PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gaius Marius (ranked 1517 p4p, 2508 weight class) and Kyle Kuzma (ranked 201 p4p, 326 weight class). Kuzma has chosen Tarararara as his entrance music. Kyle Kuzma has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marius
vs
Kuzma

189 cm
26
215
10 - 4 - 0

195 cm
36
202
18 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

PWNAGE™

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gaius Marius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Kuzma!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzma tries to clinch but Marius is having none of it.
Marius cracks Kuzma with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kuzma takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Marius just misses with a punch to the body.
Kyle Kuzma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuzma tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marius counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kuzma's knee momentarily.
No joy there for Kuzma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kuzma is looking to chop away at Marius's legs.
Marius missing with a left hand there. Kuzma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuzma let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Kuzma closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kuzma wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Marius has him pressed against the cage.

Kuzma manages to break the clinch.
Kuzma tries to clinch but Marius is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Marius.
Marius waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuzma.
Marius pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuzma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Marius misses the target.
Marius keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
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!
Marius lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma moves forwards but Marius connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kuzma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuzma ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've been informed that Kuzma has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Kuzma has managed to clinch.
Marius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuzma backwards.
Kuzma wants to break the clinch but can't.
Marius lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Marius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Marius lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kuzma.
Marius lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuzma backwards.

It looks like Kyle Kuzma has been cut.

Kuzma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuzma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuzma lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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!
Kuzma misses with the combination.
Good leg kick by Marius.
Marius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuzma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marius lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marius throws a head kick but Kuzma moves out of range.
Marius looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Marius blocks a jab.
Marius fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kuzma just manages to avoid it.
Kuzma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marius was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuzma.
Marius fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kuzma has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
An inside leg kick lands from Marius.

Marius closes the distance and pushes Kuzma back into the cage.

Kuzma manages to break the clinch.
Marius throws a good cross that connects.
Marius misses the shot to the body.
Nice shot lands for Kuzma.
Marius fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kuzma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marius lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marius uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kuzma has time to react.
Kuzma throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marius. Marius obviously looking to wear him down.
Marius scores with a jab to the head.
Kuzma throws a lazy uppercut
and Marius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marius attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Marius moves out of range of the leg kick from Kuzma.
Kuzma misses the jab.
As Kuzma backs away, Marius returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kuzma throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Marius stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Marius is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Marius clinches up against the cage.
Marius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuzma's elbow.

Marius escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marius is looking to slow Kuzma down with leg kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuzma. Marius does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuzma throws an overhand right that lands on Marius's shoulder, as Marius tries to avoid the shot.
Kuzma tries a low kick but Marius avoids it.
Marius lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Marius goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kuzma gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuzma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Marius takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kuzma misses with a wild combination.
Kuzma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuzma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuzma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marius circles away quickly and effectively.
Kuzma lands with a straight right. Marius didn't see that one coming.
Kuzma fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuzma swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Marius counters with a leg kick.
Kuzma with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kuzma throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Marius to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Marius tries to keep at a distance but Kuzma has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kuzma is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Marius throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kuzmas head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Marius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kyle Kuzma's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Marius fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marius connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kuzma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuzma throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marius counters with a nice body shot.
Marius has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kuzma looks to land a right hand but Marius moved out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Marius.
Kuzma closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kuzma tries to clinch but Marius moves out of range.
Kuzma's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kuzma misses with a hook to the body
and Marius makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Marius looks to throw the jab but Kuzma is out of range.
Kuzma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A little feinted left hand from Marius on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marius lands with a good body shot.
Marius fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaius Marius is winning the standup battle so far.
Marius fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kuzma has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kuzma misses with a straight left.
Marius seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Marius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuzma manages to avoid it.
Kuzma throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marius counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma takes one on the button.
Marius lands a jab.
Kuzma slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kyle Kuzma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Kuzma misses.
Marius dodges the punch combination from Kuzma.
Marius slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Marius is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuzma can do to turn this around?
Marius throws a front kick aimed at Kuzma's knee but Kuzma avoids it well.
Marius pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Marius slips a jab and a cross from Kuzma.
Kuzma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marius.
Kuzma takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Marius thumps Kuzma with a low kick.
Marius throws a hook but Kuzma avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Marius tenderised Kuzma's leg. Kuzma is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kuzma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Good leg kick by Marius.
Marius throws a quick inside leg kick.

Kuzma closes the distance and pushes Marius back into the cage.
Marius lands a shot to the body.
Marius lands a shoulder strike.
Gaius Marius has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marius throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuzma.
A head punch on the inside from Marius fails to land.
Marius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marius throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kuzma utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marius.
Marius lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuzma backwards.

Marius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma looks to score with a jab to the body but Marius is just out of range.
Kuzma throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Marius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kuzma punishes Marius's body with a nice straight punch.
A punch combination from Kuzma misses.
Kuzma throws a series of punches but Marius moves out of range.
Kuzma slips a straight right by Marius.
Kuzma throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Marius throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuzma misses with a double jab
and Marius counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuzma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marius moves out of range of the body kick.
Kuzma blocks a head kick by Marius.
Kuzma moves out of range as Marius strikes.
Kuzma throws a chopping leg kick but Marius manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marius circles away quickly and effectively.
Marius throwing a counter right hand but Kuzma manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Kuzma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Marius.
Kuzma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kuzma is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marius connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Marius.
Kuzma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Marius misses with a head kick.
Kuzma is looking to clinch.
Kuzma swinging wildly here.
Marius throws a series of punches but Kuzma avoids them all with ease.
Marius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuzma.
Marius wants to clinch up but Kuzma keeps it at a distance.
Kuzma looks to score with a jab to the body but Marius is just out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from Marius misses its intended target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gaius Marius dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kyle Kuzma's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Marius.
Marius misses with a low kick.
Marius scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kuzma feints and then cracks Marius's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marius down.
Marius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuzma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuzma falls off balance throwing a combination
and Marius counters with a straight right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kuzma.
Marius connects with a crisp jab.
Kuzma thows a leg kick but Marius checks it
and Kuzma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That kick from Marius tenderised Kuzma's leg. Kuzma is trying to keep his angry face on.

Marius moves into range and clinches up with Kuzma.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marius lands a shoulder strike.
Kuzma tries to circle away but Marius has him pinned against the cage.
Marius has Kuzma pressed against the cage, preventing Kuzma from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marius keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuzma's efforts to push away.
Kuzma tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Marius breaks the clinch.
Kuzma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Marius connects with a solid leg kick.
Marius connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuzma's hands.
Marius ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuzma moves away.
Marius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kuzma wants to clinch.
Marius circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuzma takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuzma misses with a right hand
and Marius counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kuzma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marius.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marius lands a head kick!
Kuzma swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Marius makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Marius throws a sloppy head kick
and Kuzma counters with a series of strikes. Marius will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kuzma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuzma missing with a left hand there. Marius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuzma on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Marius. Marius obviously looking to wear him down.
No joy there for Kuzma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marius scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marius thuds a left hand into Kuzma's body.
Marius defending well as Kuzma loads up on a big left hand.
Marius circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuzma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuzma stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Marius tries to bum rush Kuzma with a series of wild strikes but Kuzma uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marius lands a leg kick that knocks Kuzma off balance momentarily.
Marius connects with a solid leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kuzma.
Kuzma throws a low kick but Marius avoids it.
Kuzma works the jab nicely.
Marius lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by Marius. That's going to slow Kuzma down.
Kuzma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marius.
Marius motions for Kuzma to come forward. Marius throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kuzma gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Marius counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kuzma thinking.

Kuzma clinches with his opponent.
Marius cracks Kuzma with a nice body shot.
Kuzma wants to break free but Marius has control.
Kuzma wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Marius lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Marius lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Marius.
A short body shot lands from Marius as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A shot in the inside from Marius.
Kyle Kuzma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gaius Marius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marius lands a body punch.
Marius tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marius lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Marius lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Marius scores with a nice short uppercut.
Marius lands with a left to the head.

Kuzma is rocked!
A right hand to the body from Marius.
Kuzma is still on wobbly legs! Can Marius finish him?
Marius lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Marius pushes Kuzma back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Marius lands a shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Marius.
Marius throws a big uppercut that drops Kuzma! More strikes from Marius and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Kuzma lies dazed against the cage as Marius celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gaius Marius!
Gaius Marius thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Kyle Kuzma stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will back stronger'.