PBP Commentary

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

Machiavelli
vs
Kurose

170 cm
23
135 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
22
143 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

[JMFC]Arashi Fighting Nutrition Q156 REC/CARDIO

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ezio Machiavelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Kurose!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machiavelli scores with a hook to the body. Kurose takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ezio Machiavelli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machiavelli throws a body punch but Kurose moves out of range.
Machiavelli works Kurose's body with a nice hook.

Kurose forces Machiavelli back against the cage and clinches.

Kurose decides to pull guard.

Machiavelli drops back looking for a leg! Kurose is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kurose manages to kick Machiavelli off! Machiavelli jumps back into Kurose's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machiavelli won't allow Kurose to sweep him here.
Machiavelli postures up and lands a big shot to Kurose's brow.

Kurose looking for a guillotine here but Machiavelli defends easily.

Machiavelli drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Machiavelli jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Machiavelli drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kurose looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kurose looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kurose!

Kurose tries for a kimura but Machiavelli is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machiavelli is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Machiavelli 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.
Machiavelli is not content to let Kurose control the position.

Kurose wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machiavelli, who protects the arm well.
Kurose looks gassed!
Kurose working the head with strikes.

Kurose tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Machiavelli throws Kurose to one side and escapes!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurose uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Machiavelli.

Kurose changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Machiavelli looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Machiavelli wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Kurose is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Machiavelli knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Machiavelli is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Kurose is trying to get an arm triangle but Machiavelli is defending well.

Machiavelli bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machiavelli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice shot by Machiavelli.
Machiavelli scores with a jab to the jaw.
Machiavelli throws a good cross that connects.
Machiavelli misses with a low kick.
Machiavelli lands a body shot.
Machiavelli comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Machiavelli takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kurose takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kurose fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Machiavelli avoids it really well and circles away.
Machiavelli thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurose dives in and grabs Machiavelli's left leg, looking for a takedown. Machiavelli pushes down on Kurose's head and hops out.
Kurose has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Machiavelli finds it's way round the side to connect with Kurose's head.
Machiavelli lands with a shot to the body.
Machiavelli looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurose is just out of range.
Machiavelli swings for the body but Kurose moves out of range.
Machiavelli lands a with a good body shot.
Machiavelli scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kurose doesn't seem bothered though.
Machiavelli misses with an uppercut. Kurose saw that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Machiavelli as Kurose shoots in.
Ezio Machiavelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Kurose.
Machiavelli just misses with a punch to the body.
Machiavelli thows a body shot but no joy.
Kurose is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Machiavelli lands a nice shot to the body.
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 Ezio Machiavelli will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Machiavelli throws a body punch but Kurose moves out of range.
Machiavelli cracks a nice hook into Kurose's ribs.
Kurose shoots in for a takedown but Machiavelli shows good takedown defense.
Machiavelli looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurose is just out of range.
Kurose uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Machiavelli.
Kurose avoids the body shot from Machiavelli.
Kurose fails with a takedown attempt.
Machiavelli swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurose keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Machiavelli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurose.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kurose steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Machiavelli.
Machiavelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kurose circles away quickly and effectively.
Machiavelli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kurose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machiavelli tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kurose swivels and escapes.
Kurose fails to land the takedown.
Ezio Machiavelli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Kurose.
Kurose throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Machiavelli's waist but Machiavelli gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kurose off to one side.
Kurose takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Machiavelli looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurose is just out of range.
Machiavelli misses with a takedown

and Kurose counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kurose.
Kurose trying to control the position from guard on top but Machiavelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurose won't allow Machiavelli to get back to his feet.

Kurose drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kurose jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kurose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurose is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Machiavelli is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurose is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Machiavelli keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Machiavelli with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Machiavelli throws a predictable looking body shot

so Kurose counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurose is pushing down on Machiavelli's leg trying to pass to half guard. Machiavelli is fighting to maintain full guard but Kurose has managed to sneak the leg through.
Machiavelli is not content to let Kurose control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machiavelli pushes Kurose off but Kurose dives into side control.
Machiavelli pushes Kurose away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kurose gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kurose in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Kurose is trying to get an arm triangle but Machiavelli is defending well.

Kurose tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kurose has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Machiavelli bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machiavelli throws a sloppy body shot

and Kurose counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Machiavelli is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurose is controlling him.
Machiavelli is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kurose dives into side control.

Kurose tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matthew Kurose has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kurose is trying to get an arm triangle but Machiavelli is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kurose tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Machiavelli lands a nice looking body shot.
Machiavelli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurose manages to avoid it.
Kurose gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Machiavelli counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Machiavelli misses with a shot to the body

so Kurose counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kurose won't allow Machiavelli to get back to his feet.
Kurose trying to control the position from guard on top but Machiavelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machiavelli wants to get back to his feet but Kurose is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Machiavelli keeping full guard, as Kurose tries to pass.
Machiavelli wants to get back to his feet but Kurose is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose trying to control the position from guard on top but Machiavelli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kurose drops back looking for a leg! Machiavelli is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Machiavelli manages to kick Kurose off! Kurose jumps back into Machiavelli's guard.
Machiavelli is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kurose is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kurose looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kurose sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Machiavelli's guard.

Kurose is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Machiavelli is just riding it out for now. Kurose eventually gives up the hold.
Machiavelli is trying to stand back up but Kurose is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurose maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Machiavelli could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Kurose has cracked it and Machiavelli is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Kurose!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Matthew Kurose!