PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saki Rojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kurosawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kurosawa's choice of entrance music: Dream Theme Song. 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.

Rojo
vs
Kurosawa

185 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
20
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Saki Rojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Kurosawa!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rojo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rojo is defended easily by Kurosawa.

Rojo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kurosawa gets back to half guard.
Rojo trying to control the action but Kurosawa is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rojo wants to work for an arm triangle but Kurosawa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kurosawa trying to hold on to Rojo's head to control him but Rojo postures up.
Kurosawa regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurosawa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rojo defends it easily.
Rojo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rojo tries to stand but Kurosawa is controlling from the bottom.
Kurosawa can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rojo controls the pace.
Rojo trying to control but Kurosawa is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saki Rojo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kurosawa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rojo, pushing him back against the cage.
Rojo lands a nice shot to the body.

Kurosawa lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rojo trying to control from the bottom.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rojo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojo is pressing down on Kurosawa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rojo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kurosawa is one step ahead there.

Rojo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kurosawa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rojo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rojo wants to get back to his feet but Kurosawa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojo keeping moving, preventing Kurosawa from controlling successfully.
Kurosawa wants to stand but Rojo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

Rojo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kurosawa has picked Rojo up and slammed him! Rojo can't keep hold of the triangle and Kurosawa manages to pass to side control!
Rojo is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rojo is looking for a sweep.

Kurosawa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rojo gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saki Rojo 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.

Rojo shoots and misses
and Kurosawa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rojo thinking.
Rojo fails with a takedown attempt.

Kurosawa gets a clinch.

Kurosawa is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rojo can't fight it off and eventually Kurosawa manages to take the fight to the floor. Rojo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kurosawa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kurosawa looking to pass the guard.

Rojo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurosawa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kurosawa wants to pass the guard but Rojo is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurosawa has gone for a leg lock! Rojo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kurosawa's guard.

Kurosawa working for a triangle but Rojo defends it easily.
Kurosawa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kurosawa is breathing heavily.
Rojo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurosawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kurosawa is trying to keep Rojo in close.
Rojo wants to control from the top but Kurosawa keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Saki Rojo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rojo looks for a takedown but Kurosawa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saki Rojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rojo tries for a takedown but Kurosawa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Kurosawa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa keeping full guard, as Rojo tries to pass.

Kurosawa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rojo wants to stand but Kurosawa is controlling his posture from full guard.

Kurosawa is working an open guard so Rojo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojo closes the distance and clinches up with Kurosawa, looking for a takedown. Rojo pushes Kurosawa against the cage but Kurosawa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rojo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kurosawa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rojo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Saki Rojo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rojo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kurosawa throws a right hand that Rojo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rojo also avoids with ease.
Rojo shoots in looking for a takedown. Kurosawa tries to sprawl out of it but Rojo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kurosawa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kurosawa has managed to clinch.

Kurosawa has Rojo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kurosawa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rojo tumbling to the mat - Kurosawa dives into Rojo's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kurosawa working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kurosawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rojo misses with a takedown attempt
and Kurosawa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Kurosawa moves into range and clinches up with Rojo.
Rojo wants to get back to striking at distance but Kurosawa won't allow it.

Rojo has hold of one of Kurosawa's legs. Kurosawa is fighting the takedown attempt but Rojo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kurosawa working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Akira Kurosawa was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kurosawa looks to score with a jab to the body but Rojo is just out of range.
Kurosawa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rojo.
Rojo shoots in and drives through. Kurosawa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saki Rojo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rojo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rojo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rojo swings for the body but Kurosawa moves out of range.

Kurosawa drives through and clinches with Rojo against the cage.

Rojo wants the takedown. Kurosawa is fighting it off but Rojo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kurosawa's guard against the cage.

Rojo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kurosawa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rojo has Kurosawa in his guard.
Kurosawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa tries to free his leg and advance position but Rojo is retaining full guard.
Rojo keeping moving, preventing Kurosawa from controlling successfully.

Rojo is looking for a triangle but Kurosawa pushes his legs off easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kurosawa trying to control but Rojo is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akira Kurosawa hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rojo shoots and misses

and Kurosawa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rojo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa passes into half guard.

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

Kurosawa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rojo sees it coming and defends easily.

Kurosawa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rojo is trying to maintain the position but Kurosawa is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojo wants to get back to his feet.
Rojo trying to control from the bottom.

Rojo is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurosawa.
Rojo wants to control but Kurosawa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kurosawa stops Rojo from getting back to his feet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Kurosawa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurosawa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kurosawa!
As Akira Kurosawa got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: BOOM! HEADSHOT'.