PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Krejzi Kure (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiroyuki Okamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kure comes to the cage accompanied by BIG SHUG - who's hard. Okamoto has chosen Feel the Drive as his entrance music. Hiroyuki Okamoto acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kure
vs
Okamoto

170 cm
30
150 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

168 cm
35
152 lbs
26 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krejzi Kure!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroyuki Okamoto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kure throws the left hand but Okamoto avoids the punch easily.
Okamoto throws a leg kick but Kure sees it coming and moves out of range.
Okamoto throws a head kick that misses
and Kure counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kure blocks a leg kick.
Okamoto slips under a jab from Kure.
Okamoto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kure checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Okamoto lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kure takes a step back to recover.
Okamoto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kure quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kure throws a right hand that Okamoto ducks under and follows up with a left that Okamoto also avoids with ease.
Okamoto misses with a head kick.
Kure works over Okamoto's head and body with a nice combination.
Hiroyuki Okamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kure fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kure pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Okamoto replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kure blocks it well.
Nice body kick from Okamoto.
We've been hearing reports that Kure has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kure's jab looks to have found its range, popping Okamoto under the eye.
Kure checks a low kick from Okamoto.
Kure walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Okamoto checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kure fails in his attempt to clinch.
Okamoto moves away from the strike by Kure.
Kure swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Okamoto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kure shoots in and gets a takedown into Okamoto's guard.
Kure tries to free his leg and advance position but Okamoto is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Okamoto holds on and takes a little breather.
Kure scoring with some ground and pound.
Okamoto looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Okamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kure is one step ahead there.
Kure tries to free his leg and advance position but Okamoto is retaining full guard.
Okamoto wants to sweep here but Kure controlling him for the moment.
Kure loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Okamoto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kure manages to get himself to full guard.

Okamoto stays in close to Kure's body and controls the position.
Okamoto with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto looking to sit in guard and control but Kure gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Okamoto wants to sweep but no luck.

Okamoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kure with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kure stopping the sweep attempt from Okamoto.
Kure slips nicely into half guard.
Kure throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Okamoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kure is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto gets full guard.
Okamoto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kure connects with a couple of short punches.
Okamoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kure's guard.

Okamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Kure.
Okamoto wants to control from the top but Kure keeps moving.
Kure keeping full guard, as Okamoto tries to pass.
Kure tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kure lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Okamoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kure is one step ahead there.
Kure with a nice head shot there.
Okamoto wants to control the position but Kure says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kure is trying to control. Okamoto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kure is really struggling to control Okamoto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Okamoto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Okamoto taking some punishment here, with Kure in his half guard.
Okamoto is pressing down on Kure's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kure preventing the sweep.
Okamoto trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krejzi Kure dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Okamoto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Krejzi Kure is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Okamoto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kure checks it well.
Kure throws a big counter combination but Okamoto scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Krejzi Kure is winning the standup battle so far.
Kure shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Okamoto defends it nicely.
Kure on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Okamoto. Okamoto obviously looking to wear him down.
The fighters circling - Kure throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kure is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Okamoto can do to turn this around?
Okamoto throws a body kick that misses.
A little feinted left hand from Kure on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kure blocks a head kick by Okamoto.
Kure blocks the body kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Kure misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Okamoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kure moves out of range as Okamoto throws a body kick.
Okamoto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Kure.
Kure throws a hook to the side of Okamoto's head but Okamoto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kure fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okamoto tries to land a leg kick but Kure saw it coming and moves away.
A nice combination there by Kure.
Okamoto looks for the body kick but Kure saw that one coming.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Okamoto, as that shot connected.
Okamoto connects with an inside leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Okamoto.
Okamoto misses with a low kick.
Kure wants to clinch up but Okamoto keeps it at a distance.
Okamoto throws a chopping leg kick but Kure manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Okamoto.
Okamoto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Okamoto misses with a low kick.
Okamoto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kure swings for the body but Okamoto moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Okamoto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kure is out of range.
Okamoto throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kure counters with a straight right hand.
Kure displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kure closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kure blocks a head kick by Okamoto.

Kure fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Okamoto to the ground. Kure is now in Okamoto's guard.
Kure wants to control from the top but Okamoto keeps moving.
Okamoto 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.
Okamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kure.
Okamoto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kure working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kure landing some decent shots from guard.
Okamoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kure won't allow Okamoto to sweep him here.
Kure forces his way into half guard.
Okamoto is staying active underneath Kure, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Okamoto moves into full guard.
Okamoto 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.
Okamoto is trying to keep Kure in close.
Okamoto lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Okamoto trying to control but Kure is working from the bottom.
Kure has his hands on Okamoto's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Kure.
Okamoto wants to control from the top but Kure keeps moving.
Okamoto lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Okamoto looking to sit in guard and control but Kure gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kure got a little sloppy there for a moment and Okamoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kure has managed to get both his arms back between Okamoto's legs - danger averted.
Kure passes Okamoto's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiroyuki Okamoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Okamoto is looking to slow Kure down with leg kicks.
A good leg kick by Okamoto.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kure or perhaps it was just good defense by Okamoto, which made it look bad.
Kure tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okamoto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kure has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Okamoto throws a nice head kick!
Kure smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Okamoto is looking to land body kicks.
Okamoto throws a nice head kick!
Okamoto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Okamoto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Okamoto connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Okamoto throws the kick towards the body but Kure avoids it.
Kure appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kure lands with a nice combination. Okamoto backs away looking to recover.
Kure throws a head kick that misses.
Kure is looking to clinch but Okamoto is avoiding it.
Kure is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kure throws a hook but Okamoto avoids it easily.
Okamoto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
An inside leg kick from Okamoto misses.
Okamoto misses with a kick to the body.
Okamoto throws a low kick but Kure avoids it.
Nice takedown defense from Okamoto. No joy for Kure on that attempt.
Okamoto connects with a solid leg kick.
Okamoto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kure has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Okamoto tries to bum rush Kure with a series of wild strikes but Kure uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Okamoto throws the kick towards the body but Kure avoids it.
A little feinted left hand from Kure on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kure is looking to clinch but Okamoto is avoiding it.
Kure takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kure throws a series of punches but Okamoto moves out of range.
Okamoto motions for Kure to come forward. Okamoto throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Okamoto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kure throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kure shoots in looking for a takedown but Okamoto manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kure's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Krejzi Kure. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kure drops his hands momentarily and Okamoto takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
An inside leg kick from Okamoto misses.
Kure misses with a few strikes there.
Kure throws a shot from downtown. Okamoto moves away and avoids it.
Kure takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Okamoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
No joy there for Okamoto, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kure walks forward, straight into a front kick from Okamoto.
Okamoto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Okamoto throws a shot from downtown. Kure moves away and avoids it.
Kure fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kure throws a head kick that misses.
Kure moves out of range of the leg kick from Okamoto.
Okamoto thows a body kick. Kure tries to catch it but that hurt him.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kure crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Okamoto - the referee stops the clock and Kure gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Okamoto. Kure manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A bone on bone clash there as Kure blocks the leg kick.
Okamoto thows a body kick. Kure tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto throws a leg kick which misses Kure's front leg but catches the back leg as Kure tries to avoid it.
Okamoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kure walks forward, straight into a front kick from Okamoto.
Okamoto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kure tries for a takedown but Okamoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Okamoto is looking to land body kicks.
Okamoto misses with a low kick.
Kure throwing a counter right hand but Okamoto manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Okamoto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kure doesn't seem phased though.
Okamoto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kure's sensitive parts.
Kure avoids the head kick by Okamoto.
A quick step to the side and Kure tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Okamoto keeps Kure at a distance using the push kick.
Kure fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Okamoto avoids it really well and circles away.
Kure checks a leg kick nicely.
Kure is trying hard to land a takedown here. Okamoto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Okamoto looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okamoto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kure throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Okamoto steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kure dives in and grabs Okamoto's left leg, looking for a takedown. Okamoto pushes down on Kure's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kure or perhaps it was just good defense by Okamoto, which made it look bad.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Okamoto connects with a body shot.
Kure dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Okamoto throws a low kick but Kure avoids it.
Okamoto connects with a leg kick. Kure looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kure catches Okamoto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kure misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Okamoto misses the target.
Kure will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kure keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kure fails to land the takedown.
Okamoto cracks Kure with a right hand to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiroyuki Okamoto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Okamoto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!