Smith from improving his position.
Kurose working the head and body with strikes.
Smith wants to improve his position but Kurose is controlling well.
Smith trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kurose manages to pass to mount!
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Kurose has a good base and remains in mount.
Kurose controlling the pace for now.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kurose is landing with some decent strikes but Smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kurose.
Kurose sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
I looks like Kurose might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smith has given up his back here.
Smith tries to roll but Kurose sticks to his back.
Smith is breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control the hands but Kurose won't let him.
Kurose has Smith flattened out and is raining down punches.
Smith trying to control the hands but Kurose won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A lull in the action here.
Kurose is riding his opponent, not letting Smith buck him off.
Smith tries to break free.
Kurose really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Smith.
Kurose tries to get the hooks in deep but Smith pushed the leg off.

Despite being in the dominant position, Matthew Kurose just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Kurose dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kurose darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.

Kurose breaks from the clinch.
Kurose waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Kurose counters with an outside leg kick.
Kurose fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Smith on the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kurose.
Kurose scores with a nice right hand.
Kurose scores with a nice strike.
A punch combination from Kurose misses.
Kurose throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Kurose circles away easily
and Kurose counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kurose jabs at Smith's body.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bo Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Kurose there.
The crowd cheers as Kurose lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smith doesn't seem phased though.

Kurose shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kurose in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kurose has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kurose is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kurose trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.

Kurose escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurose connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Kurose counters with a two punch combo.
Kurose lands with a nice body punch.
Smith shoots and misses
and Kurose counters with a nice uppercut.
Kurose's corner calls for a 1-2. Kurose obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Kurose clinches.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kurose.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kurose as Smith tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kurose jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.

Kurose looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kurose has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurose not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Kurose showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Kurose.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Kurose throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.

Smith instigates a clinch.

Smith has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kurose uses from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurose trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith looking to control but Kurose passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose content to control rather than advance.

Smith is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurose.

Smith is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kurose pulls his head out easily.

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.
Kurose wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurose is working away from the top position though.
Kurose wants to stand up but Smith has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Kurose works his way into full mount!
Kurose tries to control but Smith wriggling away.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Kurose gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Matthew Kurose is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurose get's back to his feet.
Smith shoots and misses

and Kurose counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kurose from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to control.

Smith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurose doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kurose manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Kurose advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kurose prevents Smith from improving his position.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Bo Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurose is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Kurose seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Kurose comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurose 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 25:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Kurose!