PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kristan Maruyama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Exlax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maruyama
vs
Exlax

191 cm
22
218 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

196 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kristan Maruyama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Richard Exlax!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Exlax tries to clinch up but Maruyama circles away and keeps his distance.
Maruyama throws a head kick but Exlax moves out of range.
Exlax tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maruyama defends well and Exlax ends up having to push Maruyama into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Exlax trying to control the position but instead, Maruyama has worked for underhooks and has pushed Exlax into the cage.
Exlax tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Exlax scores a nice knee to the body.
Maruyama on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maruyama can't break the clinch.
Maruyama works on Exlax's body with a couple of short punches.
Exlax wants to take the fight to the mat but Maruyama manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Maruyama is trying to break the clinch but Exlax has him pressed against the cage.
Exlax is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maruyama pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kristan Maruyama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Exlax.
Exlax takes an elbow to the forehead.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Exlax takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Exlax is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Maruyama is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exlax can't get the takedown.
Exlax is trying to drag Maruyama to the mat but Maruyama just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Exlax looking to slow down the pace here.
Maruyama avoiding damage as Exlax throws knees to the body.

Maruyama breaks from the clinch.
Exlax tries for a takedown but Maruyama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kristan Maruyama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maruyama thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Exlax if he has to take too many more of those.
Maruyama connects with a leg kick. Exlax looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Maruyama.
Maruyama does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
An inside leg kick from Maruyama misses.
Maruyama lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maruyama throws a leg kick which misses Exlax's front leg but catches the back leg as Exlax tries to avoid it.
Kristan Maruyama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Exlax fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exlax tries to clinch there but Maruyama circles away.
Maruyama scores with a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maruyama throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Maruyama instigates a clinch.
Maruyama trying to stall but Exlax improves his position.
Maruyama is trying to break free.

Exlax gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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

Maruyama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Exlax passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maruyama is looking to get back to his feet here but Exlax is keeping cool and he's managed to take Maruyama's back.
Exlax tries to get the hooks in deep but Maruyama pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Exlax is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Maruyama defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Exlax's arms.
Maruyama tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Maruyama wants to control but Exlax is having none of it.
Exlax wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maruyama working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exlax can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maruyama is looking to escape.
Exlax moves to the back position.

Maruyama defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Exlax's arms.
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!
Maruyama is trying to stand back up.
Maruyama is in bad spot here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Exlax is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Richard Exlax will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maruyama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Exlax.
Exlax wants to clinch up but Maruyama keeps it at a distance.
Exlax fails with a takedown attempt.
Exlax closes the distance but Maruyama moves to the side
and Maruyama counters with a good low kick that Exlax was not able to check.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Exlax is defended easily by Maruyama.
Maruyama does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Exlax tries to keep at a distance but Maruyama has taken the fight into the clinch.

Exlax has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Maruyama regains guard immediately.
Exlax has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maruyama is proving hard to escape from.
Maruyama trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maruyama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Exlax defends it easily.
Richard Exlax has got the better of the ground game so far.
Exlax trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Maruyama has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Exlax is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maruyama.
Maruyama is looking to regain half guard here but Exlax keeps moving and retains side control.

Exlax is working to tighten is grip on Maruyama's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Maruyama has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Exlax is really squeezing tight and eventually Maruyama passes out! Exlax breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Richard Exlax!
After winning the bout, Richard Exlax thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.