PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gaje Kares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiko Kabala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kares
vs
Kabala

170 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

160 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gaje Kares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kiko Kabala!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kares tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kabala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kares somewhat.

Kabala gets caught flat footed, as Kares shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kares gets to his feet. Kabala looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Kares feints and as Kabala raises his hands in defense, Kares changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kares in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kabala wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kares manages to pass to side control.
Kares thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kares is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kabala has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kares thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kabala's head.
Kares missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kares not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kares swats away the attempt to clinch by Kabala.

Kabala drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kabala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kares. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kares is breathing heavily.

Kares is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kabala is aware though and is defending well.
Kabala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kares has his foot on Kabala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kabala works his way back into a safe position though.
Kabala is looking to stand up but Kares won't let him.
Kabala's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kares keeping moving, preventing Kabala from controlling successfully.
Kares is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kares is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kares wants to sweep here but Kabala controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kabala lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kabala.
Kabala with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kabala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kabala gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kares scoring with some ground and pound.
Kabala keeping full guard, as Kares tries to pass.
Kares passes into half guard.

Kares is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
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.

Kares decides to return to a standing position.

Kabala gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kares slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaje Kares dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kabala moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kares shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kabala moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kabala shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kares counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kabala!
Kares with shots to the head and body - Kabala looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kares dominating with strikes here.
Kares landing punches.
Kares lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
A nice elbow there by Kares.
Kares has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kares unloading with bombs!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kares with the ground and pound from mount.
Kabala is looking to get to half guard.
Kares landing punches.
Kares with the ground and pound from mount.
Kares in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Kares is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kabala is surviving well by controlling Kares's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kares putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kares pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Kares working for a guillotine from mount but Kabala is in no mood to give up.
A nice elbow there by Kares.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kares cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kares thowing shots but they're missing.
Kares breaks from Kabala's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kares with shots to the head and body - Kabala looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kares lands with some strikes.
Kares working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kares is landing with some decent strikes but Kabala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kares lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kabala is bucking up trying to escape but Kares cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kares punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kares postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kabala looks a forlorn figure.
Kares landing strikes from the mount and Kabala is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gaje Kares dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kabala walks into a left hand.

Kares closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kares fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kares working the ground and pound but Kabala is defending the strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Kares.
Kabala wants to get back to his feet but Kares drags him back down.
Kabala takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kabala is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kares connects with a decent elbow.
Kares working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kares misses with the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kabala gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kares to score an easy takedown into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kares accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kares thows a big elbow that misses.

Kares drops back looking for a leg! Kabala is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kabala manages to kick Kares off! Kares jumps back into Kabala's guard.
Kabala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kabala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kares lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kabala has momentary wrist control but Kares slips an elbow through the middle.

Kares decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kabala, up you get!
Kares throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kabala's waist but Kabala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kares off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kabala misses with a takedown attempt

and Kares counters with a takedown into side control.

Kares working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kares fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Kares tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kares has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Kares is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kabala is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kiko Kabala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kares is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kabala knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Kares is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kabala has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gaje Kares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kares, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gaje Kares!