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TWG 38 (205lbs, D2): Finals - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the light heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 2 wins and 0 losses; Alexander Maximus! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 10 wins and 4 losses; Kazuma Kuwabara!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Jonathan Paton.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Maximus tries for a takedown but Kuwabara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kuwabara darts in and clinches Maximus up against the cage.
Kuwabara prevents the takedown attempt.
Maximus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kuwabara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Maximus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuwabara gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Maximus (0) vs (2) Kuwabara
Kuwabara is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maximus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maximus has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Maximus (2) vs (2) Kuwabara
Kuwabara working for a triangle but Maximus defends it easily.
Kuwabara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maximus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuwabara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maximus defends it easily.
Kuwabara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Maximus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus stays in close to Kuwabara's body and controls the position.
Kuwabara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maximus passes Kuwabara's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kuwabara tries to get to full guard but Maximus has control of the leg.
Maximus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara actively working from the bottom here.
Maximus wants to pass the guard but Kuwabara is defending well.
Maximus is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maximus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kuwabara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maximus trying to mount his opponent but Kuwabara defends it.
Kuwabara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximus is keen to just control but Kuwabara is a slippery customer.
Maximus looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kuwabara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maximus moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Kuwabara. Score +3 for passing guard: Maximus (5) vs (2) Kuwabara
Maximus wants to control but Kuwabara is keeping him busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara tries to buck Maximus off but Maximus is having none of it.
Kuwabara trying to remain calm as Maximus controls from the top position.
Maximus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuwabara keeps working.
Maximus is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kuwabara will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kuwabara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Maximus is looking to take a break and control but Kuwabara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuwabara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maximus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara is being controlled here.
Kuwabara tries to improve position but can't.
Maximus slows the pace down.
Kuwabara is looking to regain half guard here but Maximus keeps moving and retains side control.
Maximus trying to control the position but Kuwabara is working away.
Kuwabara tries to bench press Maximus off him but Maximus keeps the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Maximus off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Maximus (5) vs (6) Kuwabara
Kuwabara patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Kuwabara has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maximus has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kuwabara keeps control of the position as Maximus tries to break free.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Maximus trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Kuwabara working for a choke but Maximus is defending well.
Maximus is in a bad position with Kuwabara working for a choke. Maximus manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Maximus (7) vs (6) Kuwabara
Maximus controlling from the top position.
Maximus looking to pass the guard.
Maximus engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Maximus stopping the sweep attempt from Kuwabara.
Maximus is pushing down on Kuwabara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kuwabara is fighting to maintain full guard but Maximus has managed to sneak the leg through.
Maximus prevents Kuwabara from improving his position.
Kuwabara looking for submissions off his back.
Kuwabara looking for submissions off his back.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Maximus seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Maximus wants to control but Kuwabara is keeping him busy.
Maximus works his foot free and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Maximus (10) vs (6) Kuwabara
Maximus tries to control but Kuwabara wriggling away.
Kuwabara is trying to escape the mount but Maximus keeps good control and instead manages to take Kuwabara's back.
Score +3 for taking back: Maximus (13) vs (6) Kuwabara
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara tries to escape the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Maximus's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Maximus is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Maximus trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Maximus has the hooks in. Kuwabara is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Good control from Maximus.
Maximus has the hooks in. Kuwabara is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Maximus is looking to control Kuwabara but Kuwabara is wriggling around and keeping busy.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara tries to escape but Maximus has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Kuwabara is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Maximus is hanging on to Kuwabara's back as he tries to escape.
Maximus has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kuwabara's body.
Kuwabara tries to escape but Maximus has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Maximus is riding his opponent, not letting Kuwabara buck him off.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara is really stuck here.
Maximus slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Will Maximus go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
You can see the frustration on Kuwabara's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Maximus struggling to keep hold of the position.
Maximus is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara is trying to break free.
Maximus really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kuwabara.
Kuwabara is keeping busy.
Maximus is trying to stick to Kuwabara's back but Kuwabara is turning into Maximus. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Maximus's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kuwabara. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Maximus (13) vs (8) Kuwabara
Kuwabara drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kuwabara jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kuwabara drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Maximus dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Maximus (15) vs (8) Kuwabara
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maximus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuwabara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maximus defends it easily.
Kuwabara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Maximus defends it easily.
Our spies down at at Marty Robbin's Fight Ranch inform us that Kuwabara has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kuwabara working for submissions but it's allowed Maximus to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, if Maximus is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Maximus's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that's the end of the fight!
Maximus takes the fight on points by 15 to 8.
After winning the bout, Alexander Maximus thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Kazuma Kuwabara spoke after the fight, saying 'We all have to die when our time comes, but if we do our duty we don't got regrets'. |
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