PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Holey (ranked 6223 p4p, 271 weight class) and Kyoji Kubota (ranked 4005 p4p, 196 weight class). Kubota has chosen Sweet Inspiration by Hiroshi Satoh as his entrance music. Kyoji Kubota has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Nick Holey's chin.

Holey
vs
Kubota

150 cm
26
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
27
146 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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, Nick Holey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kyoji Kubota!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Donatello Bradman and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holey closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kubota circles away.
Kubota looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Kubota gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Holey to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kubota seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Holey wants to pass the guard but Kubota is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holey throwing strikes from guard but Kubota blocks nicely.
Holey wants to control from the top but Kubota keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holey postures up.

Kubota looking for a guillotine here but Holey defends easily.
Kubota avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kubota is adopting a defensive guard.
Holey trying to control but Kubota is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kubota 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.

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.

Kubota is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Holey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kubota looking to control but Holey passes into half guard.
Kubota tries to get to full guard but Holey has control of the leg.
Holey perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Holey has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holey is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kubota has managed to free his arm - good work.
Holey wants to control but Kubota is keeping him busy.
Holey throwing shots but Kubota is blocking nicely.
Kubota is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Holey as Kubota shoots in.
Kubota shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Holey but Holey pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nick Holey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyoji Kubota.
Kubota fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubota closes this distance looking for a takedown but Holey circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kubota or perhaps it was just good defense by Holey, which made it look bad.
Kubota fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Holey shoots in for a double leg but Kubota sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Holey pushes Kubota up against the cage in a clinch.
Holey drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Holey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubota drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kubota has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Holey after a bit of a struggle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Holey dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Holey swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Holey misses with a takedown attempt
and Kubota counters with a head kick. That will keep Holey thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Holey misses with a takedown attempt - Kubota sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nick Holey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holey drives through and clinches with Kubota against the cage.
Kubota wants a takedown.
Kubota is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holey gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kubota gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Holey.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Holey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kubota looking for a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubota tries for a takedown. No joy.
Holey is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kubota is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holey gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holey misses with a hook to the ribs.
Holey can't break the clinch.

Kubota has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Holey clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Holey breaks Kubota's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Holey wanted to stand there but Kubota had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kubota being controlled here, momentarily.
Kubota is adopting a defensive guard.
Kubota wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holey is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Holey trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kubota's guard.
Kubota keeping full guard, as Holey tries to pass.
Kubota trying to keep a closed guard but Holey is proving a slippery customer.
Holey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kubota can do to turn this around?
Kubota looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holey is one step ahead there.
Holey passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holey trying to control the action but Kubota is working from the bottom.
Kubota struggling a bit here.
Holey tries to stand but Kubota is controlling his head.
Kubota is trying to control Holey's posture but Holey avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Holey scores with a couple of short elbows.

Holey thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holey controlling the position from side mount.
Holey working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubota is looking for a sweep.
Kubota really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Holey. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holey wants to stand but Kubota has his arm trapped.
Kubota is looking to regain half guard here but Holey keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Holey dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Kubota as Holey shoots in.
Holey throws a head kick but Kubota moves out of range.
Holey displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kubota.

Kubota fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holey sprawls well initially but Kubota persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kubota wants to free his trapped foot but Holey is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Holey manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holey is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kubota is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubota trying to control the position from guard on top but Holey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kubota looking to sit in guard and control but Holey gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kubota is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Holey cracks Kubota with a solid left hand.
Kubota has a closed guard, preventing Holey from standing up.
Kubota avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Kubota is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Holey could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota is looking to sweep but instead, Holey has passed into half guard.
Holey tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kubota knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kubota tries to roll over but Holey keeps him under control.
Holey not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Holey is keen to just control but Kubota is a slippery customer.

Holey looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kubota regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubota looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holey is one step ahead there.
Kubota keeping moving, preventing Holey from controlling successfully.
Kubota is trying to keep Holey in close.

That's four 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.
Kubota has Holey pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Holey fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kubota is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Holey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Holey wants it to stay on the feet.

Holey shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kubota is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Holey's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Holey's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubota lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Holey turns into Kubota and is now in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Holey showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Holey has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Holey!