PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Adam Bogo (ranked 3788 p4p, 5152 weight class) and Liwa Kursiwa (ranked 360 p4p, 409 weight class). Adam Bogo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bogo
vs
Kursiwa

168 cm
27
142
11 - 12 - 0

165 cm
21
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Bogo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Liwa Kursiwa!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kursiwa moves out of range as Bogo strikes.
Kursiwa throws a looping overhand right but Bogo ducks down to avoid it.
Bogo fails to land with a series of punches.
Kursiwa shoots in and drives through. Bogo sprawls well.
Kursiwa throws a lazy head kick

and Bogo counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kursiwa is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bogo connects with a decent elbow.

Bogo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kursiwa has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bogo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kursiwa is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Kursiwa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kursiwa is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kursiwa can't do much from the bottom here.

Bogo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Bogo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kursiwa, who protects the arm well.

Bogo swings around for an armbar but Kursiwa sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bogo's guard.

Bogo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kursiwa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bogo is trying to keep Kursiwa in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa wants to control from the top but Bogo keeps moving.

Kursiwa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bogo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kursiwa has managed to get both his arms back between Bogo's legs - danger averted.
Kursiwa wants to control from the top but Bogo keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa wants to stand but Bogo is controlling his posture from full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kursiwa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kursiwa trying to control but Bogo is working from the bottom.
Kursiwa looking to sit in guard and control but Bogo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Bogo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bogo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bogo won't allow Kursiwa to sweep him here.
Bogo wants to control from the top but Kursiwa keeps moving.
Bogo stopping the sweep attempt from Kursiwa.
Kursiwa is trying to control the position but Bogo postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bogo avoids the head kick by Kursiwa.
Bogo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kursiwa sprawls and moves away.
Bogo is looking to clinch but Kursiwa is avoiding it.
Kursiwa fails with the takedown.
Bogo throwing a counter right hand but Kursiwa manages to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Bogo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kursiwa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As Kursiwa tries to get set, Bogo tries to push him back and clinch up but Kursiwa manages to avoid the attempt.
Kursiwa walks into a straight right hand from Bogo.
Kursiwa tries to clinch but Bogo moves out of range.
Kursiwa misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Kursiwa. Those never looked like landing.
Kursiwa swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bogo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bogo has Kursiwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kursiwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kursiwa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kursiwa tries to clinch up but Bogo circles away and keeps his distance.
Kursiwa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A slow jab from Kursiwa misses its intended target.

Kursiwa clinches up against the cage.
Bogo has Kursiwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kursiwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bogo is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Bogo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kursiwa tries to land knees in the clinch but Bogo avoids the damage to the body.
Kursiwa prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bogo.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kursiwa.

Kursiwa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Kursiwa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bogo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kursiwa takes one on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bogo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kursiwa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kursiwa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bogo counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kursiwa is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bogo sizes up Kursiwa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Bogo gets tackled into the cage by Kursiwa. Kursiwa maintains the clinch.

Kursiwa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kursiwa swings widly with a right hand

and Bogo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bogo wants to take the fight to the mat but Kursiwa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kursiwa tries to throw a body punch but Bogo avoids it by throwing Kursiwa back against the cage.
Bogo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bogo keeps control of Kursiwa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bogo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kursiwa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kursiwa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bogo backwards.
Bogo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kursiwa prevents it.
Bogo tries to score a body lock takedown but Kursiwa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kursiwa lands a nice uppercut.
Kursiwa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A right hook to the body lands for Kursiwa.
Kursiwa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Liwa Kursiwa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kursiwa throws a series of punches but Bogo avoids them all with ease.
Bogo lands with a nice combination. Kursiwa backs away looking to recover.
Bogo lands with an uppercut that bounces Kursiwa off the cage and back into range.
Liwa Kursiwa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kursiwa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kursiwa takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kursiwa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kursiwa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bogo circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kursiwa misses with a double jab

and Bogo counters with a single leg into guard. Kursiwa didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kursiwa is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bogo looking for submissions off his back.
Kursiwa is just content to waste time from the top position. Bogo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Bogo keeping moving, preventing Kursiwa from controlling successfully.
Kursiwa slips nicely into half guard.

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.

Bogo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kursiwa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bogo keeps working.
Kursiwa moves nicely into side control.
Bogo is trying to control Kursiwa's posture but Kursiwa avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bogo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kursiwa.

Kursiwa decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Liwa Kursiwa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kursiwa misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Kursiwa. Those never looked like landing.
Kursiwa attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bogo changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kursiwa shoots in looking for a takedown. Bogo tries to sprawl out of it but Kursiwa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bogo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bogo attempts a counter takedown but Kursiwa avoids it well and moves away.
Adam Bogo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liwa Kursiwa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kursiwa moves into the clinch successfully.
Kursiwa is pressed up against the cage. Bogo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kursiwa down to the mat. Kursiwa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Kursiwa. That snapped Bogo's head back.
Kursiwa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bogo as he jumps to the side.
Liwa Kursiwa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Decent striking displayed by Bogo there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Liwa Kursiwa.
I think Kursiwa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Adam Bogo!