PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michal Kucharski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideo Tokoro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tokoro has chosen Boomtastic as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Michal Kucharski has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Michal Kucharski seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kucharski
vs
Tokoro

177 cm
35
144 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

171 cm
42
154 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michal Kucharski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hideo Tokoro!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tokoro is looking to clinch.
Tokoro lands a slapping body shot.
Kucharski swats away the attempt to clinch by Tokoro.
Tokoro misses the shot to the body.
Tokoro tries for a takedown but Kucharski circles away easily
and Kucharski counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokoro misses with a lunging right hand
and Kucharski counters with a stiff right hand.
Tokoro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kucharski throwing a counter right hand but Tokoro manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro jabs Kucharski right on the nose. Kucharski blinks but takes it well.
Kucharski moves out of range of the strikes.
Tokoro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tokoro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kucharski has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tokoro finds it's way round the side to connect with Kucharski's head.
Tokoro throws a lazy uppercut
and Kucharski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hideo Tokoro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tokoro swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kucharski counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Tokoro has managed to clinch.

Tokoro has picked Kucharski up - he's going for a ride! Tokoro dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kucharski is doing well to control the position and prevent Tokoro from advancing to side control.

Tokoro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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

Tokoro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kucharski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tokoro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro moves nicely into side control.
Tokoro is looking to take a break and control but Kucharski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kucharski wants to control but Tokoro postures up.
Tokoro tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kucharski's legs.

Tokoro is trying to get an arm triangle but Kucharski is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Tokoro tries for a kimura but Kucharski is defending well.
Tokoro trying to control the position but Kucharski is working away.

Tokoro swings around for an armbar but Kucharski sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tokoro's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tokoro looking for a sweep. Not yet Tokoro, not yet.
Tokoro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideo Tokoro dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tokoro tries to close the distance and clinch but Kucharski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Kucharski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tokoro is looking to clinch but Kucharski is avoiding it.
Tokoro dives in for a single leg takedown but Kucharski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
An attempted straight right counter from Kucharski misses the target.
Tokoro tries to clinch up but Kucharski circles away and keeps his distance.
Kucharski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tokoro.
Tokoro works Kucharski's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tokoro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kucharski was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Tokoro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kucharski avoids it really well and circles away.
Tokoro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kucharski counters with a nice uppercut.
Michal Kucharski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hideo Tokoro.
Tokoro takes a swing at Kucharski's ribcage but misses.
Tokoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tokoro moves to clinch but Kucharski breaks away
enabling Kucharski to counter with a crisp jab.
Tokoro tries to clinch but Kucharski moves away
and Kucharski counters with a nice uppercut.
Tokoro moves to clinch but Kucharski breaks away
and Kucharski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tokoro closes the distance and pushes Kucharski back into the cage.

Tokoro jumps into guard, dragging Kucharski to the mat.

Tokoro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kucharski defends well.
Tokoro 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.
Tokoro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kucharski stays in close to Tokoro's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro looking for a sweep. Not yet Tokoro, not yet.
Kucharski postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Tokoro looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kucharski passes into half guard.

Tokoro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tokoro is looking for a sweep. Kucharski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tokoro gets full guard.
Tokoro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Tokoro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kucharski won't allow Tokoro to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tokoro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tokoro tries for a takedown but Kucharski manages to get underhooks.
Tokoro drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kucharski jumps guard but Tokoro stands there with Kucharski around his waist. Kucharski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hideo Tokoro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tokoro fails with a takedown attempt.
Kucharski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tokoro.
Tokoro misses with the body kick
and Kucharski counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Tokoro does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kucharski gets tackled into the cage by Tokoro. Tokoro maintains the clinch.

Kucharski is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tokoro is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kucharski to the mat. Kucharski regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Tokoro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kucharski is keeping the position for now.
Kucharski pulls Tokoro in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tokoro wants to control from the top but Kucharski keeps moving.
Tokoro won't allow Kucharski to sweep him here.
Tokoro trying to control the position from guard on top but Kucharski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucharski is trying to keep Tokoro in close.

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

Tokoro tries to buck Kucharski off but Kucharski is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro keeps trying to improve his position.
Tokoro is trying to escape the position but Kucharski is controlling the position.
Tokoro trying his best to control but Kucharski has mounted him.
Tokoro sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kucharski moves nicely into side control.
Kucharski is staying tight to Tokoro's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hideo Tokoro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tokoro is trying to work for a sweep but Kucharski has mounted him!
Kucharski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tokoro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tokoro is still trying to improve position.
Kucharski avoids the attempt from Tokoro to control.
Kucharski controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tokoro wants to control but Kucharski is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michal Kucharski.
I think Tokoro 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Michal Kucharski!
A very excited looking Michal Kucharski rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.