PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Waru Kuzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tokugawa Kazunari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kazunari has chosen The Seeker as his entrance music. Waru Kuzuri could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tokugawa Kazunari's chin.

Kuzuri
vs
Kazunari

163 cm
30
135 lbs
35 - 11 - 0

160 cm
31
143 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Hellbent

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 35 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waru Kuzuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tokugawa Kazunari!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzuri misses with a head kick.
Kazunari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuzuri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kazunari tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuzuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzuri tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kazunari fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kazunari throws a sloppy head kick and Kuzuri moves out of range easily.
Good exchange - Kazunari coming out on top.
Kuzuri lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kuzuri swings widly with a right hand

and Kazunari counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kazunari.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuzuri looking to control.
Kazunari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kuzuri has his foot on Kazunari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kazunari works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuzuri keeping moving, preventing Kazunari from controlling successfully.
Kazunari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuzuri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kazunari wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzuri is trying to keep Kazunari in close.
Kuzuri has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kazunari has passed into side control.
Kazunari in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kuzuri sneaks back into half guard.
Kuzuri wants to control but Kazunari is keeping busy.
Kazunari trying to control the action but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.
Kuzuri tries to roll over but Kazunari keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari is pressing down on Kuzuri's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kuzuri is holding on for now.
Kuzuri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kazunari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kazunari's back!
Kazunari tries to escape the position.

Kuzuri looking for the choke but no joy.
Kuzuri doesn't have the hooks in and Kazunari manages to turn into his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuzuri has momentary wrist control but Kazunari slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuzuri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kazunari!
Kazunari sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kuzuri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kazunari is looking for a sweep. Kuzuri is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kazunari looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuzuri tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kazunari knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuzuri is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kazunari doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kuzuri.
Kazunari is not content to let Kuzuri control the position.
Kuzuri is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kazunari is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuzuri wants to pass the guard but Kazunari is defending well.
Kuzuri trying to control the action but Kazunari is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tokugawa Kazunari will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kuzuri lands with a nice body punch.
Kazunari takes a swing at Kuzuri's ribcage but misses.
Kazunari checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kuzuri walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kazunari.
Kuzuri slaps away a takedown attempt from Kazunari, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuzuri scores with a jab to the body.
Kazunari connects with an inside leg kick.
Kuzuri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kuzuri lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kuzuri scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kuzuri throws a body punch but Kazunari moves out of range.
Kuzuri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kazunari.

Kazunari shoots in and gets a takedown into Kuzuri's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzuri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazunari trying to control but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.
Kuzuri is pulling down on Kazunari's head to control his posture.
Kazunari trying to control but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.

Kuzuri working for submissions but it's allowed Kazunari to get to half guard.
Kuzuri is looking to control Kazunari's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kuzuri avoid being mounted?
Kazunari throwing shots but Kuzuri is blocking nicely.
Kuzuri slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Kuzuri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tokugawa Kazunari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuzuri looking to control but Kazunari passes into half guard.
Kuzuri is looking to control Kazunari's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kuzuri avoid being mounted?
Kazunari missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kazunari trying to control the action but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.
Kazunari is stalling here. Kuzuri is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kazunari seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kuzuri has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kazunari is not content to let Kuzuri control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kuzuri pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Kuzuri is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kazunari has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Kuzuri goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kazunari turns into him and now he's in Kuzuri's guard.

Kuzuri looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kazunari passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kazunari frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kuzuri takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuzuri tries to reverse the position but Kazunari maintains control.
Kuzuri gets back to half guard.
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!
Kuzuri wants to control but Kazunari passes into side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Waru Kuzuri will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kazunari darts in looking for a takedown but Kuzuri gets double underhooks and turns Kazunari into the cage.
Kazunari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kazunari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kazunari.
Kazunari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kazunari can't find room to land a body shot as Kuzuri controls the action.
Kuzuri is looking to break free of the clinch but Kazunari has double underhooks.
Kuzuri taking a breather.
Kazunari lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri scores with a nice hook to the head.
A short uppercut from Kazunari.
Kazunari tries a body shot but Kuzuri blocks it.
Kuzuri misses with a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Kazunari.
Kuzuri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuzuri blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazunari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kazunari creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuzuri.
Kazunari tries a body shot but Kuzuri blocks it.
Kuzuri blocks a body shot from Kazunari.
Kazunari misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuzuri.
Kazunari misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuzuri lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kazunari backwards.
Kazunari can't find room to land a body shot as Kuzuri controls the action.
Kazunari misses with the head strike.
Kazunari scores with a shoulder strike.
Kuzuri lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kazunari misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kazunari lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kazunari misses with a body punch.

Kuzuri breaks the clinch.
That kick from Kazunari tenderised Kuzuri's leg. Kuzuri is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzuri jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kuzuri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kazunari moves away.
Tokugawa Kazunari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kazunari is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kuzuri.
Kazunari is looking to land body kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuzuri misses the target.
Kazunari connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuzuri's hands.
Kuzuri lands a body shot.
Kazunari throws a hook but Kuzuri avoids it easily.
Kuzuri uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kazunari has time to react.
Kuzuri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kazunari was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuzuri.

Kazunari fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuzuri, pushing him back against the cage.
Kazunari has a couple of punches blocked by Kuzuri.
Kazunari lands with a right to the head.
Kuzuri scores with a shoulder strike.
Kazunari misses with a punch to the body.
Kuzuri is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri can't find room to land a body shot as Kazunari controls the action.
Kuzuri lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Kazunari.
Kuzuri scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kuzuri is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kazunari is keeping busy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuzuri.

Kuzuri breaks the clinch.
Kazunari moves in looking to clinch but Kuzuri pushes him off.
Kuzuri throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kazunari counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzuri is trying to control Kazunari's posture but Kazunari avoids it.
Kuzuri tries to buck Kazunari off but Kazunari is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazunari trying to control the position but Kuzuri is working away.
Kazunari working the head with strikes.
Kuzuri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kazunari throwing strikes but Kuzuri manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kuzuri controls the position.
Kuzuri trying to control the position but Kazunari is working away.
Kazunari tries to buck Kuzuri off but Kuzuri is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kazunari regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kuzuri's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tokugawa Kazunari.
I think Kazunari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tokugawa Kazunari!
During a confident post fight interview, Tokugawa Kazunari thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.