PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Katsuo Kuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Manuel's choice of entrance music: Irations- Falling. Gabe Manuel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuro
vs
Manuel

170 cm
22
139 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

168 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsuo Kuro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel misses with a head kick.

Kuro takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuro is trying to stall.
Manuel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kuro managing to block the knees to the body from Manuel.
Manuel tries to stall but Kuro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuro is trying to break free.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manuel takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Manuel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Manuel tries to land a knee to the head but Kuro blocks with his arms.
Kuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Manuel has him pressed against the cage.
Kuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Manuel has him pressed against the cage.

Kuro breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kuro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel tries to work over Kuro's front leg with a kick but Kuro checks it.
Manuel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kuro is looking to clinch but Manuel is avoiding it.
Gabe Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel lands with a right hand.
Manuel throws a head kick that Kuro semi-blocks.

Kuro is rocked!

Manuel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kuro sprawls well initially but Manuel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Oh Kuro is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Manuel there.
Kuro taking some punishment here, with Manuel in his half guard.
Kuro works his way to full guard. Good work.
Manuel connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuro keeping moving, preventing Manuel from controlling successfully.
Manuel scoring with some ground and pound.
Kuro wants to stand and escape but Manuel is having none of it.
Kuro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuro seems to have got his legs back now.
Manuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuro is retaining full guard.
Manuel looks gassed!
Manuel scoring with some ground and pound.
Kuro keeping full guard, as Manuel tries to pass.
Manuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manuel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manuel landing some decent shots from guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Kuro clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuro.

Kuro breaks from the clinch.

Manuel clinches with his opponent.
Manuel crunches a lovely knee into Kuro's ribcage.
Kuro managing to block the knees to the body from Manuel.
Kuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kuro tries to break the clinch but Manuel is controlling the position.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuro is keeping busy.
Kuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manuel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuro.
Kuro trying to stall but Manuel improves his position.

Manuel lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Manuel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
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!
Kuro on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Manuel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuro defends it well.
Manuel is nestled in close to Kuro, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Manuel lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuro pushes Manuel off and gets back to his feet.

Manuel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Manuel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kuro knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Manuel on the ground.
Manuel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Manuel throws some wild stikes that Kuro manages to avoid easily.
Manuel misses with a head shot.
Kuro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kuro tries to hold on but Manuel postures up.
Manuel is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kuro can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kuro wants to hold on but Manuel pushes him away.
Manuel is landing with some decent strikes but Kuro is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Manuel prevents Kuro from getting the reversal.
Manuel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kuro can't escape the position.
Manuel working Kuro over with strikes here.
Kuro wants to control but Manuel is having none of it.
Manuel with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Manuel lands with some strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Manuel moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kuro has worked his arm free - good work by Kuro!
Kuro wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Manuel working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Kuro throws Manuel to one side and escapes!
Kuro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manuel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kuro cracks Manuel with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Manuel circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Manuel.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manuel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kuro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manuel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kuro tries to clinch up but Manuel circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kuro wants to clinch.
Manuel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuro.
Manuel clinches but Kuro breaks the clinch
letting Kuro counter with a right hand.
Manuel misses with a kick to the body.
Manuel throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kuro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice sprawl there from Manuel as Kuro shoots in.
Nice straight punches there by Manuel. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Manuel.
Kuro avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Manuel keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuro throws a right and a left that Manuel avoids nicely.

Manuel moves into the clinch.
Manuel scores with a knee to the head.

Manuel breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manuel.
Manuel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Manuel throws a nice outside leg kick.

Manuel pushes Kuro up against the cage in a clinch.
Manuel just leaning against Kuro, taking a breather.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuro looking for a takedown.
The is referee keeping an eye on Manuel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Kuro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuro tries to clinch up
and Manuel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kuro connects with a body shot.
Kuro throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Manuel's head.
Manuel is looking to slow Kuro down with leg kicks.
Manuel lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kuro will feel that in the morning.
Nice body kick from Manuel.
Manuel scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kuro tries to clinch up but Manuel circles away and keeps his distance.
Manuel misses with an uppercut
and Kuro counters with a low kick, right behind Manuel 's knee.
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuro is looking to clinch.
Kuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuro looks to score with a jab to the body but Manuel is just out of range.
Kuro tries to clinch but Manuel moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel throws a nice outside leg kick.

Manuel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuro, pushing him back against the cage.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuro blocks a head kick by Manuel.
Kuro swinging wilding here.

Manuel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kuro looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Manuel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Manuel lands an elbow.
Manuel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gabe Manuel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manuel cracks Kuro with a big right hand but Kuro just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kuro takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Manuel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kuro on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Manuel lands a few punches from side control.
The strikes coming from Manuel are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kuro sneaks back into half guard.
Kuro is trying to stand.
Kuro wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuro wants to get back to his feet.
Manuel thows a huge punch but Kuro dodges it nicely.
Kuro is trying to maintain the position but Manuel is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Manuel.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Kuro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manuel looks to land a body kick but Kuro moved away.
Manuel misses with a takedown
and Kuro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kuro blocks a head kick by Manuel.
Manuel checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Manuel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuro misses with an uppercut. Manuel saw that one coming.
Katsuo Kuro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuro throws a sloppy head kick
and Manuel counters with a body kick that stops Kuro in his tracks momentarily.

Manuel has Kuro up against the cage in a clinch.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuro is keeping busy.
Manuel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kuro can't break the clinch.
Manuel is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuro pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Manuel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Manuel landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuro.
Kuro lands a nice shot to the body.
Manuel tries to score a body lock takedown but Kuro shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Katsuo Kuro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabe Manuel.
Kuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kuro crunches a lovely knee into Manuel's ribcage.
Kuro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manuel prevents Kuro from breaking the clinch.
Kuro managing to block the knees to the body from Manuel.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel throws a head kick but Kuro moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Manuel.
Kuro connects with a crisp jab.
Kuro scores with a sloppy right hand. Manuel should have avoided that one.

Manuel is rocked!
Manuel tries to land a front kick but Kuro steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Manuel throws a leg kick which misses Kuro's front leg but catches the back leg as Kuro tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuro looks to clinch
and Manuel counters with a low kick, right behind Kuro 's knee.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kuro!
Kuro closes the distance looking to clinch

and Manuel counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Manuel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Manuel tries to land knees in the clinch but Kuro avoids the damage to the body.
Manuel can't get the takedown.
Kuro works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Manuel missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Kuro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuro tries to clinch but Manuel moves out of range.
Manuel keeps the fight on the outside.
Manuel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kuro misses with the combination.
Kuro tries to clinch up
and Manuel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manuel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Manuel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kuro.

Manuel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kuro looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Manuel grinds an elbow into Kuro's temple.

Manuel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kuro, who protects the arm well.
Kuro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Manuel connects with a decent elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuro takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kuro is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manuel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuro taking a bit of punishment here - Manuel scoring with strikes.
Kuro is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Manuel has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Manuel scoring with punches and elbows.
Kuro tries to improve position but can't.
Manuel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Manuel working the body and head with strikes.
Manuel lands a nice forearm strike.
Kuro is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manuel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Manuel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kuro managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Manuel.
Kuro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manuel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Manuel working the ground and pound.
Manuel works to advance to full mount. Kuro defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice elbow there by Manuel.
Manuel lands a heavy elbow.
Kuro is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Manuel.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Manuel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Manuel avoids the attempt from Kuro to control.
Kuro is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Manuel lands a big shot there that rocks Kuro but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Manuel looking to finish Kuro with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kuro!
Kuro is working to get back to half guard.
Manuel connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kuro tries to hold on but Manuel postures up.
Kuro working to try and regain half guard.
Kuro wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
BOOM! Manuel connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Manuel landing strikes from the mount and Kuro is in trouble!
Kuro regains half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Manuel connects with a nice short shot to Kuro's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Manuel.
Kuro in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kuro taking shots to the head.
Manuel looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Manuel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kuro looks a forlorn figure.
Manuel punishing his opponent with strikes.
Manuel connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kuro is trying to escape the mount.
Manuel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kuro wants to control but Manuel is having none of it.
Manuel punching from mount but Kuro doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kuro bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kuro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
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!
Kuro wants to stand but Manuel is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuro wants to pass the guard but Manuel is keeping the position.
Kuro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kuro looking to pass the guard.
Manuel doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Manuel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Manuel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Manuel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuro wants to improve his position but Manuel is controlling well.
Manuel is tying to control. Kuro wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Katsuo Kuro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Manuel lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabe Manuel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Manuel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 26:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe Manuel!