PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoki Kurinoshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rai Saioki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saioki has chosen Thin Lizzy - Cold Sweat as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurinoshi
vs
Saioki

166 cm
22
158 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoki Kurinoshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rai Saioki!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurinoshi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Kurinoshi 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.
Kurinoshi throws and elbow that misses. Saioki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kurinoshi's guard. Nice move by Saioki!

Kurinoshi working for a triangle but Saioki defends it easily.
Saioki tries to stand but Kurinoshi is controlling from the bottom.

Kurinoshi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saioki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saioki won't allow Kurinoshi to sweep him here.
Saioki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Saioki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kurinoshi's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saioki lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kurinoshi is looking to improve his position.
Saioki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kurinoshi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kurinoshi wants to get back to full guard.
Kurinoshi trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kurinoshi drives through and clinches with Saioki against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saioki throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Saioki stalling in the clinch but Kurinoshi improves position.

Saioki has clasped his hands together around Kurinoshi's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Saioki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Saioki tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Saioki looks gassed!
Kurinoshi manages to get back to half guard.
Kurinoshi tries to roll over but Saioki keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kurinoshi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Saioki trying to control but Kurinoshi is working from the bottom.

Kurinoshi pushes Saioki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kurinoshi instigates a clinch.
Kurinoshi fails to pull guard.
Saioki jumps guard but Kurinoshi stands there with Saioki around his waist. Saioki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kurinoshi pulls Saioki into guard.

Kurinoshi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Saioki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kurinoshi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saioki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kurinoshi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kurinoshi sneaks back into half guard.
Kurinoshi wants to get back to full guard.
Saioki is keen to just control but Kurinoshi is a slippery customer.
Kurinoshi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Saioki trying to control the action but Kurinoshi is working from the bottom.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions off his back.
Kurinoshi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kurinoshi.

Kurinoshi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Saioki uses it to pass to side control.
Kurinoshi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kurinoshi is trying to maintain the position but Saioki is very close to passing his half guard.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kurinoshi gets full guard.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saioki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Kurinoshi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kurinoshi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kurinoshi looking for a guillotine here but Saioki defends easily.
Saioki wants to control from the top but Kurinoshi keeps moving.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kurinoshi is trying to keep Saioki in close.
Saioki works over Kurinoshi with some ground and pound from guard.
Saioki advances position into side control!
Saioki advances to full mount.
Saioki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kurinoshi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kurinoshi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kurinoshi is looking to improve his position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kurinoshi trying to control here.
Kurinoshi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kurinoshi gets back to full guard.

Kurinoshi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saioki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saioki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Saioki stopping the sweep attempt from Kurinoshi.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kurinoshi working for a triangle but Saioki defends it easily.

Kurinoshi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Kurinoshi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Saioki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kurinoshi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Saioki is squirming around, avoiding Kurinoshi's attempts to control the action.
Saioki stops Kurinoshi from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Kurinoshi has control of Saioki's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Saioki regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Saioki defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kurinoshi.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kurinoshi wants to control the pace but Saioki is squirming around nicely.
Saioki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Kurinoshi with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Kurinoshi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kurinoshi lands a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saioki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kurinoshi raining down shots from the mount!
Saioki tries to reverse the position but Kurinoshi maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoki Kurinoshi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kurinoshi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saioki misses with a takedown

and Kurinoshi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Saioki won't be happy with that.

Kurinoshi has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Saioki is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Kurinoshi yanks on the arm and Saioki is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Kurinoshi.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Yoki Kurinoshi!