PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daizen Kuroda (ranked 2295 p4p, 4007 weight class) and Phol Mfer (ranked 348 p4p, 533 weight class). Daizen Kuroda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuroda
vs
Mfer

182 cm
21
156
6 - 7 - 0

176 cm
18
177
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daizen Kuroda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Phol Mfer!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuroda tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mfer defends well and Kuroda ends up having to push Mfer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kuroda has been working on his balance at EFC Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Mfer.

Mfer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuroda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mfer circles away.
Kuroda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daizen Kuroda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mfer. Kuroda does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuroda goes for a double leg but Mfer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mfer continues to drive forward.
Kuroda is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mfer is defending well.
Kuroda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuroda has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mfer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuroda dives in and grabs Mfer's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mfer pushes down on Kuroda's head and hops out.
Mfer doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kuroda throws a big shot that misses.
Kuroda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Kuroda backs off Mfer throws a huge counter combo but Kuroda manages to avoid it all.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mfer looks to throw the jab but Kuroda is out of range.
Mfer staying out of range there.
Mfer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuroda.
Mfer just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuroda was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mfer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuroda.
Kuroda blocks a jab.
Mfer misses with a body shot.
Kuroda shoots in but no luck this time.
Mfer let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kuroda throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mfer counters with a left and a right that stings Kuroda.
Kuroda with a poor takedown
letting Mfer counter with a right hand.
Kuroda shoots in looking for a takedown but Mfer manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuroda's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Phol Mfer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda tries for a takedown but Mfer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kuroda throws a jab when Mfer was well out of range.
Mfer appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Kuroda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mfer sprawls well initially but Kuroda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mfer tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kuroda has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Kuroda is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mfer has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kuroda wants to control the pace but Mfer is squirming around nicely.

Kuroda looking for a guillotine from mount but Mfer is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda tries to control but Mfer wriggling away.

Kuroda is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mfer has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Mfer tries to lock up and control but Kuroda gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Kuroda has hold of Mfer's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mfer manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Mfer is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kuroda with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Mfer is squirming around, avoiding Kuroda's attempts to control the action.
Kuroda is really struggling to control Mfer but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Kuroda looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Mfer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phol Mfer will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mfer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuroda throws out the jab.
As Kuroda backs off Mfer throws a huge counter combo but Kuroda manages to avoid it all.
A big right from Mfer misses.
Kuroda wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kuroda slips under a jab from Mfer.

Kuroda scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mfer is doing well to control the position and prevent Kuroda from advancing to side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kuroda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mfer knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuroda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mfer is just riding it out for now. Kuroda eventually gives up the hold.
Mfer trying to control but Kuroda postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mfer controlling the position for now.

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

Kuroda wants to work for an arm triangle but Mfer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mfer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuroda is working away from the top position though.
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.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kuroda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mfer is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kuroda jumps into side control!

Kuroda is trying to get an arm triangle but Mfer is defending well.

Kuroda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mfer, who protects the arm well.
Mfer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuroda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mfer has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kuroda tries for a kimura but Mfer is defending well.
Kuroda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mfer keeps working.

Kuroda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Kuroda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mfer, who protects the arm well.

Kuroda tries for a kimura but Mfer is defending well.
Mfer tries to improve position but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mfer keeps trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mfer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kuroda trying to control the position but Mfer is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daizen Kuroda dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mfer leaves Kuroda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mfer throws a shot from downtown. Kuroda moves away and avoids it.
Kuroda ducks under a wild hook from Mfer.
Mfer throws a looping overhand right but Kuroda ducks down to avoid it.
Mfer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuroda.
A big left from Mfer misses.
Kuroda wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Donk. Kuroda catches Mfer right on the button with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuroda looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Kuroda drops back looking for a leg! Mfer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mfer manages to kick Kuroda off! Kuroda jumps back into Mfer's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mfer's guard.

Kuroda is working for a submission of some sort.
Mfer 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.
Mfer is in trouble now - Kuroda has advanced to mount!

Kuroda goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mfer turns into him and now he's in Kuroda's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuroda has his feet on Mfer's thighs here. He's pushed Mfer off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Mfer screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daizen Kuroda!
After the fight, Daizen Kuroda was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.