PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shin Ichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Verygood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verygood is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Bring Pain. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ichi
vs
Verygood

163 cm
20
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shin Ichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kurt Verygood!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verygood has closed the distance and engaged Ichi in a clinch.
Verygood lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ichi backwards.

Verygood pulls guard.
Verygood pulls Ichi in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Verygood has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Verygood.
Ichi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ichi trying to control but Verygood is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Verygood is pulling down on Ichi's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ichi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Verygood as he avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Verygood releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Ichi fails with the takedown.
Ichi tries to clinch up but Verygood circles away and keeps his distance.
Verygood looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Verygood, right into the meat.

Ichi clinches with his opponent.
Verygood leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ichi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ichi is trying to maintain a safe position but Verygood gets an underhook and turns Ichi into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Verygood.
Ichi takes a shot to the head.
Ichi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Verygood is keeping busy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Verygood creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Verygood swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Verygood scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Verygood jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ichi walks away with a smile on his face. Verygood gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ichi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Verygood.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ichi wants to clinch but Verygood slips to the side
and Verygood counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Shin Ichi has been cut.
Verygood throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Ichi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Verygood pulls Ichi in to control the position.
Yet more stalling tactics from Verygood.
Verygood is continuing to stall.
Ichi trying to control but Verygood is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verygood has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The adventures of Verygood the control monster continue. Boring.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ichi tries to clinch up.
Kurt Verygood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ichi wants to clinch up but Verygood keeps it at a distance.
Verygood tries to counter with a clinch but Ichi shakes him off and moves away.
Ichi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ichi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Verygood finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Verygood. No joy for Ichi on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Verygood dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shin Ichi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ichi defending well as Verygood loads up on a big left hand.
Ichi has his takedown stuffed
and Verygood counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ichi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Verygood connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Verygood throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Ichi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ichi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Verygood lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verygood throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Verygood on the inside.
Verygood fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ichi blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ichi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Verygood is trying to get back to half guard.
I wouldn't like to be where Verygood is right now.
Verygood felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Ichi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Verygood rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ichi's guard! Nice work there by Verygood!

Ichi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Verygood is aware though and is defending well.
Verygood content to stall in guard here.

Ichi working for submissions but it's allowed Verygood to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verygood trying to control the pace.
Verygood trying to pass the guard but Ichi defending well.

Ichi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verygood looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ichi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Verygood is working away from the top position though.
Verygood stalling.
Verygood has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four 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.
Ichi tries to get to full guard but Verygood has control of the leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ichi shoots and misses
and Verygood counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shin Ichi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ichi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verygood.
The crowd cheers as Verygood lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ichi doesn't seem phased though.
Ichi shoots in for a takedown but Verygood shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Verygood just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verygood lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ichi moves in looking to clinch but Verygood pushes him off.
Verygood swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ichi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Verygood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Shin Ichi's cut.
That's time! Ichi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Verygood looks to land a right hand but Ichi moved out of range.
Ichi avoids the body shot from Verygood.
Ichi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Verygood throws out a counter right but Ichi avoids it with no problem.
Verygood connects with a leg kick. Ichi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ichi doesn't manage to clinch there - Verygood circles away.
Ichi needs to keep his hands up - Verygood had a free shot at his head there.
Verygood cracks Ichi with an open hand slap.

Verygood gets tackled into the cage by Ichi. Ichi maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verygood lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ichi just leaning against Verygood, taking a breather.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Verygood.
Verygood lands with a light punch inside.

Shin Ichi's cut is getting worse.
Verygood lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verygood misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Verygood.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Verygood misses with a punch on the inside.
Verygood throws a head punch that misses.
Verygood struggles to land a body shot inside as Ichi controls his hands.
Verygood lands a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Verygood as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Verygood decides to pull guard.
Ichi looking to pass the guard.
Ichi trying to control but Verygood is working from the bottom.
Verygood wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shin Ichi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kurt Verygood is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verygood keeping moving, preventing Ichi from controlling successfully.
Verygood seems keen to control Ichi's posture.
Ichi trying to control the position from guard on top but Verygood is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verygood is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ichi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Ichi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Verygood holding on.
Verygood is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verygood wants to improve his position but Ichi is controlling well.
Verygood is controlling Ichi's trapped leg to prevent Ichi from advancing to side control.

Ichi wants to work for an arm triangle but Verygood is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Verygood is controlling Ichi's trapped leg to prevent Ichi from advancing to side control.
Ichi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Verygood keeps working.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verygood is looking for a sweep. Ichi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ichi wants to work for an arm triangle but Verygood is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Verygood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Verygood winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Verygood!