PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hershel Cox (ranked 9588 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyoji Kubota (ranked 5853 p4p, 0 weight class). Hershel Cox has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cox
vs
Kubota

179 cm
21
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
24
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hershel Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Kubota!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox shoots in looking for a takedown but Kubota manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cox's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kubota shoots in and drives through. Cox sprawls well.

Cox gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cox wants to get back to his feet but Kubota is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kubota working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cox keeping moving, preventing Kubota from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubota is working Cox over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kubota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cox. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cox tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kubota is controlling him.
Kubota stopping the sweep attempt from Cox.
Kubota working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cox really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cox is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kubota controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kubota shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cox manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Cox fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kubota is out of range.
Cox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kubota pushes Cox up against the cage in a clinch.
Kubota throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Coxs head.
Cox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kubota avoids it.
Kubota is trying to break free.
Cox has Kubota pressed against the cage, preventing Kubota from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kubota.
Cox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kubota is defending well for now.

Kubota breaks from the clinch.
Kubota will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Cox looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Cox is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox is trying to control the action in half guard but Kubota is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kubota wants to improve his position but Cox is controlling well.
Cox performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Cox is looking for a kimura here.

Cox is trying to work for a kimura but Kubota is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kyoji Kubota will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kubota gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kubota tries to break the clinch but Cox is controlling the position.
Kubota misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kubota will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cox up against the cage.
Kubota jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cox walks away with a smile on his face. Kubota gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Kubota.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubota misses with a lunging right hand

and Cox counters by moving into the clinch.
Kubota on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kubota tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cox just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kubota has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Cox after a bit of a struggle.
Hershel Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyoji Kubota.
Kubota tries to pull guard but Cox forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kubota on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Kubota's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cox shoots for a double leg takedown but Kubota sprawls well. He's pushed Cox's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kubota is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota is looking to slow Cox down with leg kicks.
Kubota fails to land the takedown.

Kubota closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kubota tries to land knees in the clinch but Cox avoids the damage to the body.
Kubota misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kubota blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kubota has Cox pushed against the cage.
Cox misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kubota's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kubota moves into range and clinches up with Cox.
Kubota trying to land knees to the body.
Kubota is struggling to control the position.
Kubota is trying to drag Cox to the mat but Cox just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kubota breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Kubota is predictable there

so Cox counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kubota is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cox looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kubota looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cox decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kubota, up you get!
Cox misses with a double jab.
Hershel Cox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kubota shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cox as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kyoji Kubota will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A head kick misses from Kubota.
Kubota throws a series of punches but Cox avoids them all with ease.
Cox tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kubota manages to circle out of the way.
Cox blocks a head kick by Kubota.
Kubota shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cox as he jumps to the side.
Kubota shoots and misses

and Cox counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cox.
Cox throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubota lands a left hand.
Kubota avoiding damage as Cox throws knees to the body.
Cox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kubota is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubota blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kubota goes for a takedown attempt but Cox pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hershel Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyoji Kubota.
Kubota keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kubota darts in and clinches Cox up against the cage.

Kubota breaks the clinch.
Kubota will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cox shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kubota defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota throws a leg kick that is checked

and Cox counters with a single leg into guard. Kubota didn't expect that.
Cox works over Kubota with some ground and pound from guard.
Cox throwing strikes from guard but Kubota blocks nicely.

Cox drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kubota manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cox has Kubota in his guard.

Cox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubota won't allow Cox to get back to his feet.
Kubota must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Cox escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kubota gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kubota throws a big elbow that misses.
Kubota throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cox tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cox looking for a guillotine here but Kubota defends easily.
Kubota stops Cox from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kubota misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cox shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kubota closes the distance and clinches.
Hershel Cox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyoji Kubota is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cox doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyoji Kubota comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kubota winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyoji Kubota!