PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Wu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Kubota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Kubota will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Wu
vs
Kubota

188 cm
24
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

213 cm
21
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Charles Wu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Kubota!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kubota tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wu defends well and Kubota ends up having to push Wu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Wu feinted with a counter takedown.
Kubota shoots in for a double leg but Wu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Wu attempts a counter takedown but Kubota avoids it well and moves away.

Wu fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kubota to the ground. Wu is now in Kubota's guard.
Wu postures up and lands a big shot to Kubota's brow.
Wu trying to control the position from guard on top but Kubota is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kubota is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wu content to stall in guard here.
Kubota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kubota for as long as he can get away with.
Kubota is trying to control the position but Wu postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kubota being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kubota fails with the takedown.
Charles Wu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Kubota.
Wu misses with a left hand
and Kubota makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wu swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Kubota tries to counter it with a takedown but Wu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Wu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kubota darts in looking for a takedown but Wu gets double underhooks and turns Kubota into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wu keeps the fight on the outside.
Kubota tries a head kick but it misses.
Wu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Wu gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kubota stops Wu from passing to mount.
Kubota is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kubota tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Wu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kubota some visible discomfort.
Kubota bucks up and tries to throw Wu off but instead Wu has got his back!
Wu lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Kubota.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubota is trying to stand back up.
Wu scoring with big shots to the body. Kubota is looking for a way out. A despairing look towards the ref and the official steps in to stop the fight. Kubota was obviously done but didn't want to tap out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Charles Wu!
After the fight, Charles Wu 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.