PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kuroda Atsushi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Bonifacio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bonifacio has chosen Live & Let Die as his entrance music. Kuroda Atsushi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Atsushi
vs
Bonifacio

170 cm
27
159 lbs
21 - 6 - 1

168 cm
32
147 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Syndicate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Kuroda Atsushi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Victor Bonifacio!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Atsushi tenderised Bonifacio's leg. Bonifacio is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big left from Bonifacio misses.
Atsushi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bonifacio pinned against the cage. Bonifacio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bonifacio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Atsushi slips a straight right by Bonifacio.
Bonifacio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bonifacio misses with a wild combination.
Atsushi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Atsushi misses with a looping right.
Victor Bonifacio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonifacio moves in looking to clinch but Atsushi pushes him off.
Jab by Bonifacio.
Atsushi misses with a kick to the body.

Atsushi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bonifacio did well to prevent Atsushi getting side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bonifacio won't allow Atsushi to pass to mount.
Atsushi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bonifacio keeps working.
Atsushi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bonifacio is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonifacio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Atsushi.
Atsushi passes to side control.
Bonifacio manages to get back to half guard.
Atsushi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Atsushi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bonifacio is looking to control Atsushi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bonifacio avoid being mounted?
Atsushi wants to pass the guard but Bonifacio is defending well.
Atsushi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi tries to pass to full mount but Bonifacio defends it.
Atsushi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bonifacio wants to get back to his feet.
Atsushi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Atsushi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Atsushi trying to control the action but Bonifacio is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio tries to get to full guard but Atsushi has control of the leg.
Bonifacio is trying to control but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bonifacio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Atsushi.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bonifacio.

Bonifacio has closed the distance and engaged Atsushi in a clinch.
A short right from Atsushi.
Atsushi throws a punch but it's blocked by Bonifacio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atsushi.

Atsushi has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bonifacio clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Atsushi struggling to land strikes to the head as Bonifacio covers up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonifacio is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bonifacio covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonifacio staying busy and making it hard for Atsushi to control.
Atsushi gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Bonifacio covering up well under a barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bonifacio misses with a few strikes there.
Atsushi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bonifacio throws an overhand right that lands on Atsushi's shoulder, as Atsushi tries to avoid the shot.
Bonifacio misses with a hook. Atsushi ducked under it nicely.
Bonifacio checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up.
Atsushi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bonifacio avoids the body shot from Atsushi.
Bonifacio lands with a hook. Atsushi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bonifacio lands a right hook to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Bonifacio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bonifacio swinging wildly here.
Atsushi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Atsushi misses with a low kick.
Atsushi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Atsushi swats away the attempt to clinch by Bonifacio.
Bonifacio swings for the body but Atsushi moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonifacio ducks under a wild hook from Atsushi.
Victor Bonifacio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bonifacio loads up on a big right hand but Atsushi slips the punch.
Atsushi misses with a straight left.
Atsushi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bonifacio but Bonifacio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bonifacio is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bonifacio throws a body punch but Atsushi moves out of range.
Atsushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Atsushi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio lands a jab to the head.
Atsushi keeps the fight on the outside.
Bonifacio thuds a left hand into Atsushi's body.
Atsushi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Atsushi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jab from Bonifacio.
Atsushi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi throws a front kick aimed at Bonifacio's knee but Bonifacio avoids it well.
Atsushi tries to land a leg kick but Bonifacio saw it coming and moves away.
Bonifacio misses with an uppercut. Atsushi saw that one coming.
Bonifacio lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonifacio stuffs the takedown attempt from Atsushi. Atsushi gets slowly back to his feet.
Bonifacio swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Atsushi.
Atsushi throws a head kick that misses.
Atsushi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bonifacio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Atsushi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Atsushi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bonifacio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Atsushi manages to avoid it.
A leg kick checked by Bonifacio.
Atsushi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bonifacio doesn't manage to clinch there - Atsushi circles away.
Atsushi swats away the attempt to clinch by Bonifacio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Atsushi checks it well.
Atsushi swats away the attempt to clinch by Bonifacio.
Bonifacio darts in trying to clinch
and Atsushi counters with a good low kick that Bonifacio was not able to check.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up
and Atsushi counters with a nice leg kick.
Bonifacio takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Atsushi.
Bonifacio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Atsushi throws a front kick aimed at Bonifacio's knee but Bonifacio avoids it well.
Atsushi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio scores with the left hand. Atsushi knows he should have avoided that one.
Atsushi misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi slips a jab from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio jabs Atsushi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Atsushi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bonifacio manages to avoid it.
Bonifacio lands a right hook to the body.
Victor Bonifacio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bonifacio throws a leg kick

and Atsushi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bonifacio wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Atsushi manages to pass to side control.
Bonifacio wants to control but Atsushi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuroda Atsushi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Atsushi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bonifacio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atsushi is looking to stall here but Bonifacio recovers full guard.
Atsushi won't allow Bonifacio to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Victor Bonifacio will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Atsushi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Atsushi shoots for a takedown but Bonifacio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bonifacio is looking to clinch.
Bonifacio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bonifacio checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Atsushi keeps the fight on the outside.
Bonifacio looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Atsushi throws a leg kick which misses Bonifacio's front leg but catches the back leg as Bonifacio tries to avoid it.
Bonifacio's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bonifacio looks to score with a jab to the body but Atsushi is just out of range.
Atsushi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bonifacio manages to avoid it.
Bonifacio smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bonifacio moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bonifacio lands with a right hand.
Atsushi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Atsushi throws a big shot that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bonifacio is looking to clinch but Atsushi is avoiding it.
Bonifacio wants to clinch
and Atsushi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bonifacio is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonifacio uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bonifacio tests Atsushi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bonifacio throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bonifacio lands a nice hook to Atsushi's body. Atsushi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Atsushi throws a series of punches but Bonifacio avoids them all with ease.
Bonifacio throws the left hand but Atsushi avoids the punch easily.
Atsushi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bonifacio misses with a straight right.
Bonifacio gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Atsushi counters with an inside leg kick.
Atsushi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bonifacio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Atsushi tries a head kick but it misses.
Atsushi keeps Bonifacio at a distance using the push kick.
Bonifacio throws a leg kick that is checked
and Atsushi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bonifacio is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Atsushi.
Bonifacio tries a head kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bonifacio blocks a head kick by Atsushi.
Atsushi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bonifacio takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Atsushi scores with a leg kick.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up but Atsushi circles away and keeps his distance.
Bonifacio fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bonifacio closes the distance looking to clinch
and Atsushi counters with an inside leg kick.
Bonifacio with a hook.
Bonifacio doesn't manage to clinch there - Atsushi circles away.
Bonifacio is looking to chop away at Atsushi's legs.
Atsushi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bonifacio avoids it really well and circles away.
Atsushi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio doesn't manage to clinch there - Atsushi circles away.
Atsushi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bonifacio's waist but Bonifacio gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Atsushi off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kuroda Atsushi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonifacio swings for the body but Atsushi moves out of range.
Bonifacio takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bonifacio tries to clinch but Atsushi moves away

and Atsushi counters by clinching up.
Atsushi struggles to land a body shot inside as Bonifacio controls his hands.
Bonifacio misses with a punch on the inside.
Bonifacio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Atsushi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bonifacio throws a head punch that misses.
Bonifacio misses with a hook from the clinch.

Atsushi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bonifacio gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bonifacio lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Bonifacio.
Bonifacio lands a really nice looking cross but Atsushi seems unphased.
Atsushi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bonifacio was well out of range. Poor timing from Atsushi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Atsushi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bonifacio's guard.
Atsushi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Atsushi wants to control from the top but Bonifacio keeps moving.
Atsushi content to stall in guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Atsushi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bonifacio for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Atsushi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bonifacio wants to slow Atsushi down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice defenses there by Bonifacio.
Bonifacio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Atsushi shoots in for a takedown but Bonifacio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bonifacio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Atsushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Atsushi throws out a leg kick but Bonifacio moves out of range and Atsushi only half commits.
Atsushi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Atsushi. Atsushi obviously looking to wear him down.
Atsushi jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Atsushi ducks under a wild hook from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio lands a jab-cross combination.
Atsushi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bonifacio swinging wildly here.
Bonifacio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atsushi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bonifacio was covering up waiting for the punch and Atsushi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atsushi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Atsushi preventing the sweep.
Atsushi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Atsushi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi tries to free his leg and advance position but Bonifacio is retaining full guard.
Atsushi lands a couple of elbows.
Atsushi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bonifacio tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Atsushi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Atsushi wants to pass the guard but Bonifacio is keeping the position.
Atsushi is working hard here to advance position.
Bonifacio wants to get back to his feet but Atsushi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio 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.
Bonifacio is controlling Atsushi's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Atsushi passes into half guard.
Atsushi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Atsushi wants to control but Bonifacio is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Atsushi thows a huge punch but Bonifacio dodges it nicely.
Atsushi is looking to advance position but Bonifacio won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Atsushi lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atsushi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Atsushi throwing shots but Bonifacio is blocking nicely.
Atsushi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuroda Atsushi had his way with Victor Bonifacio in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Atsushi scores with a jab.
Atsushi scoring well with a low kick there.
Bonifacio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice body kick there by Atsushi.
Bonifacio wants to clinch
and Atsushi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Atsushi misses with a leg kick.
Atsushi shoots in for a takedown but Bonifacio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bonifacio misses with a hook

and Atsushi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bonifacio!
Atsushi trying to control the action but Bonifacio is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bonifacio is trying to control Atsushi's posture but Atsushi avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atsushi throws a strike aimed at the side of Bonifacio's head but Bonifacio avoids it well.
Atsushi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bonifacio will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Atsushi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bonifacio is trying to control Atsushi's posture but Atsushi avoids it.
An elbow from Atsushi crashes against the mat.
Bonifacio is trying to improve his position.
Atsushi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bonifacio keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bonifacio tries to buck Atsushi off but Atsushi is having none of it.
Atsushi wants to take a breather but Bonifacio manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Atsushi.
Bonifacio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Atsushi is looking to work some ground and pound but Bonifacio has wrist control.
Victor Bonifacio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Atsushi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bonifacio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Atsushi forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atsushi is looking to advance position but Bonifacio won't allow it.
Atsushi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Atsushi trying to advance position but Bonifacio counters by regaining guard.
Kuroda Atsushi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Atsushi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atsushi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuroda Atsushi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Atsushi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 49:46
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 49:46
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuroda Atsushi!
Kuroda Atsushi retains his lightweight title!
Kuroda Atsushi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.