PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kiryu Kazuma (ranked 1963 p4p, 23608 weight class) and Harold Kerzner (ranked 252 p4p, 693 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kazuma
vs
Kerzner

182 cm
22
195
3 - 4 - 0

187 cm
21
203
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Iron Wolf Discount Supplements (Q159/$100, Laundry

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kiryu Kazuma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Harold Kerzner!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ben Hemmingworth and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kazuma closes the distance and clinches.
Kazuma wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kerzner tries to score a body lock takedown but Kazuma shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kazuma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kerzner.

Kazuma closes the distance and pushes Kerzner back into the cage.
Kazuma keeps control of Kerzner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kazuma lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kerzner backwards.

Kazuma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kazuma darts in and clinches Kerzner up against the cage.
Kerzner jumps guard but Kazuma turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kazuma creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kerzner's defenses.
Kerzner swings wildly with an uppercut but Kazuma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kazuma is trying to break free.
We've been informed that Kerzner 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.

Kerzner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kerzner defending well as Kazuma loads up on a big left hand.
Kazuma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kerzner.
Kiryu Kazuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Kerzner.

Kazuma has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerzner is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kazuma is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Kazuma's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kerzner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kazuma moves into the clinch.
Kerzner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kazuma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Kazuma. Those never looked like landing.
Kazuma tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kerzner swivels and escapes.

Kazuma has managed to clinch.

Kazuma manages to break the clinch.
Kazuma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kerzner tries to avoid it but Kazuma manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kerzner to the ground. Kerzner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A jab lands there for Kazuma.
Kazuma needs to keep his hands up - Kerzner had a free shot at his head there.
Nice uppercut there from Kerzner.

Kazuma rushes Kerzner and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerzner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kazuma prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kerzner has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kazuma is trying to keep an underhook but Kerzner manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Kazuma makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Kazuma darts in and clinches Kerzner up against the cage.
Kerzner lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kazuma putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kerzner in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kerzner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kazuma pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Kazuma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kazuma clinches with his opponent.
Kerzner wants to stall.

Kazuma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Kerzner.

Kazuma has closed the distance and engaged Kerzner in a clinch.

Kazuma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kazuma moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kerzner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kazuma instigates a clinch.
Kazuma is trying to break free.
Kazuma holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kazuma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kazuma moves into the clinch.

Kerzner lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Kerzner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazuma trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerzner takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kazuma trying to hold on to Kerzner's head to control him but Kerzner postures up.
Kerzner trying to control the pace.
Kazuma is refusing to be controlled, as Kerzner sits in half guard.

Kazuma is defending against the submission attempts here by Kerzner.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kerzner stops Kazuma from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiryu Kazuma dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kazuma closes the distance and clinches.
Kazuma is trying to break free.
Kerzner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kazuma walks away with a smile on his face. Kerzner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A slow jab from Kerzner misses its intended target.
Kiryu Kazuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kerzner slips a straight right by Kazuma.

Kazuma takes the fight into the clinch.
Kerzner wants a takedown but no success here.
Kerzner struggles to land a body shot inside as Kazuma controls his hands.

Kazuma manages to break the clinch.
Kazuma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kerzner.
Kazuma lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kerzner at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Kerzner. Beautiful body shot.

Kazuma moves into the clinch.
I was talking to Kazuma's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kazuma prevents a body shot from Kerzner.
Kerzner is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kazuma is defending well.
Kiryu Kazuma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harold Kerzner.

Kazuma manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuma trying to control the position here.
Kerzner stopping the sweep attempt from Kazuma.
Kerzner trying to control the position from guard on top but Kazuma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerzner is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kerzner is continuing to stall.
Kazuma is trying to control the position but Kerzner postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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.
Kerzner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kazuma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kerzner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kerzner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kerzner scores with a jab to the body.
Kerzner stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kiryu Kazuma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kazuma clinches up against the cage.
Kerzner has Kazuma pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kazuma manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kiryu Kazuma has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kerzner has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kazuma manages to break the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Kerzner blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma shoots in looking for a takedown. Kerzner tries to sprawl out of it but Kazuma keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kerzner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kerzner shoots for a takedown but Kazuma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kazuma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kerzner misses with a two punch combination.

Kazuma drives through and clinches with Kerzner against the cage.

Kazuma breaks the clinch.
Kazuma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Kerzner tries to counter it with a takedown but Kazuma pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Kazuma darts in and clinches Kerzner up against the cage.

Kerzner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kazuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big left from Kerzner misses.
Kerzner swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma slips a straight right by Kerzner.
Kazuma takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Kerzner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kazuma explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
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!
Kerzner scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kazuma in his tracks.

Kazuma clinches up with Kerzner and pushes him back against the cage.
Kerzner keeps control of Kazuma as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kazuma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kerzner can do to turn this around?

Kerzner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kazuma clinches up with Kerzner and pushes him back against the cage.
Kazuma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kerzner.
Kerzner gets underhooks to prevent Kazuma's takedown attempt.

Kazuma breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kiryu Kazuma dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kerzner lands a jab to the nose.

Kazuma has closed the distance and engaged Kerzner in a clinch.
Kazuma is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kazuma wants a takedown but no success here.

Kazuma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kerzner clobbers Kazuma with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kerzner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Kerzner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kazuma's half guard.

Kazuma manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick from Kazuma, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kerzner misses with a combination
and Kazuma counters with a left and a right that stings Kerzner.

Kazuma gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazuma is trying to break free.

Kerzner breaks from the clinch.

Kazuma takes the fight into the clinch.
Kerzner goes for a takedown attempt but Kazuma pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kerzner lands a body shot.

Kerzner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kazuma's guard.
Kazuma looking for a sweep. Not yet Kazuma, not yet.
Kerzner sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kazuma's guard.
Kerzner is just content to waste time from the top position. Kazuma takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kerzner slips nicely into half guard.
Kiryu Kazuma overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazuma is trying to stand up here but Kerzner is controlling him well.

Kerzner is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kazuma defends it well.
Kazuma pushes Kerzner off looking to stand but Kerzner dives back in and keeps control.

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

Kerzner is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Kerzner is trying to work for a kimura but Kazuma is defending well.

Kerzner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kazuma sees it coming and defends easily.
Kerzner stalling away here and it's allowed Kazuma to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kazuma is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kerzner sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kazuma wants to stand but Kerzner is controlling the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kazuma keeping moving, preventing Kerzner from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kiryu Kazuma.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kazuma, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiryu Kazuma!
In his post fight interview, Kiryu Kazuma started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.