PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kuroda Atsushii (ranked 262 p4p, 34 weight class) and Daniel Larusso (ranked 252 p4p, 32 weight class). Larusso has chosen Glory of love as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Daniel Larusso was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Atsushii
vs
Larusso

172 cm
29
144 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

170 cm
38
144 lbs
43 - 25 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kuroda Atsushii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Larusso!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A leg kick checked by Larusso.
Atsushii lands a glancing blow to the side of Larusso's head.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Atsushii takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A big left from Larusso misses.
Larusso avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Atsushii thuds a left hand into Larusso's body.
Larusso connects with a good right hand that stumbles Atsushii. Atsushii circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Larusso misses with a left hand
and Atsushii counters with a slapping leg kick.
Larusso explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Crunch! Larusso slams his shin into Atsushii's torso.
Atsushii stuns Larusso with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Larusso swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Larusso misses the jab.
Atsushii tried to counter with a leg kick but Larusso avoided it.
Atsushii misses the shot to the body.
Larusso looks to score with a jab to the body but Atsushii is just out of range.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Larusso will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Larusso misses with a head kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Atsushii misses the target.
Larusso swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atsushii moves out of range of the leg kick from Larusso.
Larusso defending well as Atsushii loads up on a big left hand.
Larusso connects with a solid leg kick.
Larusso misses with a low kick as Atsushii jumps back.
Atsushii throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Atsushii connects with a body shot that sends Larusso's belly button to the back.
Larusso throws a leg kick but Atsushii sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A jab from Atsushii misses.
Nice cross by Larusso.
Good work by Larusso as he checks the leg kick.
Larusso needs to keep his hands up - Atsushii had a free shot at his head there.
Atsushii has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Larusso finds it's way round the side to connect with Atsushii's head.
Larusso checks the leg kick nicely there.
Daniel Larusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larusso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Atsushii sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Larusso.
A little feinted left hand from Atsushii on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Larusso throws the kick towards the body but Atsushii avoids it.
An attempted straight right counter from Atsushii misses the target.
Larusso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Larusso throws a looping overhand right but Atsushii ducks down to avoid it.
Larusso connects with a looping right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Atsushii swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atsushii just misses with a punch to the body.
Larusso lands with a thumping leg kick.
Atsushii avoids a kick to the body.
Larusso throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A clash of legs there as Larusso blocks the low kick.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Larusso checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Atsushii tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Atsushii fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Larusso checks it well.
Larusso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Atsushii thuds a left hand into Larusso's body.
Atsushii throws a body shot but no joy.
Larusso explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Larusso checks the leg kick nicely there.
Atsushii misses with a two punch combination.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Larusso.
Larusso throws a body kick that misses
and Atsushii counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Larusso lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larusso throws the left hand but Atsushii avoids the punch easily.
Atsushii swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Atsushii misses with a leg kick.
Larusso scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Atsushii doesn't seem bothered though.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Larusso goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Larusso attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Larusso lands a nice shot that snaps Atsushii's head back.
Atsushii misses with a body shot.
Larusso replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Atsushii blocks it well.
Atsushii throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Atsushii moves out of range of the body kick from Larusso.
Atsushii drops his hands momentarily and Larusso takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Larusso throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Larusso looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Larusso cracks the inside of Atsushii's front leg.
Larusso lands a nice shot to the body.
Larusso tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice defenses there by Larusso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larusso throws a poor cross that misses
and Atsushii counters with an inside leg kick.
Larusso throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushii takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Atsushii throws a hook but Larusso avoids it easily.
Larusso only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Larusso takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Atsushii throws a quick inside leg kick.
Larusso misses with an uppercut.
Larusso swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Atsushii avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Larusso throws a jab but it's blocked by Atsushii.
Larusso looks to land a body kick but Atsushii moved away.
Larusso lands a glancing blow to the side of Atsushii's head.
Atsushii buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A big left from Larusso misses.
Atsushii throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atsushii defending well as Larusso loads up on a big left hand.
Good shot there by Larusso.
That kick from Atsushii tenderised Larusso's leg. Larusso is trying to keep his angry face on.
Atsushii on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Larusso getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Larusso dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Larusso throws a hook but Atsushii avoids it easily.
Larusso thows a body kick. Atsushii tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Larusso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larusso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Atsushii lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Atsushii stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Larusso.
Atsushii tries to score with a low kick but Larusso moves his leg out of the way.
Larusso connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Atsushii lands a front kick.
Larusso takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Larusso takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Larusso misses with a low kick.
Atsushii is looking to counter with a body kick.
Larusso is looking to land body kicks.
Atsushii swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Larusso.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larusso throws a hook but Atsushii avoids it easily.
Atsushii fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Larusso is out of range.
Atsushii throws a leg kick but Larusso sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Daniel Larusso seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larusso scores with a nice head shot.
Larusso wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Atsushii scores with a sloppy right hand. Larusso should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larusso throws a leg kick which misses Atsushii's front leg but catches the back leg as Atsushii tries to avoid it.
Atsushii checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A big left from Atsushii misses.
Atsushii tries a head kick but it misses.
Larusso let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The fighters circle momentarily. Larusso darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Larusso lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Atsushii has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Atsushii and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Larusso looks for the body kick but Atsushii saw that one coming.
A quick step to the side and Atsushii tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Larusso looks to land a left hand but Atsushii moved out of range nicely.
Larusso walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Atsushii checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The crowd cheers as Atsushii lands an impressive looking overhand right. Larusso doesn't seem phased though.
Atsushii throws a quick inside leg kick.
Atsushii takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Larusso throws a body kick that misses.
Atsushii will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Atsushii misses with a leg kick.
Larusso thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Atsushii misses.
Atsushii throws a body punch but Larusso moves out of range.
Larusso throws out a leg kick but Atsushii moves out of range and Larusso only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Larusso finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A jab from Larusso misses.
Atsushii looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Larusso misses with an uppercut
and Atsushii counters with an inside leg kick.
Atsushii defending well as Larusso loads up on a big left hand.
Larusso darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Atsushii works Larusso's body with a nice hook.
Larusso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larusso avoids the body shot from Atsushii.
Larusso appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Larusso throws a head kick that misses.
Atsushii moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Atsushii lands a nice shot to the body.
Larusso's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Larusso is looking to chop away at Atsushii's legs.
A slow jab from Larusso misses its intended target.
Larusso throws a leg kick which misses Atsushii's front leg but catches the back leg as Atsushii tries to avoid it.
Atsushii chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Larusso can pounce on him.
Larusso throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Larusso scores with a decent looking hook.
Atsushii throws the left hand but Larusso avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Larusso.
Larusso comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Larusso swings for the body but Atsushii moves out of range.
Larusso scores with a jab. Atsushii acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Larusso lands with a cross.
Larusso throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Atsushii counters with a straight right hand.
Atsushii finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Atsushii fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Larusso.
Larusso goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Larusso tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Atsushii sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Larusso throws a chopping leg kick but Atsushii manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Atsushii looks for the body kick but Larusso saw that one coming.
Atsushii uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Larusso.
Atsushii tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Larusso just misses with a punch to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larusso throws a lazy head kick
and Atsushii counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larusso tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Atsushii is able to avoid easily.
Good work by Atsushii as he checks the leg kick.
Atsushii keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Larusso scores with a kick to the midsection.
Larusso is looking to land body kicks.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Atsushii checks a leg kick.
Larusso lands with a shot to the body.
Atsushii ducks under a wild hook from Larusso.
Nice defenses there by Larusso.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Atsushii, right into the meat.
Atsushii lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larusso keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Larusso throws a chopping leg kick but Atsushii manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Atsushii buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atsushii steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Larusso.
Atsushii connects with a nice looking jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Atsushii misses the target.
Larusso scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Larusso will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Atsushii throws out a leg kick but Larusso moves out of range and Atsushii only half commits.
Larusso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Atsushii.
Atsushii lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Larusso checks the leg kick.
Larusso cracks the inside of Atsushii's front leg.
Larusso scores with a body shot.
Atsushii blocks the body kick.
Larusso misses the body punch
letting Atsushii counter with a right hand.
Larusso takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Atsushii cracks Larusso with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Larusso lands a nice hook to Atsushii's body. Atsushii takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Both fighters circling a little - Atsushii finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Larusso misses with a low kick as Atsushii jumps back.
Atsushii walks into a left hand.
Atsushii misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atsushii moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Atsushii jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Atsushii throws a low kick but Larusso moves out of range easily.
Atsushii tries to land a leg kick but Larusso saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Atsushii there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Larusso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Atsushii.
Larusso only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Larusso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Atsushii.
Larusso moves out of range of the leg kick from Atsushii.
Larusso throws a quick inside leg kick.
Atsushii connects with a high kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Atsushii.
Larusso on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice straight punches there by Larusso. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Larusso.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Larusso, as that shot connected.
Larusso throws a looping overhand right but Atsushii ducks down to avoid it.
Larusso misses with an uppercut. Atsushii saw that one coming.
Good exchange - Atsushii coming out on top.
Larusso lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Atsushii just misses with a punch to the body.
Atsushii cracks Larusso with an open hand slap.
Larusso throws a shot to the body.
Kuroda Atsushii has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larusso throws a head kick that Atsushii semi-blocks.
Larusso takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Atsushii lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Larusso misses with a body kick.
Atsushii chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Larusso works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Atsushii attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Larusso was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Atsushii finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Atsushii throws a front kick aimed at Larusso's knee but Larusso avoids it well.
Atsushii keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Atsushii throws a leg kick which misses Larusso's front leg but catches the back leg as Larusso tries to avoid it.
Larusso dips to his left and cracks Atsushii with an uppercut!
Larusso checks the leg kick.
Larusso takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Larusso is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Atsushii.
Atsushii jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Atsushii throws a jab but it's blocked by Larusso.
Atsushii has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Larusso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Larusso.
Atsushii slips a straight right by Larusso.
Atsushii misses with a low kick as Larusso jumps back.
Atsushii walks forward, straight into a front kick from Larusso.
Larusso is looking to score with low kicks.
Larusso shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Atsushii walks into a straight right hand from Larusso.
Larusso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Atsushii.
Atsushii fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Atsushii checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Larusso scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A head kick misses from Larusso.
Larusso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Atsushii feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Larusso's calf.
Atsushii dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Larusso. That did some damage!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atsushii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Larusso.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushii will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheers as Larusso lands an impressive looking overhand right. Atsushii doesn't seem phased though.
Atsushii moves away from the strike by Larusso.
Jab, jab by Larusso - just one landing.
Atsushii misses with a wild body shot.
Atsushii just misses with a punch to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Atsushii lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Larusso has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Larusso and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Atsushii pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Larusso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some bone on bone action there as Larusso checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Daniel Larusso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Atsushii swings for the body but Larusso moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atsushii takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Atsushii takes a swing at Larusso's ribcage but misses.
Atsushii takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Larusso misses with a leg kick.

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 Kuroda Atsushii.
Well Larusso 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Daniel Larusso!
An out of breath and clearly excited Daniel Larusso thanked Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).