PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buff Bagwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Kurose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthew Kurose has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Buff Bagwell's chin.

Bagwell
vs
Kurose

178 cm
22
148 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
19
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Buff Bagwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Kurose!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurose circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kurose lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bagwell at a distance.

Kurose shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kurose punching from mount but Bagwell doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Bagwell is desperately trying to improve his position but Kurose has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kurose manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bagwell to take his back!
Kurose lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Kurose throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Kurose connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Bagwell to escape the position.
Bagwell breaks Kurose's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kurose striking from his own guard.

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

Kurose working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bagwell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bagwell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kurose looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bagwell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kurose trying to control the position.
Kurose is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bagwell passes Kurose's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bagwell is looking for a kimura but Kurose is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bagwell to get the leverage.

Bagwell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bagwell is breathing heavily.
Kurose is pressing down on Bagwell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bagwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kurose swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bagwell stands and throws Kurose's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kurose is looking to reverse the position.
Kurose is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bagwell is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kurose is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bagwell tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Bagwell has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurose struggling a bit here.
Kurose is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bagwell off and has taken his back!
Kurose misses with an elbow to the head.
Bagwell rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Kurose is looking for a kimura here.

Bagwell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kurose pulls his head out easily.
Bagwell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kurose trying to control from half guard but Bagwell is working away.

Kurose is looking for a kimura but Bagwell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kurose to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bagwell looking for submissions off his back.
Kurose is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kurose throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kurose pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bagwell misses with a takedown attempt

and Kurose decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bagwell's guard.

Bagwell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kurose gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bagwell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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

Bagwell is looking for a triangle but Kurose pushes his legs off easily.
Bagwell keeping moving, preventing Kurose from controlling successfully.
Kurose landing with the ground and pound.
Bagwell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bagwell is looking for a triangle but Kurose pushes his legs off easily.

Bagwell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bagwell looking for a guillotine here but Kurose defends easily.

Kurose drops back looking for a leg! Bagwell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bagwell manages to kick Kurose off! Kurose jumps back into Bagwell's guard.
Kurose wants to get up but he can't break Bagwell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Bagwell looking for a guillotine here but Kurose defends easily.

Bagwell working for a triangle but Kurose defends it easily.

Bagwell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kurose can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Kurose dominated that 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.

Bagwell tries to clinch up

and Kurose counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bagwell!
Kurose throwing strikes here but Bagwell is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bagwell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bagwell wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bagwell manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kurose's guard. Nice work there by Bagwell.
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.

Kurose seems to be working for a kimura but Bagwell defends the submission attempt.
Kurose is tying to control. Bagwell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bagwell works his way to full guard. Good work.

Bagwell is looking for a triangle but Kurose pushes his legs off easily.
Kurose is breathing heavily.
Bagwell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurose's guard.
Bagwell works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bagwell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kurose defends it well.
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!
Kurose tries to kick Bagwell off but Bagwell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurose is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kurose is trying to control but can't.
Bagwell frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kurose wants to hold on but Bagwell pushes him away.
Kurose regains half guard.
Kurose wants to improve his position but Bagwell is controlling well.
Bagwell trying to pass the guard but Kurose defending well.
Kurose is looking to control Bagwell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kurose avoid being mounted?

Bagwell is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kurose trying to control but Bagwell postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kurose manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurose trying to keep a closed guard but Bagwell is proving a slippery customer.
Bagwell prevents Kurose from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bagwell misses with a takedown

and Kurose counters with a single leg into guard. Bagwell didn't expect that.
Kurose must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kurose wants to pass the guard but Bagwell is keeping the position.

Bagwell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bagwell working for a triangle but Kurose defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bagwell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kurose stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bagwell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bagwell has his foot on Kurose's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurose works his way back into a safe position though.
Bagwell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kurose.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bagwell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bagwell has his foot on Kurose's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kurose works his way back into a safe position though.

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

Bagwell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bagwell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bagwell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kurose doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Bagwell is tightening it up a little... Kurose has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Kurose reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Kurose taps out! nice BJJ there by Bagwell!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Buff Bagwell!