PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Kurose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthew Kurose told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pukki
vs
Kurose

170 cm
23
146 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

176 cm
24
143 lbs
9 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raimo Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Kurose!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurose fails with the takedown.
Pukki is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pukki slaps away a takedown attempt from Kurose, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kurose closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kurose lands in his opponent's guard.
Kurose preventing the sweep.
Kurose thows a big elbow that misses.
Pukki is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Kurose avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kurose with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurose stopping the sweep attempt from Pukki.

Pukki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kurose is aware though and is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pukki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kurose checks it well.
Pukki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kurose.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Kurose.
Pukki stuffs the takedown.
Kurose closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pukki circles away.
Pukki bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Pukki as Kurose shoots in.
Kurose shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pukki pinned against the cage. Pukki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

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.
Kurose walks into a straight right hand from Pukki.
Pukki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kurose looks gassed!

Pukki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kurose's half guard.
Kurose trying to control from the bottom.
Pukki wants to pass the guard but Kurose is defending well.
Kurose is looking to control Pukki's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurose avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pukki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kurose defending well though.
Kurose keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pukki seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pukki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kurose is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pukki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurose is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Pukki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kurose has managed to free his arm - good work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kurose throws a leg kick
and Pukki counters with a nice uppercut.
Kurose tries for a takedown but Pukki circles away easily

and Pukki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kurose taking some punishment here, with Pukki in his half guard.
Kurose is looking to improve his position.
Pukki stalling away here and it's allowed Kurose to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Kurose is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pukki 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pukki looking to sit in guard and control but Kurose gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kurose takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pukki throws a big shot that misses.
Pukki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kurose tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pukki counters with a single leg into guard. Kurose didn't expect that.
Pukki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kurose can't do much from the bottom here.
Pukki laying and praying for a moment but Kurose takes advantage and regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose is looking for a sweep. Pukki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kurose has a hand on Pukki's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Pukki takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pukki landing punches.
Kurose is looking to improve his position but Pukki isn't that keen on the idea.
Pukki unloading with bombs!
Raimo Pukki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pukki is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kurose can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kurose sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kurose throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Pukki manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurose on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kurose taking a bit of punishment here - Pukki scoring with strikes.
Kurose is looking to regain half guard here but Pukki keeps moving and retains side control.
Pukki is looking to take a break and control but Kurose is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pukki landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pukki scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kurose to see if he's OK.
Kurose is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pukki off and has taken his back!

Kurose working for a choke but Pukki is defending well.

Kurose is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Pukki is defending well though. Kurose let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kurose's guard. Nice work there by Pukki.
Pukki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kurose is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pukki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pukki.
Pukki trying to control the position.
Kurose trying to control the position from guard on top but Pukki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pukki working for a triangle but Kurose defends it easily.
Pukki looking for a sweep. Not yet Pukki, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pukki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pukki is trying to control the position but Kurose postures up.
Kurose scoring with punches to the head and body.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kurose shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pukki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kurose's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kurose avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pukki throws and elbow that misses. Kurose uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pukki's guard. Nice move by Kurose!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kurose tries for a takedown but Pukki circles away easily
and Pukki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kurose slips under a jab.
Kurose doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pukki misses with a looping left.
Kurose misses with a takedown

and Pukki counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kurose's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kurose is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pukki distracts Kurose with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Pukki has gone for a leg lock! Kurose slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pukki's guard.

Pukki is looking for a triangle but Kurose pushes his legs off easily.
Kurose stands and throws Pukki's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Kurose is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Pukki is trying to escape and Kurose transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Pukki is forced to tap! Nice work there by Kurose! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matthew Kurose!