PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kurosawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoe Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurosawa comes to the cage accompanied by War drums. 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.

Kurosawa
vs
Washburn

173 cm
31
183 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

180 cm
26
177 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

STEEL PENN'S - STEEL TERROR: Video Proven 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Akira Kurosawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zoe Washburn!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurosawa rushes Washburn and presses him up against the cage.
Kurosawa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Washburn backwards.
Washburn lands a shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Washburn.

Washburn pulls guard.
Washburn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kurosawa trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Washburn manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kurosawa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Washburn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Washburn trying to control but Kurosawa is working from the bottom.
Washburn is in close to Kurosawa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kurosawa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Washburn won't allow Kurosawa to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurosawa is retaining full guard.
Washburn postures up in Kurosawa's guard and throws a big left but Kurosawa blocks it.
Kurosawa wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurosawa is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washburn slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kurosawa is not content to let Washburn control the position.
Washburn lands some shots froms side control.
Kurosawa looks to move to half guard but instead Washburn has passed into mount! Damn!
Washburn with a couple of short strikes.
Washburn landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washburn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurosawa is looking to escape.
Kurosawa is desperately trying to improve his position but Washburn has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Washburn lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kurosawa hang on?
Kurosawa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Washburn cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Washburn working Kurosawa over with strikes here.
Kurosawa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Kurosawa gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washburn with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Kurosawa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn throws a big elbow that misses.
Washburn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Washburn is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Kurosawa working for a triangle but Washburn defends it easily.
Washburn wants to control from the top but Kurosawa keeps moving.

Kurosawa pushes Washburn off and scrambles back to his feet.
Kurosawa missing with a left hand there. Washburn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn shoots and misses
and Kurosawa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kurosawa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Washburn circles away quickly and effectively.
Washburn misses with a takedown attempt
and Kurosawa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Washburn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kurosawa.
Kurosawa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kurosawa misses with a body kick.

Kurosawa closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoe Washburn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kurosawa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Akira Kurosawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Washburn avoids a kick to the body.
A low kick from Kurosawa is predictable there

and Washburn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Washburn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurosawa defends it well.
Kurosawa tries to kick Washburn off but Washburn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Washburn passes to side control.
Washburn trying to control the action but Kurosawa is working from the bottom.
Zoe Washburn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kurosawa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Washburn asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn scoring with punches and elbows.
Kurosawa is looking to reverse the position.
Kurosawa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Washburn is putting a hurting on Kurosawa here, landing some big shots from side control.

Washburn goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kurosawa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Washburn's guard! Nice work there by Kurosawa!
Kurosawa trying to control but Washburn is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa postures up.

Washburn has an active guard here but Kurosawa has managed to pass into half guard.
Washburn makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Washburn.
Kurosawa trying to control but Washburn is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Washburn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurosawa is one step ahead there.
Washburn keeping moving, preventing Kurosawa from controlling successfully.
Kurosawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Washburn is trying for a kimura here. Kurosawa looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Washburn wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zoe Washburn!
A victorious Zoe Washburn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.