PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazuo Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kobayashi has chosen Godzilla Theme as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santa Cruz
vs
Kobayashi

170 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paolo Santa Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuo Kobayashi!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Kobayashi, looking for a takedown. Santa Cruz pushes Kobayashi against the cage but Kobayashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Santa Cruz slips a jab and a cross from Kobayashi.
Kobayashi lands a two punch combo.
Kobayashi tries to clinch there but Santa Cruz circles away.
Santa Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kobayashi circles away.

Kobayashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kobayashi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The referee calls for Kobayashi to work.
Kobayashi lands a right hand.
Kobayashi prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Santa Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kobayashi tries to stall but Santa Cruz uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kobayashi seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Kobayashi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kobayashi trying to stall but Santa Cruz improves his position.
Kobayashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Kobayashi.
Kobayashi throws a head punch that misses.
Santa Cruz is working for takedown but Kobayashi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Santa Cruz looking for a takedown.
Santa Cruz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kobayashi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Santa Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kobayashi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A right hook to the body lands for Kobayashi.
Santa Cruz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kobayashi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Santa Cruz is breathing heavily.
Kobayashi lands a nice shot to the body.
Santa Cruz looking for a takedown.
Santa Cruz goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kobayashi prevents it.
Kobayashi works on Santa Cruz's body with a couple of short punches.
A short uppercut from Kobayashi.
Kobayashi looking to slow down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Kobayashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Santa Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Kobayashi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Santa Cruz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santa Cruz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Santa Cruz looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Santa Cruz closes the distance and clinches up with Kobayashi, looking for a takedown. Santa Cruz pushes Kobayashi against the cage but Kobayashi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kobayashi throws a shot to the body.
Kazuo Kobayashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kobayashi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kobayashi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Santa Cruz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kobayashi circles away.
Kobayashi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kobayashi.
A nice combination there by Kobayashi.
Santa Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kobayashi is fending him off so far but Santa Cruz persists. Nope, Kobayashi circles away and we're back to standing.
Kobayashi lands with a nice combination. Santa Cruz backs away looking to recover.

Kobayashi clinches with his opponent.
Kobayashi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kobayashi lands with a short shot to the head.
Kobayashi will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Santa Cruz up against the cage.
Santa Cruz goes for a takedown attempt but Kobayashi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Santa Cruz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kobayashi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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!
Kobayashi is trying to buck Santa Cruz off.

Santa Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kobayashi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Santa Cruz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kobayashi has escaped the position, nice work there.

Santa Cruz looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Santa Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santa Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Santa Cruz tries for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Santa Cruz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kobayashi, who protects the arm well.
Kobayashi wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Santa Cruz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kobayashi has escaped the position, nice work there.

Santa Cruz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kobayashi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Santa Cruz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kobayashi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Santa Cruz tries for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.

Santa Cruz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Santa Cruz has hold of Kobayashi's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Kobayashi seems comfortable defending it but Santa Cruz has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Kobayashi is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Kobayashi is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Santa Cruz couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paolo Santa Cruz!