PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jimi Kuala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jimi Kuala had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kuala
vs
Davidson

174 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jimi Kuala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Davidson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Davidson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kuala was covering up waiting for the punch and Davidson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuala keeping full guard, as Davidson tries to pass.
Davidson postures up and lands a big shot to Kuala's brow.
Kuala has control of Davidson's left arm, preventing Davidson from doing any damage.
Kuala 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.
Kuala is pulling down on Davidson's head. It's preventing any offense from Davidson, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davidson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson wants to control from the top but Kuala keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davidson wanted to stand there but Kuala had control of the position.
Kuala wants to stand but Davidson is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Davidson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Davidson misses with a straight right.

Davidson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson wants to stand but Kuala has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Davidson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuala has Davidson pulled in close to control his posture.
Davidson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuala is keeping the position for now.
Kuala has Davidson pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Davidson throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Davidson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kuala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuala jumps guard but Davidson stands there with Kuala around his waist. Kuala gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kuala drags the fight down to the ground.
Kuala controls Davidson momentarily but Davidson frees himself.
Kuala is pulling down on Davidson's head. It's preventing any offense from Davidson, at least for the moment.
Davidson wants to stand but Kuala has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Davidson trying to move into half guard but instead Kuala has managed to sweep!

Kuala wants to control from the top but Davidson keeps moving.
Kuala advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davidson trying to hold on to Kuala's head to control him but Kuala postures up.
Kuala is looking to advance position but Davidson won't allow it.
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 Jimi Kuala will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Davidson rushes Kuala and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kuala wants a takedown.
Davidson is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuala has double underhooks.

Davidson pulls guard.
Kuala looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kuala slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kuala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Davidson is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuala with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Davidson controlling Kuala's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuala looking to sit in guard and control but Davidson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Davidson is fighting to break Kuala's control of his arms but Kuala is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kuala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuala controlling Davidson's posture.
Davidson is looking to stand up but Kuala won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kuala pulls Davidson in close to prevent any damage.
Kuala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuala bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Davidson's guard.

Davidson is adopting a defensive guard.
Kuala trying to control but Davidson is working from the bottom.
Kuala tries to free his leg and advance position but Davidson is retaining full guard.
Davidson pulls Kuala in close to prevent any damage.

Kuala drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Davidson dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuala is retaining full guard.
Davidson postures up.
Davidson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuala keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.
Kuala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuala looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Davidson advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Kuala's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Davidson trying to control the position but Kuala is working away.

Davidson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuala knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kuala is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Davidson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Davidson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kuala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Davidson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuala as he avoids it easily.
Davidson throws a head kick that misses.
Kuala drops down looking for a counter takedown but Davidson sprawls and moves away.
Davidson tries to clinch but Kuala moves out of range.
Davidson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Davidson throws a right and a left that Kuala avoids nicely.
Davidson is looking to clinch but Kuala is avoiding it.
Kuala is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuala throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Davidson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kuala is in Davidson's guard.
Kuala pushes down on Davidson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Davidson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuala seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuala wants to work for an arm triangle but Davidson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Davidson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Kuala is working for a kimura but Davidson is defending it quite comfortably.
Kuala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kuala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Davidson trying to control from the bottom.
Davidson is staying active underneath Kuala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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.
Davidson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kuala.
Kuala is trying to control the action in half guard but Davidson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuala looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Davidson wants to improve his position but Kuala is controlling well.
Davidson is trying to control but Kuala manages to pass to mount!

Kuala has hold of Davidson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Davidson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Davidson is squirming around, avoiding Kuala's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuala with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Davidson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Davidson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kuala is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Davidson defends it well.
Jimi Kuala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kuala is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kuala is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Davidson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuala scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuala prevents Davidson from improving his position.
Kuala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davidson keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kuala seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimi Kuala showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuala 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!