PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Musashi Kuroda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JB Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuroda comes to the cage accompanied by Master of Puppets. JB Costa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kuroda
vs
Costa

167 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

162 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

Hopkins Athletics

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musashi Kuroda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JB Costa!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Kuroda does no damage.
Kuroda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Costa checks a leg kick.
Costa moves out of range of the body kick from Kuroda.

Costa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Costa is working for a kimura but Kuroda is defending it quite comfortably.

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

Costa is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kuroda has managed to free his arm - good work.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda trying to hold on to Costa's head to control him but Costa postures up.

Costa is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuroda defends it well.

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

Costa seems to be looking for submissions.

Costa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kuroda is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa wants to free his trapped foot but Kuroda is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Costa seems to be working for a kimura but Kuroda defends the submission attempt.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kuroda wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.

Costa is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to pass to full mount but Kuroda defends it.

Costa is looking for a kimura here.

Costa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Costa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kuroda is defending against the submission attempts here by Costa.
Costa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuroda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuroda is pressing down on Costa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Costa has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kuroda is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Costa.
Kuroda landing strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costa is looking to reverse the position.
Kuroda working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JB Costa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice sprawl there from Kuroda as Costa shoots in.

Costa scores a takedown into full mount!

Costa moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kuroda has worked his arm free - good work by Kuroda!
Costa tries to advance to mount but Kuroda instead regains half guard.
Kuroda manages to get to full guard.

Costa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kuroda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Costa has managed to get both his arms back between Kuroda's legs - danger averted.
Kuroda is pulling down on Costa's head to control his posture.
JB Costa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Costa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuroda dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa working for a triangle but Kuroda defends it easily.
Kuroda trying to control but Costa is working from the bottom.
Kuroda lands a couple of elbows.

Costa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kuroda passes into half guard.
Kuroda trying to control the action but Costa is working from the bottom.
Costa tries to roll over but Kuroda keeps him under control.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Costa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Costa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Costa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kuroda trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuroda postures up and lands a big shot to Costa's brow.

Costa isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kuroda stacks Costa on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kuroda!
Costa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kuroda's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Costa is breathing heavily.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
Costa is not content to let Kuroda control the position.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Costa wants to improve his position but Kuroda is controlling well.
Costa is not content to let Kuroda control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costa tries to get to full guard but Kuroda has control of the leg.
Kuroda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Costa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

We're going to have a standup here because Musashi Kuroda wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Costa gets a double leg takedown into Kuroda's guard.

Costa drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuroda manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Costa has Kuroda in his guard.
Kuroda advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Costa is trying to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuroda is looking to take a break and control but Costa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuroda in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Musashi Kuroda will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Costa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kuroda looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
You can see the frustration on Kuroda's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Costa is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuroda is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Costa swings around for an armbar but Kuroda sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Costa's guard.
Kuroda trying to control the position from guard on top but Costa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Costa has an active guard here but Kuroda has managed to pass into half guard.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kuroda is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa with the active half guard here but Kuroda passes nicely into side control.
Costa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuroda connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Costa some visible discomfort.
Kuroda advances to mount.
Costa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Costa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kuroda passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Costa!
Kuroda moves to the back position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costa rolls, trying to escape but Kuroda keeps control of the position.
Kuroda wants to control but Costa is keeping busy.
Costa rolls, trying to escape but Kuroda keeps control of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A lull in the action here.
Costa tries to escape the position.
Costa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Costa is refusing to be controlled, as Kuroda sits in half guard.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuroda pulls his head out easily.
Costa is not content to let Kuroda control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Kuroda is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kuroda looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kuroda connects with a nice short shot to Costa's temple.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
Kuroda wants to take a breather but Costa is having none of it.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kuroda there.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
Costa is looking for a sweep. Kuroda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kuroda is looking for a kimura here.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuroda pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuroda is keen to just control but Costa is a slippery customer.

Kuroda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Musashi Kuroda.
I think Kuroda has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musashi Kuroda!
Our winner, Musashi Kuroda, 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.