PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tam Yu Tai (ranked 5063 p4p, 5066 weight class) and Takefusa Kurou (ranked 614 p4p, 613 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yu Tai
vs
Kurou

182 cm
18
176
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
188
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tam Yu Tai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Takefusa Kurou!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurou gets a takedown into half guard.
Yu Tai is looking for a sweep. Kurou is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kurou is looking for a kimura here.
Kurou trying to control the action but Yu Tai is working from the bottom.
Kurou trying to control from Yu Tai's half guard. Yu Tai has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Yu Tai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yu Tai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kurou drops back looking for a leg! Yu Tai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yu Tai manages to kick Kurou off! Kurou jumps back into Yu Tai's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yu Tai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurou is aware though and is defending well.
Kurou postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurou looking to pass the guard.
Yu Tai keeping moving, preventing Kurou from controlling successfully.
Yu Tai lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yu Tai 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurou is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kurou is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kurou is looking for a triangle but Yu Tai pushes his legs off easily.
Yu Tai slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Yu Tai trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurou is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yu Tai tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurou is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu Tai passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Yu Tai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurou gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Yu Tai trying to pass the guard but Kurou defending well.

Yu Tai is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kurou doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Yu Tai.
Yu Tai is trying to control the action in half guard but Kurou is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurou trying to hold on to Yu Tai's head to control him but Yu Tai postures up.
Kurou makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kurou.

Yu Tai drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yu Tai jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kurou has his foot on Yu Tai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Yu Tai works his way back into a safe position though.
Yu Tai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takefusa Kurou will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yu Tai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kurou's waist but Kurou gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Yu Tai off to one side.
Yu Tai misses with a takedown attempt - Kurou sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kurou tries for a takedown but Yu Tai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yu Tai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tam Yu Tai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kurou drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Yu Tai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kurou is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yu Tai has an active guard here but Kurou has managed to pass into half guard.

Kurou 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurou is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kurou prevents Yu Tai from improving his position.

Kurou is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Yu Tai defends it well.
Yu Tai is trying to control but can't.
Yu Tai is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurou has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yu Tai is working hard here to advance position.

Kurou is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Yu Tai works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kurou drops back looking for a leg! Yu Tai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yu Tai manages to kick Kurou off! Kurou jumps back into Yu Tai's guard.
Yu Tai is trying to control the position but Kurou postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurou pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yu Tai is keeping the position for now.
Kurou controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kurou got a little sloppy there for a moment and Yu Tai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kurou has managed to get both his arms back between Yu Tai's legs - danger averted.
Kurou forces his way into half guard.

Kurou is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yu Tai is looking for a sweep. Kurou is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurou tries to pass to full mount but Yu Tai defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Yu Tai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kurou is working for a kimura but Yu Tai is defending it quite comfortably.
Kurou tries to pass to full mount but Yu Tai defends it.
Yu Tai wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kurou wants to work for an arm triangle but Yu Tai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Yu Tai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kurou pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Takefusa Kurou showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yu Tai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurou.
Kurou is trying hard to land a takedown here. Yu Tai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Yu Tai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kurou swivels and escapes.

Yu Tai drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kurou tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yu Tai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Yu Tai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kurou tries to bench press Yu Tai off him but Yu Tai keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurou sneaks back into half guard.
Kurou is looking to improve his position.
Yu Tai wants to take a breather but Kurou is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurou is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yu Tai works his foot free and advances to mount.

Yu Tai looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kurou really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Yu Tai is working for a guillotine from mount but Kurou frees his head quite easily.
Kurou bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurou postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Yu Tai is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kurou, into his guard.

Tam Yu Tai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yu Tai looking to pass the guard.

Yu Tai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kurou has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yu Tai has managed to get both his arms back between Kurou's legs - danger averted.
Yu Tai passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kurou tries to buck Yu Tai off but Yu Tai is having none of it.
Yu Tai moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kurou gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yu Tai trying to control from half guard but Kurou is working away.

Kurou looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurou is trying to get back to full guard.

Yu Tai is working for a kimura but Kurou is defending it quite comfortably.

Yu Tai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurou defends it well.
Kurou moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Yu Tai 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.

Yu Tai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Yu Tai postures up.

Kurou looking for a guillotine here but Yu Tai defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Yu Tai makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tam Yu Tai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kurou 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tam Yu Tai!
Our winner, Tam Yu Tai, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.