PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ono Kuronoa (ranked 4575 p4p, 3033 weight class) and Cicero Verus (ranked 479 p4p, 374 weight class). The key to victory for Ono Kuronoa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kuronoa
vs
Verus

150 cm
40
130
13 - 20 - 1

175 cm
40
156
22 - 20 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ono Kuronoa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cicero Verus!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuronoa scores with a leg kick.

Verus fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kuronoa sprawls well initially but Verus persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Verus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kuronoa is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Crapollas Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Verus is thwarting Kuronoa's attempts to control the position.
Kuronoa is looking for a sweep. Verus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verus scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Verus is thwarting Kuronoa's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verus tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kuronoa controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verus is looking to take a break and control but Kuronoa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Verus wants to get back to his feet.
Kuronoa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kuronoa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Verus keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kuronoa trying to control but Verus postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kuronoa scores with a hook to the body. Verus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Verus dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuronoa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuronoa seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Kuronoa clinches up against the cage.
Kuronoa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuronoa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Verus backwards.

Verus has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kuronoa regains guard immediately.

Kuronoa working for a triangle but Verus defends it easily.
Verus trying to control but Kuronoa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verus 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.

Kuronoa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Verus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Verus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Verus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kuronoa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Verus defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kuronoa has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Verus 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 Kuronoa.
Kuronoa is letting Verus control him for a moment.
Verus trying to control the action but Kuronoa is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuronoa wants to control but Verus postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cicero Verus dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kuronoa misses with a body kick.

Verus throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuronoa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Verus is in Kuronoa's guard.
Verus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kuronoa is trying to keep Verus in close.

Kuronoa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Verus is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verus trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuronoa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verus makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Verus is a very stocky fighter. Infact he's such a weird shape that he's almost like some sort of comedy character - it's hard to believe he's real.
Verus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kuronoa is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuronoa throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Verus escapes and throws Kuronoa's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The referee asks Verus politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Verus prefers to stall for the moment though.

Verus is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuronoa is defending well.
Kuronoa is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Verus's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kuronoa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Verus scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Kuronoa actively working from the bottom here.

Kuronoa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kuronoa actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Verus in particular looking to stall.
Verus trying to control from half guard but Kuronoa is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kuronoa clinches.
Verus prevents a body shot from Kuronoa.

Verus turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Verus working the ground and pound.
Kuronoa is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verus trying to control the position but Kuronoa is working away.
My spies in Gold Samurai's Gym inform me that Verus has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Verus throws an elbow but Kuronoa slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kuronoa trying his best to control but Verus has mounted him.
Verus unloading with bombs!
Verus wants to control the pace but Kuronoa is squirming around nicely.
Verus is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kuronoa can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuronoa tries to hold on but Verus postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuronoa can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cicero Verus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kuronoa tries to close the distance and clinch but Verus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kuronoa clinches up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuronoa.

Verus pulls guard.
Kuronoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Verus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verus managing to control the position.
Verus keeping moving, preventing Kuronoa from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuronoa tries to free his leg and advance position but Verus is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuronoa is one step ahead there.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Verus looking to score a takedown here. Kuronoa is defending well but Verus drives through and ends up in Kuronoa's guard.
Verus wants to control from the top but Kuronoa keeps moving.

Kuronoa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Verus tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuronoa is retaining full guard.
Ono Kuronoa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verus pushing down on Kuronoa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Verus tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kuronoa.
Kuronoa misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Cicero Verus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuronoa trying to control from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Verus with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Kuronoa as Verus shoots in.
Verus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuronoa.
Verus tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kuronoa scores with a push kick.
Verus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuronoa defends it nicely.
Kuronoa swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Verus.
Ono Kuronoa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cicero Verus.
Verus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cicero Verus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Verus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Verus trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuronoa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kuronoa is striking from the bottom but Verus uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Kuronoa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Verus pulls his head out easily.

Kuronoa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Verus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cicero Verus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Verus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cicero Verus!