PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kadas Kurapanu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asato Mikio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kurapanu
vs
Mikio

165 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

168 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kadas Kurapanu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Asato Mikio!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikio misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Kurapanu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mikio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mikio.
Kurapanu preventing the sweep.
Kurapanu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kurapanu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kurapanu postures up and lands a big shot to Mikio's brow.
Mikio is trying to control the position but Kurapanu postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kurapanu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Mikio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kurapanu definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kurapanu is in close to Mikio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Kurapanu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mikio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikio passes Kurapanu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kurapanu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mikio missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kurapanu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mikio on the ground.
Kurapanu is looking for a sweep. Mikio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mikio trying to control the pace.
Kurapanu wants to improve his position but Mikio is controlling well.
Mikio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurapanu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two 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.
Kurapanu is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mikio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kurapanu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kurapanu is looking for a sweep. Mikio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kurapanu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurapanu is looking to improve his position.
Kurapanu punching from the bottom.
Kurapanu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mikio is working away from the top position though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Asato Mikio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Mikio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mikio misses with a hook

and Kurapanu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mikio won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurapanu is trying to get an arm triangle but Mikio is defending well.

Kurapanu wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mikio, who protects the arm well.
Mikio sneaks back into half guard.

Kurapanu 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.
Mikio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kurapanu is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kurapanu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mikio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mikio.

Kurapanu drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mikio looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mikio looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mikio!

Kurapanu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mikio wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kadas Kurapanu will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mikio throws a body shot but no joy.
Mikio connects with the punch.
A jab from Kurapanu misses.
Mikio just misses with a punch to the body.
Mikio misses with a right hand

and Kurapanu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kurapanu.
Kurapanu wants to control from the top but Mikio keeps moving.
Mikio wants to sweep but no luck.
Kurapanu cracks Mikio with a solid left hand.
Mikio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurapanu scoring with some ground and pound.
Kurapanu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mikio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kurapanu manages to get himself to full guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurapanu trying to strike off his back.

Kurapanu has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mikio is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kurapanu.

Mikio tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurapanu wants to control but Mikio postures up.
Kurapanu is looking to regain half guard here but Mikio keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kurapanu is working hard here to advance position.
Kurapanu can't do much from the bottom here.

Mikio tries for a kimura but Kurapanu is defending well.
Kadas Kurapanu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kurapanu is looking to reverse the position.
Mikio tries to advance to mount but Kurapanu denies him.
Kurapanu wants to control but Mikio postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurapanu tries to bench press Mikio off him but Mikio keeps the position.
Mikio sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kurapanu is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Mikio has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mikio rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kurapanu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mikio's guard.
Kurapanu lands a couple of digs.
Mikio is trying to keep Kurapanu in close.
Mikio is breathing heavily.
Kurapanu is in close to Mikio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kurapanu postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kurapanu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kurapanu with a nice head shot there.
Kurapanu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mikio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurapanu working some strikes from top position.

Kurapanu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mikio manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kurapanu has Mikio in his guard.

Kurapanu working for submissions but it's allowed Mikio to get 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!
Kurapanu is trying to stand up here but Mikio is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mikio wants to control but Kurapanu is keeping him busy.
Mikio lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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 Kadas Kurapanu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mikio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mikio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kurapanu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mikio won't be happy with that.

Kurapanu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kurapanu working the body and head with strikes.
Kurapanu is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mikio will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Mikio wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurapanu is looking to take a break and control but Mikio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Mikio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurapanu lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mikio down.
Mikio regains half guard.

Kurapanu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mikio doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kurapanu.

Kurapanu is working for a submission of some sort.
Kurapanu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mikio is defending against the submission attempts here by Kurapanu.
Kurapanu wants to control but Mikio is keeping him busy.
Mikio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kurapanu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kurapanu's back!
Kurapanu tries to break free.
Kurapanu trying to control the hands but Mikio breaks the grip.
Mikio missing with strikes from the back.
Kurapanu wants to control his opponent's hands but Mikio gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Kurapanu right now.
Kurapanu looking very determined here, making life difficult for Mikio.
Mikio keeps control of the position as Kurapanu tries to break free.
Kadas Kurapanu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mikio is looking to control Kurapanu but Kurapanu is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Mikio working for a choke but Kurapanu is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikio tries to get the hooks in deep but Kurapanu pushed the leg off.
Kurapanu is really stuck here.
Kurapanu trying to control but not successfully.
Kurapanu is trying to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kurapanu is in bad spot here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Asato Mikio.
I think Kurapanu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kadas Kurapanu!
A very excited looking Kadas Kurapanu made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.