PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruthless Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fuma Kotaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotaro has chosen Bang Bang as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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?

Junior
vs
Kotaro

174 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
177 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ruthless Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fuma Kotaro!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kotaro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Junior tries to bum rush Kotaro with a series of wild strikes but Kotaro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kotaro scores with a leg kick.
Junior throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Junior tries to bum rush Kotaro with a series of wild strikes but Kotaro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kotaro scores with a nice body kick.
Kotaro lands with a kick to the ribs.
Junior is breathing heavily.
Kotaro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Junior takes a step back to recover.
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!
Kotaro wants to clinch up but Junior keeps it at a distance.
Kotaro moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kotaro throws a leg kick which misses Junior's front leg but catches the back leg as Junior tries to avoid it.
Kotaro lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Kotaro. Kotaro gets slowly back to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kotaro - that will leave a mark!

Kotaro decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kotaro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Junior sees it coming and defends easily.

Kotaro is looking for a kimura but Junior is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kotaro to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kotaro in particular looking to stall.
Junior avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kotaro.

Kotaro is trying to work for a kimura but Junior is defending well.
Junior looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kotaro works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Junior is letting Kotaro control him for a moment.

Kotaro looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Junior is not content to let Kotaro control the position.
Junior on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Junior tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kotaro goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Junior rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kotaro's guard! Nice work there by Junior!
Kotaro is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Junior preventing the sweep.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Kotaro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kotaro working for submissions but it's allowed Junior to get to half guard.
Kotaro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuma Kotaro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Kotaro.
Junior looks to land a right hand but Kotaro moved out of range.
Kotaro slips a jab and a cross from Junior.
Junior fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kotaro manages to avoid it.
Junior connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Nice uppercut there from Junior.
Kotaro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior looks to land a combination but Kotaro avoids it well.
Junior stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Junior wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Junior misses the target.
Kotaro scores with a leg kick.
Junior swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kotaro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro slips under a jab.
Kotaro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Junior.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kotaro - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kotaro.
Kotaro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Junior.

It looks like Ruthless Junior has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body kick from Kotaro.
Kotaro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Junior chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kotaro can pounce on him.

Kotaro clinches up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kotaro.
Kotaro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Junior is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ruthless Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fuma Kotaro.
Kotaro crunches a lovely knee into Junior's ribcage.
Junior on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kotaro landing knees to the body.
Kotaro goes for a takedown in the clinch but Junior prevents it.
Kotaro fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Kotaro jumps guard and drags Junior to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kotaro trying to keep a closed guard but Junior is proving a slippery customer.
Junior has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kotaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Junior doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Junior manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kotaro working a defensive guard here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kotaro has his foot on Junior's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Junior works his way back into a safe position though.
Junior is looking to stand up but Kotaro won't let him.
Kotaro wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kotaro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Junior can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Junior wanted to stand there but Kotaro had control of the position.

Kotaro looking for a guillotine here but Junior defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kotaro is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fuma Kotaro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ruthless Junior's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Junior misses with a straight left.
Kotaro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Junior will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Horrible takedown by Kotaro or perhaps it was just good defense by Junior which made him look bad.
Kotaro doesn't manage to clinch there - Junior circles away.
Junior is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Fuma Kotaro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Junior misses with a two punch combination.
Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Junior just misses with a punch to the body.
Junior throws a series of punches but Kotaro moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior misses with a series of wild punches.
Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kotaro looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotaro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotaro trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kotaro controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kotaro looking to pass the guard.
Ruthless Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fuma Kotaro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Fuma Kotaro.
Kotaro slips under a jab.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kotaro.
Kotaro shoots for a takedown but Junior saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A slow jab from Junior misses its intended target.
Junior ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kotaro moves away.

Kotaro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Junior is trying to force a seperation but Kotaro has the dominant position.
Junior is trying to break the clinch but Kotaro has him pressed against the cage.
Junior can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro effectively controlling the action here.
Kotaro can't get the takedown.
Ruthless Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fuma Kotaro.
Junior can't break the clinch.
Junior is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Junior is pressed up against the cage. Kotaro has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Junior down to the mat. Junior avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Junior lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kotaro at a distance.
Kotaro lands with a kick to the temple. Junior shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kotaro lands a head kick!

Kotaro clinches with his opponent.
Junior blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kotaro has Junior pressed against the cage, preventing Junior from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kotaro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Junior blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotaro has Junior pressed against the cage, preventing Junior from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kotaro.
Kotaro has Junior pressed against the cage, preventing Junior from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Junior wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kotaro wants a takedown but no success here.
Junior has had enough of the clinch but Kotaro keeps him there for the moment.
Junior is looking to break free of the clinch but Kotaro has double underhooks.
Junior wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kotaro has him pressed against the cage.
Junior managing to block the knees to the body from Kotaro.
Kotaro has Junior pressed against the cage, preventing Junior from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior has a couple of punches blocked by Kotaro.
Kotaro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Junior gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kotaro wants a takedown but no success here.

Junior pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Junior lands with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fuma Kotaro.
Well Kotaro has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fuma Kotaro!