PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerede Baya (ranked 4604 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaya Kubo (ranked 3618 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Baya
vs
Kubo

179 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

173 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jerede Baya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Masaya Kubo!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Baya.
A punch lands to the side of Kubo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kubo.
Kubo tries to clinch up but Baya circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Baya misses.
Kubo is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kubo looks for a takedown but Baya sprawls well.
Kubo misses with a few strikes there.
Baya misses with a takedown attempt
and Kubo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baya shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kubo as he avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Kubo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Baya looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kubo is fending him off so far but Baya persists. Nope, Kubo circles away and we're back to standing.
As Baya backs off Kubo throws a huge counter combo but Baya manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerede Baya. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baya shoots in for a takedown but Kubo shows good takedown defense.
Kubo lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baya forces Kubo back against the cage and clinches.
Kubo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kubo is trying to drag Baya to the mat but Baya just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kubo gets underhooks to prevent Baya's takedown attempt.
Kubo is trying to pull guard but Baya turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Baya stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Baya is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kubo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Baya uses from the top position.
Kubo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kubo is controlling Baya's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baya avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baya looking to pass the guard.
Kubo keeping moving, preventing Baya from controlling successfully.
Baya postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubo keeping full guard, as Baya tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baya tries to clinch up.
Kubo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kubo fails with the takedown
and Baya counters with a three punch combo that has Kubo backing up. Kubo nods at Baya to acknowledge the strikes.
Baya lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Baya fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Baya shoots for a double leg takedown but Kubo sprawls well. He's pushed Baya's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kubo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Baya drives through and clinches with Kubo against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo avoiding damage as Baya throws knees to the body.
Baya is stalling here.
Kubo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Baya prevents it.
Baya tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Baya pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baya throws a combination. Kubo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kubo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baya tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kubo defends well and Baya ends up having to push Kubo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kubo throws a sloppy head kick and Baya moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerede Baya dominated that round.
That's time! Baya's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Baya gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kubo counters with a three punch combo that has Baya backing up. Baya nods at Kubo to acknowledge the strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baya tries to pull guard but Kubo holds him up against the cage and eventually Baya drops back down to his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baya is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kubo can do to turn this around?
Baya fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerede Baya. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Baya pulls guard effortlessly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kubo won't allow Baya to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo tries to free his leg and advance position but Baya is retaining full guard.
Kubo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baya tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kubo prevents Baya from getting back to his feet.
Baya has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kubo has passed into side control.
Baya is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kubo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kubo slows the pace down.
Kubo slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Baya.
Baya is trying to escape the mount.
Baya blocking the ground and pound.
Kubo tries to control but Baya wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kubo controlling from the full mount.
Kubo is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Baya tries to lock up and control but Kubo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kubo tries to control but Baya wriggling away.
Kubo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

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.
Baya really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Baya throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Baya really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kubo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kubo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baya is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaya Kubo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Horrible takedown attempt by Kubo or perhaps it was just good defense by Baya, which made it look bad.
Kubo shoots in but Baya avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baya lands with a nice combination. Kubo backs away looking to recover.
Baya keeps the fight on the outside.
Kubo leaves Baya with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baya cracks Kubo with a right hand to the side of the head.
No joy there for Baya, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kubo slaps away a takedown attempt from Baya, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo throws a head kick but Baya moves out of range.

Kubo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Baya's guard.
Baya has a closed guard, preventing Kubo from standing up.
Baya keeping moving, preventing Kubo from controlling successfully.
Kubo looking to sit in guard and control but Baya gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kubo keeping moving, preventing Baya from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baya stays in close to Kubo's body and controls the position.
Kubo wants to stand up but Baya is controlling him.
Baya trying to control the position from guard on top but Kubo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kubo looking for a guillotine here but Baya defends easily.

Baya avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kubo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baya would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Baya wants to pass the guard but Kubo is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Baya throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Baya shoots for a takedown but Kubo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerede Baya. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Kubo shoots in and drives through. Baya sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kubo is defended easily by Baya.
Baya is looking to clinch but Kubo is avoiding it.
Kubo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baya.
Kubo shoots for a takedown but Baya saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kubo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Baya swivels and escapes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubo goes for a double leg but Baya avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Baya continues to drive forward.
Baya tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kubo swivels and escapes.

Baya clinches up with Kubo and pushes him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerede Baya showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baya 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerede Baya!