PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cathal O Doherty (ranked 2139 p4p, 2508 weight class) and Kuroda Atsushi (ranked 89 p4p, 102 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

O Doherty
vs
Atsushi

172 cm
28
150
8 - 4 - 0

150 cm
27
136
6 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cathal O Doherty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kuroda Atsushi!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling each other endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Atsushi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Atsushi tries a quick counter leg kick but O Doherty is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Doherty misses with a leg kick
and Atsushi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
O Doherty darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Doherty scores with a nice strike.
Good work by O Doherty as he checks the leg kick.
It appears O Doherty was looking to counter with a kick there.
Atsushi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A little feinted left hand from O Doherty on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
O Doherty moves out of range of the body kick.
O Doherty feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
O Doherty ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
O Doherty is looking to slow Atsushi down with leg kicks.
O Doherty scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Atsushi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Doherty throws a low kick but it's checked well by Atsushi.
Atsushi checks a leg kick.
Atsushi moves out of range of the leg kick from O Doherty.
Atsushi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
O Doherty thows a left - swing and a miss!
Atsushi is trying to counter with his kicks.
Atsushi's coach down at White Eagle was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Atsushi's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A clash of legs there as O Doherty blocks the low kick.
O Doherty moves out of range of the body kick.
Atsushi checks a leg kick nicely.
Atsushi feints a counter leg kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Doherty misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Atsushi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cathal O Doherty dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A big right from O Doherty misses.
O Doherty misses with a looping left.
O Doherty backing away here, and Atsushi unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Atsushi tries to land a leg kick but O Doherty saw it coming and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atsushi misses with a low kick.
Atsushi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
It looked like O Doherty wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atsushi throws a leg kick that is checked
and O Doherty counters with a nice uppercut.
Atsushi digs a good hook to O Doherty's body.
O Doherty throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
O Doherty misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Doherty throws a body punch but Atsushi moves out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Atsushi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, O Doherty has got the better of the exchanges.
O Doherty moves out of range of the leg kick from Atsushi.
O Doherty half committed to a counter leg kick.
O Doherty is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Atsushi can do to turn this around?
O Doherty throws a leg kick that is checked
and Atsushi counters with a nice leg kick.
Atsushi wants to land a leg kick but O Doherty is out of range.
O Doherty feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Doherty just misses with a punch to the body.
O Doherty throws a nice outside leg kick.
O Doherty misses with a low kick.
O Doherty throws out a leg kick but Atsushi moves out of range and O Doherty only half commits.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Atsushi! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Atsushi tries to score with a low kick but O Doherty moves his leg out of the way.
As Atsushi backs away, O Doherty returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
O Doherty looks for the body kick but Atsushi saw that one coming.
Atsushi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between O Doherty's hands.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Doherty chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Atsushi can pounce on him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kuroda Atsushi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Atsushi tries to land a body kick
and O Doherty counters with a slapping leg kick.
O Doherty gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Atsushi counters with a nice leg kick.
O Doherty staying out of range there.
O Doherty looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Doherty ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Atsushi moves away.
Atsushi tries a quick counter leg kick but O Doherty is wise to it.
O Doherty misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Doherty on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Atsushi. Atsushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Atsushi tried to score with a low kick but O Doherty checks it.
O Doherty throws a quick counter kick to the body but Atsushi avoids it.
Atsushi scoring well with a low kick there.
O Doherty misses with a kick to the body.
Atsushi is trying to counter with his kicks.

That's two 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.
Atsushi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
O Doherty throws the kick towards the body but Atsushi avoids it.
Atsushi only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Atsushi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
O Doherty uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Atsushi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from O Doherty.
Atsushi connects with an inside leg kick.
Atsushi throws a nice outside leg kick.
O Doherty just misses with a punch to the body.
Atsushi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi connects with a solid leg kick.
O Doherty throws a low kick, looking for Atsushi's leg but Atsushi calmly moves out of range.
Atsushi misses with a kick to the body
and O Doherty counters with a low kick, right behind Atsushi 's knee.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Doherty connects with a solid leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuroda Atsushi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Atsushi 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuroda Atsushi!
A very excited looking Kuroda Atsushi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.