PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaina Correa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Phema (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Phema has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Correa
vs
Phema

178 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kaina Correa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Phema!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Correa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phema falls off balance throwing a combination

and Correa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Correa.
Correa wants a takedown but no success here.
Correa tries to pull guard but Phema won't allow it.
Phema prevents a body shot from Correa.
Phema is trying to force a seperation but Correa has the dominant position.
Phema tries to circle away but Correa has him pinned against the cage.
Phema tries to break the clinch but Correa is controlling the position.
Correa lands a nice knee to the body.

Correa manages to break the clinch.
Phema falls off balance throwing a combination

and Correa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Correa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Correa wants to control from the top but Phema keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Correa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Correa wants to control from the top but Phema keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Phema is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Correa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Phema can't keep his opponent in guard - Correa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Correa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Phema knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Correa throwing shots but Phema is blocking nicely.
Correa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Correa stalling.
Phema avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Correa.
Correa wants to take a breather but Phema is having none of it.
Correa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Correa 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.
Correa is looking to take a break and control but Phema is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phema keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Correa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Phema's head.
Correa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Correa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Phema does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kaina Correa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Phema misses with a combination

and Correa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Correa tries to land a knee to the head but Phema blocks with his arms.
Correa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Correa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Phema in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Correa.

Correa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Correa trying to control the position.
Phema working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Phema really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Correa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Phema trying to stand up but can't free himself from Correa's guard.

Phema got a little sloppy there for a moment and Correa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Phema has managed to get both his arms back between Correa's legs - danger averted.

Correa looking for a guillotine here but Phema defends easily.
Correa is breathing heavily.
Phema loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Phema working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Phema accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Correa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaina Correa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Phema sizes up Correa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Phema throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Correa counters by moving into the clinch.
Correa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Correa lands a knee to the head.
Phema tries to break the clinch but Correa is controlling the position.
Stalling in the clinch from Correa.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nice elbow from Correa.
Correa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Correa has Phema pressed against the cage.

Phema is fighting off a takedown attempt but Correa is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Phema to the mat. Phema regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Phema wants to stand and escape but Correa is having none of it.
Correa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Phema's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phema blocking the ground and pound attempt from Correa.
Phema is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Phema regains full guard. Nicely done.
Correa wants to control from the top but Phema keeps moving.
Correa passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Correa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Phema keeps working.

That's two 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.
Phema takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Correa throws an elbow but Phema slips to the side and avoids it well.
Phema tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Correa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Correa trying to control the position but Phema is working away.
Correa in side control lands a decent elbow.

Correa swings around for an armbar but Phema sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Correa's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Correa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Phema manages to get himself to full guard.
Correa advances position into side control!

Correa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Phema has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Correa but great work by Phema.
Correa can't do much from the bottom here.
Phema blocks the strikes from Correa.
Correa sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Phema wants to stand but Correa has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Correa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Phema.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phema not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Phema thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Correa's head.
Phema missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Phema is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Correa gets full guard.

Correa looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Phema is defending well. Correa quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Phema has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Correa celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kaina Correa!