PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Kenny Smith (ranked 812 p4p, 24299 weight class) and Ichigho Kurosaki (ranked 88 p4p, 540 weight class). Smith comes to the ring accompanied by IS THIS LOVE. 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.

Smith
vs
Kurosaki

181 cm
38
187
34 - 13 - 1

186 cm
23
195
9 - 2 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichigho Kurosaki!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurosaki throws a head kick that misses.
Kurosaki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Catch Wrestling L.A. in the buildup to the fight.
Kurosaki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kurosaki is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Kurosaki avoids the body shot from Smith.
Kurosaki looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Kurosaki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A lazy left from Kurosaki finds it's target.
Smith throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kurosaki jabs Smith to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kurosaki blocks a head kick by Smith.
Smith misses with a body kick.
A big right from Kurosaki misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kurosaki is defending well for now.
Smith just leaning against Kurosaki, taking a breather.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith working aggressively here.
Kurosaki lands a body shot.
Kurosaki throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Kurosaki breaks the clinch.
Smith takes one on the button.

It looks like Kenny Smith has been cut.
Smith moves out of range as Kurosaki throws a body kick.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Kurosaki slips the punch.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Kurosaki forces Smith back against the ropes and clinches.
Kurosaki can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Kurosaki blocks it.

Kurosaki manages to break the clinch.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith slips under a jab from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki lets loose with a powerful body kick. Smith will feel that in the morning.
A jab from Smith misses.

Smith gets tackled into the ropes by Kurosaki. Kurosaki maintains the clinch.
A short right from Kurosaki.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kurosaki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Smith avoiding damage as Kurosaki throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling the action here for a moment.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.
Kurosaki lands a left hand.
Kurosaki displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the ropes.
Kurosaki has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Smith seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kurosaki can turn it around.

Kurosaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kurosaki is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Kurosaki pushes Smith back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kurosaki putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Smith in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kurosaki working hard to break the clinch.
Kurosaki tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ichigho Kurosaki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenny Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smith misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick from Kurosaki, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kurosaki misses with a head kick.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.
Kurosaki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith connects with a leg kick.
Kurosaki throws a nice outside leg kick.
Smith rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kurosaki counters with a one-two to the body.

Smith darts in and clinches Kurosaki up against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kurosaki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith's brow.
Smith working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kurosaki.
Kurosaki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kurosaki digs a right hand into Smith's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smith's gas tank.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kurosaki lands with a right to the head.
Kurosaki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Smith.
Smith pushes Kurosaki back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kurosaki backwards.
Kurosaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kurosaki lands a nice elbow.
Kenny Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kurosaki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kurosaki looking to stall.
A short right from Smith on the inside.
Kurosaki missing with knees to the body.
Kurosaki's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith misses with some punches.
Kurosaki is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kurosaki has his back to the ropes.
Kurosaki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith lands a hook that snaps the head of Kurosaki backwards.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Smith throws an elbow but misses.
Kurosaki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kurosaki presses Smith against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith throws a punch but it's blocked by Kurosaki.
Kurosaki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kurosaki struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kurosaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kurosaki lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from Kurosaki.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurosaki throws an elbow but it misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kurosaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Kurosaki trying to control the position but instead, Smith has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kurosaki into the ropes.
Kurosaki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kurosaki.
Smith looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Kurosaki.
Smith misses with a knee to the head.
Kurosaki makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kurosaki blocks it with crossed arms.
Kurosaki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ichigho Kurosaki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Kurosaki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith tries to work over Kurosaki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ichigho Kurosaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kenny Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kurosaki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Smith. Smith obviously looking to wear him down.
Kurosaki lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kurosaki cracks a nice hook into Smith's ribs.
Kurosaki is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kurosaki pushes Smith up against the ropes in a clinch.
Kurosaki with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Kurosaki.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Kurosaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kurosaki throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kurosaki clinches with his opponent.
Kurosaki content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kurosaki is working Smith over against the ropes.
Kurosaki lands an uppercut.
Smith misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smith as Kurosaki tries to tie him up.
Kurosaki leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Kurosaki wants to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Kurosaki just misses with a elbow thrown towards Smith's brow.
Smith dodges an elbow strike from Kurosaki.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kurosaki - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ichigho Kurosaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kurosaki is leaning against Smith and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kurosaki lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Smith wants to stall.
Smith digs a right hand into Kurosaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kurosaki's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurosaki manages to break the clinch.
Ichigho Kurosaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurosaki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kurosaki throws the left hand but Smith avoids the punch easily.
Kurosaki throws a body shot but no joy.

Smith clinches.
Smith softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Smith fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kurosaki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A body shot lands from Smith.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kurosaki backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Smith.
Smith lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Smith misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichigho Kurosaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kurosaki 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichigho Kurosaki!
Ichigho Kurosaki is the new middleweight champion!
Ichigho Kurosaki was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
Kenny Smith was interviewed post fight and said 'You bastard! You killed Kenny!'.