PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kikuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronaldo Couza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kikuchi
vs
Couza

196 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akira Kikuchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronaldo Couza!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Couza does no damage.

Couza closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Couza postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kikuchi parries the strikes from Couza easily there. Couza is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kikuchi to escape.
Couza throws an elbow but Kikuchi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kikuchi gets back to half guard.
Couza missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kikuchi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Couza is working away from the top position though.
Kikuchi wants to improve his position but Couza is controlling well.
Couza is thwarting Kikuchi's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kikuchi dodges the punch combination from Couza.
Couza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kikuchi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Couza.
Kikuchi throws a solid leg kick but Couza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kikuchi.
Couza should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Couza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Couza swinging wilding here.
Couza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuchi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Couza looks gassed!
A slapping leg kick lands for Kikuchi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kikuchi misses with a head kick.
Kikuchi motions for Couza to come forward. Kikuchi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Couza misses.
Couza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knees to the body from Kikuchi.
Couza avoiding damage as Kikuchi throws knees to the body.
Kikuchi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Couza lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Kikuchi decides to pull guard.
Kikuchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couza is one step ahead there.
Couza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kikuchi is keeping the position for now.
Couza is looking to work some ground and pound but Kikuchi has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Couza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Couza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kikuchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couza.
Kikuchi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Couza trying to hold on to Kikuchi's head to control him but Kikuchi postures up.
Couza slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Couza striking off his back but it's not causing Kikuchi any problems.

Couza manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Couza misses with a head kick.

Couza clinches.
Kikuchi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couza.
Kikuchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Couza avoids the damage to the body.
Couza stalling the fight.
Kikuchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Couza avoids the damage to the body.
Couza misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A bit of stalling here from Couza.

Kikuchi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Couza misses with a series of wild punches.

Couza instigates a clinch.

Couza breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi closes the distance looking to clinch

so Couza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kikuchi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Couza's guard.
Couza doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Couza throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi passes into half guard.
Kikuchi blocks the strikes from Couza.

Kikuchi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Couza tries to roll over but Kikuchi keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Couza manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Couza throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kikuchi stopping the sweep attempt from Couza.

Kikuchi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kikuchi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Couza trying to strike off his back.
Couza can't keep his opponent in guard - Kikuchi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kikuchi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kikuchi takes Couza's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Couza tries to escape but Kikuchi has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Couza is trying to get back to his feet but Kikuchi has full control of the position and if anything, Couza has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Kikuchi looking for the choke but no joy.
Couza tries to break free.
Couza trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kikuchi has the hooks in. Couza is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Couza is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kikuchi gets his way!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Couza looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Couza breaks Kikuchi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kikuchi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Couza is one step ahead there.
Kikuchi controls Couza momentarily but Couza frees himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Couza won't allow Kikuchi to get back to his feet.
Kikuchi looking for a sweep. Not yet Kikuchi, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Kikuchi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kikuchi misses the shot to the body.
Kikuchi looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Couza scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kikuchi gets full guard.
Couza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kikuchi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kikuchi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Couza gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Couza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Couza circles away from the clinch attempt

and Couza counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Couza.

Kikuchi breaks the clinch.
Couza misses with a few strikes there.
Kikuchi misses with a head kick.
Kikuchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Couza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Couza moves away.

Couza drives through and clinches with Kikuchi against the cage.
Couza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikuchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Couza avoids the damage to the body.

Couza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Couza misses with a kick to the body.
Couza checks a low kick from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi throws a low kick, looking for Couza's leg but Couza calmly moves out of range.

Couza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kikuchi is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Couza.
Poor strikes thrown by Couza there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Couza throwing strikes here but Kikuchi is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kikuchi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Couza. What's that going to do exactly?
Ronaldo Couza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Couza punching from mount but Kikuchi doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Couza with good strikes from the mount here!
Kikuchi tries to lock up and control but Couza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kikuchi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Couza. What's that going to do exactly?
Couza throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kikuchi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Couza has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kikuchi's face.
Kikuchi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi tries to lock up and control but Couza gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kikuchi is trying desperately to improve position.
Kikuchi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kikuchi moves into full guard.
Couza wants to pass the guard but Kikuchi is keeping the position.

Kikuchi is looking for a triangle but Couza pushes his legs off easily.

Kikuchi working for a triangle but Couza defends it easily.
Kikuchi looking to control.
Couza trying to control but Kikuchi is working from the bottom.
Couza wants to stand but Kikuchi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Couza wants to pass the guard but Kikuchi is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Couza trying to control the position from guard on top but Kikuchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kikuchi looking for a sweep. Not yet Kikuchi, not yet.
Couza in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Couza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Couza clinches up with Kikuchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Couza slows down the pace here.

Kikuchi has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Couza uses from the top position.
Kikuchi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Couza.

Couza decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kikuchi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ronaldo Couza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kikuchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Couza paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kikuchi misses with a body shot.
Couza takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Couza looks to land a combination but Kikuchi avoids it well.
Kikuchi avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi tries a head kick but it misses.

Couza instigates a clinch.
Couza will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kikuchi up against the cage.
Kikuchi trying to land knees to the body.

Couza breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kikuchi throws a front kick aimed at Couza's knee but Couza avoids it well.
Kikuchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Couza blocks a head kick by Kikuchi.
Kikuchi slips a jab and a cross from Couza.

Couza clinches.
Come on Couza - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Kikuchi breaks from the clinch.
Ronaldo Couza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Couza misses with a two punch combination.

Couza instigates a clinch.
Couza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kikuchi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Couza will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kikuchi up against the cage.
Couza stalling in the clinch but Kikuchi improves position.
Kikuchi wants to stall.
Kikuchi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Couza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Couza throws a series of punches but Kikuchi avoids them all with ease.
Kikuchi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kikuchi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Kikuchi tries to keep at a distance but Couza has taken the fight into the clinch.
Couza looking to slow down the pace here.
Kikuchi is trying to break free.
Kikuchi prevents Couza from breaking the clinch.
Kikuchi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Couza is keeping busy.
Kikuchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Couza avoids the damage to the body.

Kikuchi breaks the clinch.
Kikuchi misses with a low kick.
Kikuchi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Couza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kikuchi motions for Couza to come forward. Kikuchi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Couza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Couza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kikuchi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Couza misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kikuchi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Couza is out of range.
Kikuchi throws a leg kick but Couza moved away.
Kikuchi wants to clinch but Couza slips to the side

and Couza holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Couza avoiding damage as Kikuchi throws knees to the body.
Couza keeps control of Kikuchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Couza wants to get back to striking at distance but Kikuchi won't allow it.
Couza stalling in the clinch.
Couza wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kikuchi has him pressed against the cage.
Couza looking to stall.

Kikuchi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kikuchi throws a head kick that misses.
Kikuchi misses with a body kick.
Couza takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Couza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kikuchi sneaks back into half guard.
Couza working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kikuchi wants to control but Couza is keeping busy.
Kikuchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Couza.
Kikuchi tries to kick Couza off but Couza keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kikuchi tries to get to full guard but Couza has control of the leg.
Couza tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kikuchi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kikuchi is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Couza pulls his head out easily.
Couza seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kikuchi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Couza misses with a series of wild punches.
Couza swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Couza bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kikuchi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Couza tries to score with some ground and pound. Kikuchi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Couza working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kikuchi is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Couza.
Couza throws an elbow but Kikuchi slips to the side and avoids it well.

Couza decides to take the fight back to the feet.
No joy there for Couza, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
An inside leg kick from Kikuchi misses.
Couza moves out of range of the body kick from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi tries to clinch

and Couza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kikuchi's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Couza missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Couza stopping the sweep attempt from Kikuchi.

Kikuchi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Couza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kikuchi has his foot on Couza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Couza works his way back into a safe position though.

Kikuchi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kikuchi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Couza gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Couza stands up and waves to Kikuchi to follow him.
Kikuchi tries to clinch but Couza moves away

and Couza moves into the clinch.
Couza looking to stall.
Kikuchi tries to break the clinch but Couza is controlling the position.
Kikuchi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kikuchi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kikuchi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couza.
Couza wants to break free but Kikuchi has control.
Kikuchi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Couza has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The referee calls for Couza to work.
Couza stalling in the clinch but Kikuchi improves position.
Kikuchi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kikuchi looking to throw knees to the head but Couza is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikuchi trying to land knees to the body.
Kikuchi looking to stall.
Couza stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Couza managing to block the knees to the body from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi wants to break free but Couza has control.
Kikuchi trying to land knees to the body.
Couza wants to break free but Kikuchi has control.
Kikuchi trying to land knees to the body.
Couza managing to block the knees to the body from Kikuchi.
Kikuchi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kikuchi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kikuchi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Couza.
Couza looking to slow down the pace here.
Kikuchi lands a knee to the body.
Kikuchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Couza avoids the damage to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Couza.
Couza receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Couza lands a hook that snaps the head of Kikuchi backwards.

Couza manages to break the clinch.
Couza throws a wild body kick that Kikuchi sees coming a mile off.
Kikuchi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Couza.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Couza misses with a wild combination.
Kikuchi slips a jab and a cross from Couza.
Kikuchi tries to land a leg kick but Couza saw it coming and moves away.
Kikuchi looks for the body kick but Couza saw that one coming.

Couza has closed the distance and engaged Kikuchi in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Couza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Couza 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Couza!