PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bot Botanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Kurosawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurosawa has chosen War drums as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Botanovic
vs
Kurosawa

180 cm
26
175 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

173 cm
23
183 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

Golden Lilium
Golden Lilium

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bot Botanovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Akira Kurosawa!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurosawa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kurosawa takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Botanovic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kurosawa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kurosawa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bot Botanovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Botanovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kurosawa moves out of range as Botanovic throws a body kick.

Botanovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Botanovic throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Botanovic thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Botanovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurosawa is looking to escape.
Kurosawa avoids a series of strikes thrown by Botanovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurosawa is looking to escape.
Botanovic with good strikes from the mount here!
Botanovic controlling the position easily from mount.
Botanovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurosawa is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic working the ground and pound effectively.
Kurosawa tries to hold on but Botanovic postures up.
Botanovic breaks from Kurosawa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Botanovic tries to control but Kurosawa wriggling away.
Botanovic controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic can't control as he wanted to and Kurosawa manages to get the fight back to his half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bot Botanovic just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Botanovic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kurosawa's guard.
Kurosawa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Botanovic is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurosawa is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic is pulling down on Kurosawa's head. It's preventing any offense from Kurosawa, at least for the moment.
Botanovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bot Botanovic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Botanovic throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kurosawa counters with an inside leg kick.
Kurosawa tries to land a leg kick but Botanovic saw it coming and moves away.
Botanovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kurosawa pinned against the cage. Kurosawa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kurosawa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kurosawa tries to work over Botanovic's front leg with a kick but Botanovic checks it.
Botanovic moves out of range of the leg kick from Kurosawa.

Botanovic gets a clinch.
Kurosawa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Botanovic walks away with a smile on his face. Kurosawa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kurosawa tried to score with a low kick but Botanovic checks it.
Botanovic scoring well with a low kick there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Botanovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Botanovic throws a leg kick but Kurosawa sees it coming and moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kurosawa checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurosawa throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Botanovic counters with a good, hard body kick but Kurosawa shrugs it off.

Botanovic rushes Kurosawa and presses him up against the cage.
Botanovic looking to throw knees to the head but Kurosawa is blocking nicely.
Botanovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Botanovic throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kurosawa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Botanovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kurosawa blocks an elbow strike from Botanovic.
Kurosawa tries to pull guard but Botanovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Kurosawa drops back down to his feet.
Bot Botanovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akira Kurosawa.

Kurosawa jumps into guard, dragging Botanovic to the mat.

Kurosawa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Botanovic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Botanovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurosawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Botanovic stays in close to Kurosawa's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kurosawa is on top in guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Botanovic holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Botanovic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurosawa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kurosawa thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic keeping moving, preventing Kurosawa from controlling successfully.
Kurosawa postures up in Botanovic's guard and throws a big left but Botanovic blocks it.
Botanovic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kurosawa manages to get himself to full guard.
Botanovic pushes down on Kurosawa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Botanovic wants to control but Kurosawa is keeping him busy.
Kurosawa is trying to get back to full guard.
Kurosawa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurosawa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Botanovic scores with a couple of nice shots.
Botanovic is just content to waste time from the top position. Kurosawa takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Kurosawa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Botanovic defends it easily.
Kurosawa looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurosawa, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A solid leg kick lands there for Botanovic.
Botanovic is looking to slow Kurosawa down with leg kicks.

Botanovic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Botanovic trying to control the pace.
Botanovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurosawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Botanovic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kurosawa!
Botanovic breaks from Kurosawa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kurosawa avoids a series of strikes thrown by Botanovic.
Botanovic takes Kurosawa's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic keeps control of the position easily here as Kurosawa tries to buck him off.

Botanovic has got his arm under Kurosawa's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Kurosawa has spun round into Botanovic's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Botanovic wants to stand up but Kurosawa is controlling him.
Botanovic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Botanovic is really struggling to control Kurosawa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kurosawa won't allow Botanovic to sweep him here.
Botanovic manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kurosawa manages to get himself to full guard.
Botanovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurosawa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kurosawa is trying to keep Botanovic in close.

Botanovic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kurosawa dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Botanovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kurosawa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Botanovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Botanovic, not yet.
Kurosawa trying to control the position from guard on top but Botanovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Botanovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Botanovic controlling the position.
Kurosawa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Botanovic throws a leg kick but Kurosawa sees it coming and moves out of range.
A low kick from Kurosawa misses

and Botanovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Botanovic lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Botanovic.
Kurosawa avoiding damage as Botanovic throws knees to the body.
Botanovic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kurosawa avoids it.
Kurosawa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kurosawa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Botanovic walks away with a smile on his face. Kurosawa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kurosawa throws a low kick but Botanovic avoids it.
Botanovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kurosawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Botanovic shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kurosawa counters with a slapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bot Botanovic clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kurosawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good work by Kurosawa as he checks the leg kick.
Botanovic with a poor takedown
and Kurosawa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Botanovic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kurosawa's guard.
Kurosawa wants to improve his position but instead Botanovic has moved into half guard.
Botanovic wants to pass to mount but Kurosawa is defending the position.
Botanovic seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurosawa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Botanovic is looking to advance position but Kurosawa won't allow it.
Kurosawa is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurosawa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kurosawa keeping moving, preventing Botanovic from controlling successfully.
Botanovic looking to sit in guard and control but Kurosawa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Botanovic is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two 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.
Botanovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Bot Botanovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Botanovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Kurosawa drops back looking for a leg! Botanovic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Botanovic manages to kick Kurosawa off! Kurosawa jumps back into Botanovic's guard.
Botanovic is looking to stand up but Kurosawa isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kurosawa throws a leg kick
and Botanovic counters with a leg kick.
Botanovic with a poor takedown
and Kurosawa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Botanovic wants to clinch up but Kurosawa keeps it at a distance.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kurosawa checks a leg kick.
Kurosawa scores with a kick to the body.
Kurosawa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A low kick from Kurosawa is predictable there
and Botanovic finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kurosawa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic throws a leg kick
and Kurosawa counters with a slapping leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Botanovic wants to slow Kurosawa down by chopping away at his legs.
Kurosawa throws a leg kick that is checked
and Botanovic counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kurosawa's knee momentarily.

Botanovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kurosawa keeping full guard, as Botanovic tries to pass.
Botanovic looking to sit in guard and control but Kurosawa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Botanovic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Bot Botanovic will probably get the nod.
That's time! Botanovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kurosawa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kurosawa throws a leg kick
and Botanovic makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kurosawa throws a sloppy head kick and Botanovic moves out of range easily.
Botanovic blocks a head kick by Kurosawa.
Botanovic shoots in but no luck this time.
A head kick misses from Kurosawa.
Botanovic checks a leg kick nicely.
Botanovic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kurosawa checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kurosawa throws a head kick but Botanovic moves out of range.
Kurosawa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kurosawa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Botanovic lands with a thumping leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Botanovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurosawa wants to land a leg kick but Botanovic is out of range.

Botanovic scores with a takedown into Kurosawa's guard.
Kurosawa is looking to sweep but instead, Botanovic has passed into half guard.
Botanovic wants to control but Kurosawa is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Botanovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Botanovic prevents Kurosawa from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Botanovic throws a leg kick but Kurosawa moved away.
Botanovic throws a leg kick but Kurosawa moved away.
Botanovic doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kurosawa makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bot Botanovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurosawa misses with a takedown attempt - Botanovic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Botanovic throws a leg kick which misses Kurosawa's front leg but catches the back leg as Kurosawa tries to avoid it.
Botanovic connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kurosawa keeps the fight on the outside.
Bot Botanovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Good work by Botanovic as he checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Kurosawa misses
and Botanovic counters with a thumping low kick.
Botanovic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kurosawa's sensitive parts.
Nice body kick there by Botanovic.

Botanovic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Botanovic is trying to control the action in half guard but Kurosawa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Akira Kurosawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic wants to pass to mount but Kurosawa is defending the position.
Botanovic slows the pace down in half guard.
Bot Botanovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kurosawa has hold of Botanovic's hands but Botanovic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bot Botanovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Botanovic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 50:45
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 50:45
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bot Botanovic!
Bot Botanovic retains his welterweight title!