PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Asu Kuren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Cage told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kuren
vs
Cage

178 cm
25
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
27
180 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Asu Kuren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Cage!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuren tries to clinch there but Cage circles away.
Kuren shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cage but Cage pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cage with the counter takedown but Kuren avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cage or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuren, which made it look bad.

Cage gets caught napping as Kuren dives in and scores a takedown. Cage manages to retain guard.
Cage wants to stand and escape but Kuren is having none of it.
Kuren has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage has momentary wrist control but Kuren slips an elbow through the middle.

Cage looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kuren has picked Cage up and slammed him! Cage can't keep hold of the triangle and Kuren manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Cage strikes from the bottom but Kuren takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Cage tries to reverse the position but Kuren maintains control.
Kuren can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cage is looking to escape.
Kuren throwing strikes but Cage bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Cage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cage accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kuren working a defensive guard here.
Cage stopping the sweep attempt from Kuren.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuren is trying to control the position but Cage postures up.
Kuren is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cage is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kuren on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kuren tries to get out of the position.
Cage tries to stand but Kuren is controlling from the bottom.
Kuren preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuren is pulling down on Cage's head to control his posture.
Kuren is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kuren being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kuren shoots in and bounces Cage off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage wants to sweep here but Kuren controlling him for the moment.
Kuren postures up in Cage's guard and throws a big left but Cage blocks it.

Cage working for submissions but it's allowed Kuren to get to half guard.
Cage is pressing down on Kuren's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuren is looking to work some ground and pound but Cage has wrist control.
Kuren passes Cage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kuren wants to take a breather but Cage is having none of it.
Kuren tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cage knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kuren trying to advance position but Cage counters by regaining guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kuren wants to control from the top but Cage keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asu Kuren dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuren slips a jab and a cross from Cage.
Kuren shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cage sprawls well. Cage wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kuren gets slowly back to his feet.

Kuren shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cage is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kuren trying to control but Cage is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuren's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kuren trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kuren postures up in Cage's guard and throws a big left but Cage blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Cage moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kuren leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kuren leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Kuren for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Cage wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kuren has him pressed against the cage.
Kuren manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Cage blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries to pull guard but Kuren won't allow it.
Kuren stalls.
Kuren goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuren keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cage's efforts to push away.
Kuren misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kuren's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Kuren is trying to trip Cage. He has hold of a leg but Cage is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kuren persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage throwing short punches from the bottom.
Asu Kuren overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cage is trying to control the position but Kuren postures up.
Kuren trying to control the position from guard on top but Cage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cage can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cage looking to control.
Kuren won't allow Cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asu Kuren dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cage shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuren pinned against the cage. Kuren gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kuren drives through and clinches with Cage against the cage.
Kuren stalls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage tries to pull guard but Kuren won't allow it.
Cage stops a takedown attempt from Kuren.
A head punch on the inside from Kuren fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage can't break the clinch.
Cage tries for a takedown. No joy.
Asu Kuren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Cage.
Kuren wants a takedown.
Kuren gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cage.
Kuren is pushing Cage up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cage tries for a takedown but Kuren manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cage is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kuren is defending well.
Kuren is pushing Cage up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Cage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuren smiles and moves away.
Kuren tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cage counters with a series of strikes. Kuren will be more careful next time no doubt.

Kuren clinches with his opponent.
Kuren misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kuren slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuren can't find room to land a body shot as Cage controls the action.
Kuren fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuren tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kuren throws a head punch that misses.
Cage stops a takedown attempt from Kuren.
Kuren tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kuren misses with the head strike.
Cage gets underhooks to prevent Kuren's takedown attempt.
Cage prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cage fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuren is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cage tries for a takedown but Kuren manages to get underhooks.
Cage can't break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kuren takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kuren gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head punch on the inside from Kuren fails to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asu Kuren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kuren, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asu Kuren!
Tom Cage spoke after the fight, saying 'fair game, we lose and win dat is the part of game, love to my fans and coaches!!!####'.