PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hitoiro Kokusho (ranked 4697 p4p, 4859 weight class) and Minowa Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 557 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kokusho
vs
Werdum

189 cm
22
190
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
195
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hitoiro Kokusho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Minowa Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Werdum shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Werdum seems to be looking for submissions.
Kokusho is looking to control Werdum's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kokusho avoid being mounted?
Werdum trying to control the action but Kokusho is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kokusho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Werdum on the ground.

Werdum seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kokusho looking for submissions off his back.
Werdum is pressing down on Kokusho's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kokusho is holding on for now.
Werdum trying to control the action but Kokusho is working from the bottom.
Kokusho is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Werdum is looking to advance position but Kokusho won't allow it.
Werdum trying to control the action but Kokusho is working from the bottom.
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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kokusho has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Werdum is working away from the top position though.
Werdum trying to mount his opponent but Kokusho defends it.
Werdum seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kokusho does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Werdum stalling away here and it's allowed Kokusho to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Werdum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kokusho keeping full guard, as Werdum tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokusho seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kokusho 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.
Kokusho keeping full guard, as Werdum tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kokusho fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Werdum.

Kokusho gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Werdum pushes down on Kokusho's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokusho won't allow Werdum to pass to mount.
Werdum is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Werdum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kokusho keeps working.

Werdum is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kokusho has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Werdum wants to stand up but Kokusho is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minowa Werdum 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.

Kokusho lets loose with a powerful body kick. Werdum will feel that in the morning.

Werdum looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kokusho manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Kokusho is trying hard to land a takedown here. Werdum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Werdum looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Werdum pushes down on Kokusho's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Werdum looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Werdum wants to pass the guard but Kokusho is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokusho is refusing to be controlled, as Werdum sits in half guard.

Werdum is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kokusho has managed to free his arm - good work.
Werdum wants to take a breather but Kokusho is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Werdum uses his free foot to push down on Kokusho's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kokusho.
Werdum fails to advance to Kokusho's back.
Werdum tries to control but Kokusho wriggling away.
Kokusho wants to control but Werdum is having none of it.
Werdum trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum thowing shots but they're missing.

Werdum jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kokusho is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kokusho and Werdum has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Werdum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kokusho keeps working.

Werdum working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kokusho is trying to control Werdum's posture but Werdum avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kokusho is looking for a sweep.
Kokusho is not content to let Werdum control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kokusho is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Minowa Werdum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kokusho closes the distance and clinches up with Werdum, looking for a takedown. Kokusho pushes Werdum against the cage but Werdum circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Werdum rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kokusho moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hitoiro Kokusho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kokusho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Werdum's waist but Werdum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kokusho off to one side.
Werdum looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Werdum fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kokusho throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Werdum's waist but Werdum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kokusho off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hitoiro Kokusho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kokusho misses with a two punch combination.
Werdum with the counter takedown but Kokusho avoids it easily.
Kokusho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Werdum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kokusho is trying hard to land a takedown here. Werdum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Werdum shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kokusho's guard.
Werdum advances position into side control!
Minowa Werdum has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Werdum advances to full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum looking to control but Kokusho is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Werdum wants to finish this one by submission but Kokusho is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Werdum.
Werdum landing strikes, looking to finish!
Werdum wants to control the pace but Kokusho is squirming around nicely.

Werdum has control of Kokusho's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kokusho regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Werdum wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokusho tries to reverse the position but Werdum maintains control.
Werdum wants to control the pace but Kokusho is squirming around nicely.

Werdum working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Werdum moves to the back position.

Werdum working for a choke but Kokusho is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Werdum has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Kokusho is defending well but eventually Werdum manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Kokusho has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Minowa Werdum!