PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Forsberg (ranked 2467 p4p, 3684 weight class) and Daizen Kuroda (ranked 289 p4p, 398 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Forsberg
vs
Kuroda

172 cm
26
155
6 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
156
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gustav Forsberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daizen Kuroda!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuroda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Forsberg circles away.
Kuroda fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Forsberg avoids it really well and circles away.
Kuroda fails with a takedown attempt.
Gustav Forsberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kuroda is defended easily by Forsberg.
Kuroda shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Forsberg but Forsberg pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Forsberg swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kuroda fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Forsberg misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuroda looks for a takedown but Forsberg sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Forsberg on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kuroda moves out of range of the strikes.
Kuroda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kuroda is defended easily by Forsberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda dives in and grabs Forsberg's left leg, looking for a takedown. Forsberg pushes down on Kuroda's head and hops out.
Daizen Kuroda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kuroda feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Forsberg has his foot on Kuroda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuroda works his way back into a safe position though.

Forsberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kuroda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kuroda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Forsberg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuroda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuroda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Forsberg seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Forsberg has his foot on Kuroda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuroda works his way back into a safe position though.
Forsberg is trying to keep Kuroda in close.
Kuroda trying to control but Forsberg is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forsberg controls Kuroda momentarily but Kuroda frees himself.
Kuroda won't allow Forsberg to sweep him here.

Kuroda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kuroda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kuroda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Forsberg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuroda's guard.

Kuroda working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Forsberg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Forsberg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Forsberg lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Forsberg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Forsberg stands up over Kuroda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Kuroda has his foot on Forsberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Forsberg works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Forsberg scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Forsberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Forsberg postures up and lands a big shot to Kuroda's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuroda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Forsberg postures up and lands a big shot to Kuroda's brow.
Forsberg sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kuroda's guard.

Kuroda actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuroda is refusing to be controlled, as Forsberg sits in half guard.

Forsberg is looking for a kimura here.

Forsberg is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Forsberg is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Forsberg works his foot free and advances to mount.
Forsberg in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Forsberg.

Kuroda defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Forsberg.
Kuroda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kuroda trying to hold on to Forsberg's head to control him but Forsberg postures up.
Kuroda manages to get to full 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!

Kuroda has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Forsberg can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Forsberg dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kuroda dives in and grabs Forsberg's left leg, looking for a takedown. Forsberg pushes down on Kuroda's head and hops out.
Forsberg stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuroda. Kuroda gets slowly back to his feet.

Kuroda shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Forsberg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuroda defends it easily.

Forsberg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuroda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Forsberg is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Forsberg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Forsberg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kuroda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Forsberg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Forsberg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuroda is aware though and is defending well.
Kuroda passes Forsberg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kuroda trying to control from half guard but Forsberg is working away.

Forsberg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kuroda seems to be working for a kimura but Forsberg defends the submission attempt.

Kuroda 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.

Kuroda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kuroda is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forsberg gets full guard.

Kuroda got a little sloppy there for a moment and Forsberg has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuroda has managed to get both his arms back between Forsberg's legs - danger averted.
Kuroda trying to control the position from guard on top but Forsberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kuroda thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kuroda trying to control the position from guard on top but Forsberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Forsberg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Forsberg is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Forsberg is working Kuroda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Forsberg thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Forsberg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Forsberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuroda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kuroda had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Forsberg defends it easily.
Forsberg distracts Kuroda with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Forsberg postures up and lands a big shot to Kuroda's brow.
Forsberg stands up over Kuroda, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Forsberg landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuroda is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Forsberg landing with the ground and pound.

Forsberg is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Forsberg trying to control but Kuroda is working from the bottom.

Forsberg drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Forsberg jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Forsberg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Forsberg got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kuroda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Forsberg has managed to get both his arms back between Kuroda's legs - danger averted.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Forsberg is working Kuroda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Forsberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Kuroda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Forsberg dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Forsberg. No joy for Kuroda on that attempt.
Forsberg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuroda can do to turn this around?
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuroda.
Forsberg throws out a loose jab but Kuroda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuroda closes the distance and clinches up with Forsberg, looking for a takedown. Kuroda pushes Forsberg against the cage but Forsberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gustav Forsberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daizen Kuroda.
Kuroda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuroda shoots in but no luck this time.
Forsberg smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kuroda tries to score a power double leg takedown but Forsberg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuroda somewhat.
Forsberg is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kuroda's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Forsberg moves into range and clinches up with Kuroda.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Forsberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Forsberg.
Forsberg misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Forsberg.
Forsberg misses with a short punch on the inside.
Forsberg swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuroda uses good head movement to avoid it.

Forsberg turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Forsberg thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kuroda gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Kuroda is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Forsberg is tapping! Great win for Kuroda!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Daizen Kuroda!
Daizen Kuroda decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.