PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richard Dawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waru Kuzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dawkins comes to the cage accompanied by Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dawkins
vs
Kuzuri

170 cm
33
160 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

163 cm
30
135 lbs
35 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richard Dawkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waru Kuzuri!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzuri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick from Kuzuri misses.
Kuzuri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dawkins has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kuzuri looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kuzuri tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kuzuri throws out a powerful jab.
Dawkins throws a body punch but Kuzuri moves out of range.
Kuzuri throws a leg kick but Dawkins sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kuzuri throws a body kick that misses.
Kuzuri connects with a body shot that sends Dawkins's belly button to the back.
Kuzuri punishes Dawkins's body with a nice straight punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kuzuri.
Dawkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Dawkins takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A clash of legs there as Dawkins blocks the low kick.
Kuzuri misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzuri throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kuzuri fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dawkins throws a looping overhand right but Kuzuri ducks down to avoid it.
Dawkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws a leg kick that is checked

and Dawkins decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kuzuri's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kuzuri trying to control the position.
Dawkins wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Kuzuri looking to control.
Dawkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kuzuri's head.
Dawkins won't allow Kuzuri to sweep him here.
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!

Kuzuri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dawkins is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dawkins throwing strikes but missing.
Kuzuri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dawkins tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuzuri is retaining full guard.
Kuzuri can't keep his opponent in guard - Dawkins advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Dawkins is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kuzuri sees it coming and defends easily.
Dawkins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kuzuri knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dawkins seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kuzuri is not content to let Dawkins control the position.
Kuzuri is trying to control but can't.
Kuzuri is pressing down on Dawkins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dawkins is looking to pass into half guard but Kuzuri pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kuzuri is in guard.
Kuzuri is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kuzuri wants to control from the top but Dawkins keeps moving.
Kuzuri stopping the sweep attempt from Dawkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins trying to control the position.

Kuzuri got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dawkins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuzuri has managed to get both his arms back between Dawkins's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dawkins being controlled here, momentarily.

Kuzuri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuzuri wants to control from the top but Dawkins keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Richard Dawkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dawkins misses with a jab, cross combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuzuri misses the target.
Kuzuri lands a nice hook to Dawkins's body. Dawkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kuzuri lands a glancing blow to the side of Dawkins's head.
A head kick misses from Kuzuri.
That kick from Dawkins tenderised Kuzuri's leg. Kuzuri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dawkins takes a swing at Kuzuri's ribcage but misses.
Kuzuri missing with a left hand there. Dawkins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kuzuri throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kuzuri throws a jab when Dawkins was well out of range.
Kuzuri's corner calls for a 1-2. Kuzuri obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kuzuri blocks a leg kick.
Waru Kuzuri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuzuri blocks the body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dawkins.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins is looking to chop away at Kuzuri's legs.
Kuzuri with a hook.
Kuzuri throws out a powerful jab.
Kuzuri bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dawkins's head.
Kuzuri misses with a body shot.
Dawkins takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kuzuri misses with a low kick.
Kuzuri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kuzuri fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Dawkins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Dawkins thumps Kuzuri with a low kick.
Dawkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Waru Kuzuri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuzuri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A clash of legs there as Dawkins blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dawkins at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzuri on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Dawkins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kuzuri manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kuzuri gets back to full guard.
Kuzuri controls Dawkins momentarily but Dawkins frees himself.

Kuzuri had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dawkins defends it easily.
Dawkins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins forces his way into half guard.
Kuzuri is trying to control but can't.
Dawkins seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuzuri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kuzuri controlling the position for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dawkins lands a nice short elbow.
Richard Dawkins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuzuri wants to control but Dawkins is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dawkins slips a nice elbow through Kuzuri's hands, connecting with Kuzuri's forehead.
Kuzuri gets back to full guard.
Dawkins throwing strikes from guard but Kuzuri blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri is looking to sweep but instead, Dawkins has passed into half guard.
Dawkins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuzuri's head.
Dawkins thows a huge punch but Kuzuri dodges it nicely.
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!
Kuzuri avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dawkins.
Ground and pound from Dawkins.
Dawkins slips a nice elbow through Kuzuri's hands, connecting with Kuzuri's forehead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuzuri has his hands clasped together around Dawkins's back. He's all about the action.
Kuzuri avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dawkins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Richard Dawkins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuzuri swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dawkins.
Kuzuri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dawkins.
Dawkins drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kuzuri throws a sloppy head kick and Dawkins moves out of range easily.
Kuzuri looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kuzuri throws a leg kick but Dawkins moved away.
Kuzuri misses with a looping left.
Waru Kuzuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Kuzuri misses its intended target.
Dawkins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dawkins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuzuri shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kuzuri tries to score with a low kick but Dawkins moves his leg out of the way.
Dawkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzuri 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.
Kuzuri jabs Dawkins to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kuzuri darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kuzuri throws a shot from downtown. Dawkins moves away and avoids it.
Dawkins slips a jab and a cross from Kuzuri.
Some bone on bone action there as Dawkins checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kuzuri fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dawkins is out of range.
Kuzuri misses with a body kick.
Dawkins is looking to wear down Kuzuri with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kuzuri blocks a jab.
Dawkins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dawkins throws a low kick but Kuzuri avoids it.
Good leg kick by Kuzuri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dawkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuzuri moves away.
Waru Kuzuri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri takes a swing at Dawkins's ribcage but misses.
Kuzuri thuds his right hand into Dawkins's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kuzuri. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Dawkins feints and then cracks Kuzuri's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kuzuri down.
Dawkins takes one to the side of the head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuzuri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuzuri lands a leg kick that knocks Dawkins off balance momentarily.
Kuzuri misses with a hook.
Kuzuri throws a head kick but Dawkins moves out of range.
Kuzuri throws a low kick but Dawkins avoids it.
Kuzuri lands a glancing blow to the side of Dawkins's head.
Kuzuri just misses with a punch to the body.
Dawkins lands a really nice looking cross but Kuzuri seems unphased.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dawkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuzuri tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Dawkins fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kuzuri.
Dawkins is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kuzuri takes a swing at Dawkins's ribcage but misses.
Kuzuri looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A low kick from Kuzuri misses

and Dawkins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Dawkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kuzuri is just riding it out for now. Dawkins eventually gives up the hold.
Kuzuri trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kuzuri to regain full guard.
Dawkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuzuri doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dawkins slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kuzuri struggling a bit here.
Kuzuri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawkins is putting a hurting on Kuzuri here, landing some big shots from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Waru Kuzuri.
I think Dawkins 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Dawkins!
Richard Dawkins took some time post fight to say the following; 'Shout out to Ethan Downs. Much respect for you and your team. Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta...'.