PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Musashi Kuroda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JB Costa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuroda comes to the cage accompanied by Master of Puppets. The key to victory for Musashi Kuroda has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kuroda
vs
Costa

167 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

162 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Hopkins Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musashi Kuroda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, JB Costa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuroda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kuroda tried to score with a low kick but Costa checks it.
Kuroda pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kuroda pivots, looking for a leg kick but Costa is out of range and Kuroda settles back down.

Costa manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kuroda on his heels. He'll look to pass Kuroda's guard now, I'm sure.

Costa drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuroda looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuroda looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuroda!
Costa is looking for a sweep.
Costa sneaks back into half guard.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
Kuroda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Costa keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuroda pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kuroda wants to control but Costa is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kuroda lands a nice short elbow.

Kuroda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kuroda trying to control from half guard but Costa is working away.

Kuroda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Costa is just riding it out for now. Kuroda eventually gives up the hold.

Costa actively working from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Costa can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kuroda is looking for a kimura but Costa is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kuroda to get the leverage.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Costa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuroda prevents Costa from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costa is refusing to be controlled, as Kuroda sits in half guard.

Costa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Costa looking for submissions off his back.
Kuroda content to control rather than advance.
Kuroda working the head and body with strikes.
Kuroda looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Costa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kuroda is trying to work for a kimura but Costa is defending well.

Costa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuroda pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda prevents Costa from improving his position.

Kuroda is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Costa has managed to free his arm - good work.

Costa with the active half guard here but Kuroda passes nicely into side control.
Kuroda controlling the position.
Costa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Musashi Kuroda will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kuroda throws a head kick that misses.
Kuroda swinging wildly here.
Musashi Kuroda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Costa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Costa lands in his opponent's guard.

Costa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuroda dives on top into guard.
Costa keeping moving, preventing Kuroda from controlling successfully.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Kuroda pushes his legs off easily.

Costa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

Costa 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.
Kuroda postures up in Costa's guard and throws a big left but Costa blocks it.
Costa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Costa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuroda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Costa is looking for a triangle but Kuroda pushes his legs off easily.
Costa being controlled here, momentarily.

Kuroda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuroda wants to control from the top but Costa keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda is pushing down on Costa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Costa is fighting to maintain full guard but Kuroda has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kuroda lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Costa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Kuroda there.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). JB Costa!
JB Costa took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Hopkins Athletics for their support in the buildup to the fight.