PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kuba Kubaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Van Guyen (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.

Kubaa
vs
Van Guyen

183 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kuba Kubaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Van Guyen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Van Guyen!
Van Guyen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kubaa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Van Guyen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kubaa.

Van Guyen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kubaa wants to control but Van Guyen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kubaa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kubaa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Van Guyen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Van Guyen's back!
Van Guyen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kubaa unloads with some shots from mount but Van Guyen bucks and avoids them well.
Kubaa avoids the attempt from Van Guyen to control.
Kubaa content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Guyen tries to reverse the position but Kubaa maintains control.
Van Guyen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kubaa content just to control the position here.
Van Guyen is looking to get to half guard.
Kubaa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Van Guyen because Kubaa loaded up on that one.
Kubaa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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.
Van Guyen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Van Guyen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kubaa 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.
Kubaa punching from mount but Van Guyen doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kubaa forces the positional change into back control.
Kubaa biding his time, looking for the opening.
Van Guyen wants to escape the position.

Kubaa is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Van Guyen is defending well though. Kubaa let's go of the attempt for now.
Kubaa is trying to stick to Van Guyen's back but Van Guyen is turning into Kubaa. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kubaa's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Van Guyen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kubaa is proving hard to escape from.

Van Guyen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kubaa dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Guyen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Van Guyen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kubaa won't allow Van Guyen to get back to his feet.
Kubaa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Van Guyen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Van Guyen looks gassed!
Kubaa advances position into side control!
Van Guyen is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Kubaa misses with a head shot.
Van Guyen really wants to buck Kubaa off and get back to his feet.

Kubaa looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kubaa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kubaa thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuba Kubaa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Van Guyen throws a right and a left that Kubaa avoids nicely.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van Guyen, right into the meat.
Kuba Kubaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Guyen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kubaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Guyen fails with the takedown

and Kubaa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Van Guyen won't be happy with that.
Kubaa in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Kubaa decides to stand back up.
Kubaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Guyen circles away.
Kubaa throws a wild body kick that Van Guyen sees coming a mile off.
Van Guyen throws a right and a left that Kubaa avoids nicely.
Van Guyen misses with a few strikes there.
Kubaa avoids the head kick by Van Guyen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Van Guyen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Van Guyen throwing shots but Kubaa is blocking nicely.

Van Guyen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kubaa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kubaa preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Guyen is thwarting Kubaa's attempts to control the position.
Kubaa is looking for a sweep. Van Guyen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubaa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Van Guyen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kubaa keeping hold of Van Guyen's head, controlling as best he can.
Kuba Kubaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

and Kubaa counters with a single leg into guard. Van Guyen didn't expect that.
Van Guyen is trying to control the position but Kubaa postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Guyen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kubaa gets to his feet. Van Guyen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Van Guyen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kubaa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kubaa.
Kuba Kubaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Van Guyen.
Van Guyen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kubaa controls the pace.
Van Guyen trying to control the position.
Van Guyen keeping moving, preventing Kubaa from controlling successfully.
Kubaa pushing down on Van Guyen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen is refusing to be controlled, as Kubaa sits in half guard.
Van Guyen is trying to stand back up but Kubaa is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kubaa trying to mount his opponent but Van Guyen defends it.
Van Guyen wants to get back to full guard.
Van Guyen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Van Guyen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Guyen throws a shot to the body.

Van Guyen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Van Guyen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuba Kubaa dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Van Guyen moves into the clinch.
Kubaa wants to break free but Van Guyen has control.
Van Guyen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kubaa avoids the damage to the body.

Van Guyen is trying to trip Kubaa. He has hold of a leg but Kubaa is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Van Guyen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Van Guyen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kubaa seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kubaa striking off his back but it's not causing Van Guyen any problems.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Guyen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kubaa's guard.
Kubaa keeping moving, preventing Van Guyen from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Guyen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Guyen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Van Guyen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kubaa manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Van Guyen has Kubaa in his guard.
Kubaa advances position into side control!
Van Guyen tries to buck Kubaa off but Kubaa is having none of it.

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.
Kubaa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Van Guyen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Van Guyen is trying to control Kubaa's posture but Kubaa avoids it.

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

Kubaa stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen lands with a kick to the temple. Kubaa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Van Guyen doesn't manage to clinch there - Kubaa circles away.
Kubaa tries to clinch there but Van Guyen circles away.
Kubaa avoids the head kick by Van Guyen.
Van Guyen stuffs the takedown.

Kubaa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Van Guyen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kubaa is trying to control the position but Van Guyen postures up.
Van Guyen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Van Guyen is looking to work some ground and pound but Kubaa has wrist control.

Kubaa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Guyen defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Guyen works over Kubaa with some ground and pound from guard.

Van Guyen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Guyen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kubaa keeping moving, preventing Van Guyen from controlling successfully.

Van Guyen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van Guyen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Guyen trying to control but Kubaa is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Van Guyen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kubaa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuba Kubaa!