PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Liwa Kursiwa (ranked 5789 p4p, 5658 weight class) and Giant Grizzly (ranked 400 p4p, 396 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kursiwa
vs
Grizzly

165 cm
21
145
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
28
150
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Liwa Kursiwa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giant Grizzly!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grizzly gets a clinch.
Grizzly changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kursiwa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Grizzly tries to clinch but Kursiwa is having none of it.
Giant Grizzly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Grizzly closes the distance and pushes Kursiwa back into the cage.
Grizzly is working for takedown but Kursiwa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Grizzly changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kursiwa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Liwa Kursiwa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giant Grizzly.
Kursiwa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Grizzly stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Grizzly doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kursiwa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kursiwa lands with an uppercut that bounces Grizzly off the cage and back into range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grizzly darts in trying to clinch
and Kursiwa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kursiwa looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Grizzly clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kursiwa breaks the clinch.
Kursiwa looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Grizzly tries for a takedown but Kursiwa circles away easily
and Kursiwa counters with a stiff right hand.

Kursiwa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grizzly, pushing him back against the cage.
Kursiwa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grizzly.
Grizzly has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kursiwa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Grizzly is looking for a takedown.

Kursiwa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grizzly wants to clinch.
Grizzly tries to clinch but Kursiwa is having none of it.
Grizzly fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Kursiwa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Grizzly doesn't seem phased though.
Kursiwa tries to clinch
letting Grizzly counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grizzly clinches up against the cage.
Grizzly lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kursiwa backwards.
Grizzly drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kursiwa prevents the takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kursiwa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Grizzly wants to take the fight to the mat but Kursiwa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Grizzly tries for a takedown but Kursiwa manages to get underhooks.
Grizzly changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kursiwa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Grizzly tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kursiwa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kursiwa throws a shot from downtown. Grizzly moves away and avoids it.
Kursiwa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kursiwa duly obliges.

Grizzly closes the distance and clinches.

Kursiwa manages to break the clinch.

Grizzly moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Kursiwa - that landed with a thud.
Kursiwa gets underhooks to prevent Grizzly's takedown attempt.
Grizzly is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kursiwa to keep the fight standing.
Kursiwa gets underhooks to prevent Grizzly's takedown attempt.
Grizzly drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kursiwa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kursiwa avoiding damage.
Kursiwa stops a takedown attempt from Grizzly.
Grizzly has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kursiwa after a bit of a struggle.
A short left from Kursiwa.
Grizzly tries for a takedown but Kursiwa manages to get underhooks.
Grizzly is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Grizzly is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kursiwa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Grizzly looks winded!
Kursiwa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Grizzly jumps guard but Kursiwa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kursiwa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grizzly jumps guard but Kursiwa stands there with Grizzly around his waist. Grizzly gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kursiwa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Grizzly drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kursiwa gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kursiwa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Grizzly has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kursiwa seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Grizzly can turn it around.
Come on Kursiwa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kursiwa tries a body shot but Grizzly blocks it.
Grizzly tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kursiwa prevents the takedown attempt.
Kursiwa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grizzly's elbow.
Kursiwa is pressed up against the cage. Grizzly 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Liwa Kursiwa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kursiwa has Grizzly up against the cage in a clinch.
Grizzly has Kursiwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kursiwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kursiwa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grizzly looking for a takedown.
Grizzly looking for a takedown.
Liwa Kursiwa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giant Grizzly.
Grizzly is looking for a takedown.

Grizzly gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kursiwa regains guard.

Kursiwa pushes Grizzly off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Kursiwa closes the distance and clinches.

Kursiwa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kursiwa keeps the fight on the outside.
Kursiwa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kursiwa throws out a powerful jab.
Kursiwa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kursiwa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grizzly takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kursiwa throws a nice looking combination but Grizzly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grizzly is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kursiwa lands a nice shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grizzly looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Grizzly closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Grizzly wants a takedown.
Grizzly has Kursiwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kursiwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kursiwa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Grizzly has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kursiwa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kursiwa scores with a nice hook to the head.

Kursiwa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grizzly moves out of range of the strikes.
Grizzly is looking to clinch but Kursiwa is avoiding it.
Liwa Kursiwa is winning the standup battle so far.
Grizzly shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kursiwa pinned against the cage. Kursiwa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kursiwa misses with a head kick.
Grizzly closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kursiwa circles away.
Grizzly looks to clinch
and Kursiwa counters with a series of strikes. Grizzly will be more careful next time no doubt.

Grizzly is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kursiwa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Grizzly doesn't seem bothered though.
Grizzly is still on wobbly legs! Can Kursiwa finish him?
Grizzly is breathing heavily.
Kursiwa throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Grizzly stumbling backwards into the cage! Grizzly bounces back off the cage towards Kursiwa, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Kursiwa lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Kursiwa celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Liwa Kursiwa!
Liwa Kursiwa seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.