PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Kuzma (ranked 3098 p4p, 22100 weight class) and Watchman Nee (ranked 391 p4p, 696 weight class). Kuzma comes to the cage accompanied by Tarararara. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuzma
vs
Nee

195 cm
36
202
17 - 12 - 0

177 cm
30
204
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Darvin Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Kuzma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Watchman Nee!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzma digs a good body shot into Nee's ribs.
Jab by Kuzma.
Nee misses with a two punch combination.
Kuzma misses with a wild combination.
Kuzma on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kuzma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kuzma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kuzma defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nee.

Kuzma gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuzma breaks from the clinch.
Nee walks into a left hand.
Kuzma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nee.
Nee misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kyle Kuzma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watchman Nee.
Nee showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuzma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma misses with the combination.
Nee tries to counter with a clinch but Kuzma shakes him off and moves away.
Nee takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kuzma displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nee.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kuzma enables Nee to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kuzma manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Nee missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nee stops Kuzma from standing up.
Nee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuzma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nee has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Nee stands up and waves to Kuzma to follow him.
Kuzma lands a nice looking body shot.
Kuzma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma fails to land with a series of punches.
Kyle Kuzma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Nee with that takedown attempt.
Kuzma throws a series of punches but Nee avoids them all with ease.

Kuzma gets tackled into the cage by Nee. Nee maintains the clinch.

Nee manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Nee is looking to sweep but instead, Kuzma has passed into half guard.
Nee is trying to control but can't.
Kuzma controlling the action here.
Nee desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kuzma wants to control but Nee is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuzma gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kuzma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nee closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kuzma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuzma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kuzma misses with a wild combination.
Kuzma tries to clinch up.
Nee changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuzma tries to avoid it but Nee manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuzma to the ground. Kuzma escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuzma throws out a powerful jab.
No joy there for Kuzma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kuzma tries to close the distance and clinch but Nee swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Kuzma dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kuzma throws a shot from downtown. Nee moves away and avoids it.
Kuzma throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kuzma misses with the combination.
Kuzma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nee.
Kuzma tries to clinch up.
Kuzma throws a lazy right hand but Nee sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kuzma misses the jab.
Kuzma fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nee on the side of the head.
Kuzma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuzma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuzma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nee unleashes a big counter combination but Kuzma bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kuzma fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuzma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nee moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nee is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nee showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuzma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nee tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuzma sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nee somewhat.
Kuzma lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nee at a distance.
Kyle Kuzma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuzma connects with a solid leg kick.
Nee tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuzma sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nee somewhat.

Kuzma gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kuzma breaks the clinch.
Kuzma is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nee shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kuzma counters with a one-two to the body.
Kyle Kuzma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watchman Nee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nee takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A combination from Kuzma does no damage.
Nee is looking for the big counter here.
A punch combination from Kuzma misses.
Nee misses with an uppercut.
Kuzma scores with a jab to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nee dives in and scores a takedown into Kuzma's guard.
Kuzma is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kuzma is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nee drops back looking for a leg! Kuzma is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kuzma manages to kick Nee off! Nee jumps back into Kuzma's guard.

Nee stands up from Kuzma's guard - Nee perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kuzma cracks Nee with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nee shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuzma as he avoids it easily.
Nee fails with the takedown.
Nee tries to clinch but Kuzma is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nee circles away quickly and effectively.
Kuzma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nee can do to turn this around?
A jab from Kuzma does it's job there.
Kuzma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nee is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kuzma with a body shot.

Nee drives through with a takedown into Kuzma's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nee sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nee's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kuzma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nee passes Kuzma's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nee drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nee is looking to take a break and control but Kuzma is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nee fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nee taking a breather here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuzma manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma wants to get back to full guard.
Kuzma wants to control but Nee is keeping busy.
Nee stalling.
Kuzma is trying to stand back up but Nee is controlling him
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Nee is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kuzma has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nee keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nee fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuzma avoids it really well and circles away.
Kuzma appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nee shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuzma tries to sprawl out of it but Nee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuzma manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuzma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kuzma tries to clinch there but Nee circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Kuzma as Nee shoots in.
Kyle Kuzma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Watchman Nee.
Kuzma takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nee misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kuzma lands with a good body shot.
Nee goes for a double leg but Kuzma avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kuzma continues to drive forward.
Nee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuzma has managed to clinch.
Kuzma has had enough of the clinch but Nee keeps him there for the moment.
I was talking to Kuzma's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kuzma is trying to push Nee away but Nee has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuzma lands a body shot in the clinch.

Kuzma breaks the clinch.
Kuzma misses with a two punch combination.

Kuzma gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nee is trying to break the clinch but Kuzma is controlling him.

Kuzma breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma misses with a body kick.
Nee drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuzma defends it well.
Kuzma throws a right and a left that Nee avoids nicely.
Kyle Kuzma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nee fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuzma avoids it really well and circles away.
Kuzma connects with a jab.
Kuzma tries a low kick but Nee avoids it.
And Nee tries to counter it with a takedown but Kuzma pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Kuzma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from Nee.
Nee avoids a punch combination nicely.
Watchman Nee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nee misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Kuzma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kuzma, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Kuzma!
In his post fight interview, Kyle Kuzma started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.