PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akisame Koetsuji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amir Verdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koetsuji comes to the cage accompanied by Monster. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koetsuji
vs
Verdum

172 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

[GTI] Divine Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akisame Koetsuji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Amir Verdum!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdum lands a leg kick that knocks Koetsuji off balance momentarily.
Koetsuji chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Verdum can pounce on him.

Koetsuji scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Koetsuji tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Koetsuji has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Verdum manages to work his way to half guard, despite Koetsuji's best efforts.

Koetsuji is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Verdum doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Koetsuji.
Verdum tries to roll over but Koetsuji keeps him under control.
Koetsuji thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Verdum's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verdum tries to get to full guard but Koetsuji has control of the leg.
Verdum moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koetsuji stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Verdum swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verdum keeping moving, preventing Koetsuji from controlling successfully.

Verdum working for a triangle but Koetsuji defends it easily.

Verdum working for a triangle but Koetsuji defends it easily.
Koetsuji is looking to stand up but Verdum won't let him.
Koetsuji won't allow Verdum to sweep him here.

Koetsuji drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koetsuji jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Koetsuji throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verdum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdum keeping full guard, as Koetsuji tries to pass.
Koetsuji postures up.

Verdum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Koetsuji defends it easily.
Koetsuji postures up in Verdum's guard and throws a big left but Verdum blocks it.

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

Verdum is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Koetsuji has his hands clasped together but Verdum extends an breaks Koetsuji's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Verdum.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Amir Verdum!
After the big win, Amir Verdum made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp (159.49 $150) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.