PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shuta Kurota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Saaim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kurota
vs
Saaim

176 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
187 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shuta Kurota!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, CJ Saaim!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saaim clinches up with Kurota and pushes him back against the cage.
Kurota working Saaim over with knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
We've been informed that Saaim has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kurota crunches a lovely knee into Saaim's ribcage.
Saaim looks winded!
Kurota crunches a lovely knee into Saaim's ribcage.
Kurota tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kurota landing knees to the body.
Kurota lands a nice knee to the body.
Saaim takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from Kurota.
Kurota crunches a lovely knee into Saaim's ribcage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurota throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saaim blocks it with crossed arms.
Kurota landing knees to the body.
Kurota scores a nice knee to the body.
Kurota using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kurota working Saaim over with knees to the body.
Kurota using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Kurota.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurota trying to land knees to the body.
Saaim takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kurota crunches a lovely knee into Saaim's ribcage.
Kurota throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kurota obliges.
Kurota working Saaim over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Kurota.
Kurota scores with a knee to the head.
Kurota tries a knee to the head but Saaim blocks it.
Kurota landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kurota putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saaim in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kurota scores with a knee to the head.
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!
Kurota landing knees to the body.
Kurota unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saaim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Saaim takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurota missing with knees to the body.
Kurota tries to land knees in the clinch but Saaim avoids the damage to the body.
Kurota has Saaim pressed against the cage, preventing Saaim from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Saaim is trying to stall.
Kurota connects with a knee to the head.
Saaim tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kurota's elbow.
Kurota lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Saaim is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kurota is defending well.
Saaim wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kurota working Saaim over with knees to the body.
Kurota landing knees to the head.

Kurota escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kurota fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Saaim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurota scores with a push kick.
Shuta Kurota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurota throws a nice inside leg kick.

Kurota closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Saaim's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kurota's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saaim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kurota makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kurota has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kurota has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Saaim is proving hard to escape from.
Kurota throws a strike but Saaim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Saaim throws a big elbow that misses.
Saaim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Saaim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kurota looking for a sweep. Not yet Kurota, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurota wants to stand and escape but Saaim is having none of it.
Saaim pushing down on Kurota's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Saaim is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Saaim is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saaim is thwarting Kurota's attempts to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurota is concentrating on defense, preventing Saaim from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shuta Kurota dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kurota lands a head kick. Saaim smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kurota is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saaim can do to turn this around?
Saaim avoids a kick to the body.
Saaim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurota manages to avoid it.
As Saaim tries to get set, Kurota tries to push him back and clinch up but Saaim manages to avoid the attempt.
Saaim takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kurota keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Saaim tries to get set, Kurota tries to push him back and clinch up but Saaim manages to avoid the attempt.
Saaim looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kurota scores with a head kick.
Kurota scores with a leg kick.
Saaim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Saaim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saaim misses with a wild body shot.
As Saaim tries to get set, Kurota tries to push him back and clinch up but Saaim manages to avoid the attempt.
Saaim avoids the head kick by Kurota.
Saaim throws a counter combo.
Kurota doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Saaim fails to land with a series of punches.
Shuta Kurota is winning the standup battle so far.

Kurota has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurota lands a good knee to the midsection. Saaim won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kurota.
Saaim is breathing heavily.
Saaim takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kurota connects with a knee to the head.
Kurota scores with a knee to the head.
Kurota lands a knee to the head.
Kurota using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saaim has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kurota is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saaim gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kurota with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saaim managing to block the knees to the body from Kurota.
Kurota tries a knee to the head but Saaim blocks it.

Saaim tightens his grip and picks Kurota up, before dumping him to the ground. Kurota manages to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Saaim controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kurota is looking to stand up but Saaim isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurota working a defensive guard here.
Kurota wants to stand up but Saaim is controlling him.
Kurota wants to sweep but no luck.
Saaim wants to control from the top but Kurota keeps moving.
Kurota can't keep his opponent in guard - Saaim advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kurota is trying to control but Saaim passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saaim has an Americana. Kurota didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Saaim is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Saaim hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). CJ Saaim!