PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Skap Hazard (ranked 5265 p4p, 0 weight class) and Minobu Kurita (ranked 5299 p4p, 525 weight class). Kurita has chosen Game of Thrones as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hazard
vs
Kurita

180 cm
31
176 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

170 cm
29
170 lbs
7 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Skap Hazard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Minobu Kurita!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Hazard thows a left - swing and a miss!
It seemed like Kurita was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hazard throws a big shot that misses.
Kurita swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice defenses there by Kurita.
Kurita uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hazard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hazard misses with a looping right.
Skap Hazard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hazard throws a lazy right hand but Kurita sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kurita walks into a jab.
Hazard misses with an uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hazard. Kurita does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kurita slips a straight right by Hazard.
Kurita's coach down at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kurita's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hazard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kurita sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kurita drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kurita takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A cross from Hazard lands.
Hazard connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurita ducks straight into an uppercut from Hazard and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Kurita manages to regain guard straight away.

Kurita is rocked!

It looks like Minobu Kurita has been cut.

Hazard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hazard swings widly with a right hand
enabling Kurita to counter with a crisp jab.
Hazard lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kurita is still on wobbly legs! Can Hazard finish him?
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!
Kurita uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hazard.
Kurita seems to have recovered his senses.
Kurita ducks under a wild hook from Hazard.
A little jabbing left from Kurita on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurita slips under a jab from Hazard.
Hazard scores with a nice strike.
Hazard cracks Kurita with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Kurita tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Hazard pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Kurita is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Skap Hazard!
A relieved looking Skap Hazard thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Minobu Kurita was interviewed post fight and said 'Sayonara'.