PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Douglas Duarte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Youngho Kwak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kwak has chosen Brown Eyed Girls - Satisfaction as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Duarte
vs
Kwak

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

154 cm
25
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Douglas Duarte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Youngho Kwak!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kwak tries to clinch up but Duarte circles away and keeps his distance.
Kwak moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Duarte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kwak.
Kwak defending well as Duarte loads up on a big left hand.
Duarte misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kwak.

Kwak pushes Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.

Kwak successfully pulls guard.
Duarte stays in close to Kwak's body and controls the position.

Kwak is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kwak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Duarte has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duarte wants to stand but Kwak has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kwak wants to get back to his feet but Duarte is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Douglas Duarte just wasn't active enough.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kwak.
Kwak walks into a stiff left hand from Duarte.
Kwak looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kwak takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Duarte takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kwak walks into a left hand.
A slow jab from Duarte misses its intended target.
Kwak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kwak throws a right hand that Duarte ducks under and follows up with a left that Duarte also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kwak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kwak.
Duarte takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A shot to the liver by Duarte. Beautiful body shot.
Duarte swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kwak throws a nice outside leg kick.
Duarte misses with a looping right.
Duarte moves out of range of the strikes.

Kwak closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Duarte is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duarte has had enough of the clinch but Kwak keeps him there for the moment.
Duarte wants a takedown.
Duarte working hard to break the clinch.

Kwak pulls guard.

Kwak has his foot on Duarte's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Duarte works his way back into a safe position though.
Duarte wants to stand and escape but instead Kwak has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kwak wants to control from the top but Duarte keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duarte wants to stand but Kwak is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Youngho Kwak dominated that round.
That's time! Duarte's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Duarte throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Duarte wants to slow Kwak down by chopping away at his legs.

Kwak shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Duarte napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Kwak stands up and beckons Duarte to his feet.
Duarte digs a good body shot into Kwak's ribs.
Duarte lands with a hook. Kwak tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Duarte connects with a right hand. Kwak shakes it off.
Kwak explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kwak throws a nice outside leg kick.
Youngho Kwak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duarte tries to avoid it but Kwak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duarte to the ground. Duarte escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Duarte is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kwak takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kwak pushes Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.
Kwak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Duarte walks away with a smile on his face. Kwak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kwak walks into a straight right hand from Duarte.
Kwak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kwak takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kwak tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Duarte manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kwak throws a series of punches but Duarte avoids them all with ease.
Duarte scores with a body shot.
Kwak looks to land a body kick but Duarte moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duarte takes a swing at Kwak's ribcage but misses.
Duarte takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Duarte fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kwak manages to avoid it.
Kwak looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kwak 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.
Duarte throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Duarte digs a good body shot into Kwak's ribs.
Duarte feints a jab promting Kwak to slip. Duarte then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kwak slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Douglas Duarte is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Duarte scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kwak in his tracks.
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!
Kwak lands a nice leg kick that just misses Duarte's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwak slips a jab and a cross from Duarte.
Kwak keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Duarte.
Kwak tries to clinch there but Duarte circles away.
Duarte throws a body punch but Kwak moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kwak, right into the meat.
Duarte looks to score with a jab to the body but Kwak is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Kwak.
Duarte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kwak.
Duarte tests Kwak's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Youngho Kwak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kwak ducks under a wild hook from Duarte.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Duarte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Youngho Kwak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kwak fails in his attempt to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Duarte. Beautiful body shot.

Kwak pushes Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Duarte's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kwak is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Duarte wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kwak keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Duarte's efforts to push away.
Duarte takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Youngho Kwak will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kwak throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Duarte scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kwak doesn't seem bothered though.

Kwak has managed to clinch.
Duarte is trying to push Kwak away but Kwak has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kwak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duarte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kwak misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Duarte misses with a wild body shot.
Kwak shoots in for a double leg but Duarte sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Duarte throws out a loose jab but Kwak uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kwak misses with a double jab
enabling Duarte to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duarte lands with a nice combination. Kwak backs away looking to recover.
Duarte misses with a body shot

and Kwak moves into the clinch.
Duarte wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Duarte's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kwak breaks from the clinch.
Kwak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kwak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kwak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Duarte works Kwak's body with a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Duarte. Kwak does a little dance to reset his feet.
Douglas Duarte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kwak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kwak slips under a jab from Duarte.
Duarte takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Duarte throws a hook but Kwak avoids it easily.
Duarte looks to land a right hand but Kwak moved out of range.
Kwak pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kwak pushes Duarte up against the cage in a clinch.
Duarte looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kwak prevents Duarte from breaking the clinch.
Duarte is trying to break the clinch but Kwak is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duarte misses with a knee strike.
Kwak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Duarte smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kwak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Duarte connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kwak. Kwak circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kwak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kwak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Duarte throws out the jab.

Kwak fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Duarte, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duarte is trying to break free.
Duarte working hard to break the clinch.
Kwak tries to pull guard but Duarte forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Douglas Duarte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Youngho Kwak.
Duarte can't break the clinch.
Kwak has Duarte pressed against the cage, preventing Duarte from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Duarte wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kwak tries to score a body lock takedown but Duarte shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kwak has Duarte pressed against the cage, preventing Duarte from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duarte looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kwak manages to break the clinch.
Youngho Kwak is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Duarte throws a hook to the side of Kwak's head but Kwak sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Douglas Duarte.
I think Kwak 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Youngho Kwak!
After the fight, Youngho Kwak was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.