PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Masaya Kubo (ranked 5412 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Vinicius (ranked 4791 p4p, 0 weight class). Vinicius has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kubo
vs
Vinicius

173 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

167 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Masaya Kubo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcus Vinicius!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vinicius shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kubo pinned against the cage. Kubo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vinicius shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vinicius is defended easily by Kubo.
Masaya Kubo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Vinicius.

Kubo moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius is trying to break free.
Vinicius wants to get back to striking at distance but Kubo won't allow it.
Kubo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vinicius is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kubo prevents Vinicius from breaking the clinch.

Kubo breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vinicius gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kubo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kubo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vinicius is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kubo passes Vinicius's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kubo controlling the pace.
Kubo tries to stand and escape but Vinicius is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vinicius keeps working.
Kubo thows a huge punch but Vinicius dodges it nicely.
Vinicius desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kubo is just content to waste time from the top position. Vinicius takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kubo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vinicius wants to stand up but Kubo is controlling him.
Vinicius keeping moving, preventing Kubo from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubo wants to get up but he can't break Vinicius's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vinicius shoots in looking for a takedown but Kubo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vinicius's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Kubo takes the fight into the clinch.

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

Vinicius closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kubo pulls guard effortlessly.
Kubo is trying to control the position but Vinicius postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kubo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vinicius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kubo is on top in guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vinicius can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kubo controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaya Kubo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kubo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vinicius paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vinicius looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kubo is fending him off so far but Vinicius persists. Nope, Kubo circles away and we're back to standing.
Vinicius stuffs the takedown attempt from Kubo. Kubo gets slowly back to his feet.
Vinicius throws a counter combo.
Vinicius swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kubo counters with an inside leg kick.

Kubo pushes Vinicius up against the cage in a clinch.
Kubo prevents a body shot from Vinicius.
Kubo has Vinicius pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vinicius manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Kubo breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius doesn't manage to clinch there - Kubo circles away.
Vinicius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kubo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kubo trying to strike off his back.
Vinicius is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kubo pulls Vinicius in close to his closed guard and prevents Vinicius from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vinicius won't allow Kubo to sweep him here.
Vinicius wants to control from the top but Kubo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kubo trying to keep a closed guard but Vinicius is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kubo shoots in for a takedown but Vinicius shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kubo sets himself, and Vinicius steps forward looking for the clinch! Kubo avoids it this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masaya Kubo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kubo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kubo swinging wildly here.
Vinicius changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vinicius throws a series of strikes that have Kubo backpedaling.

Kubo moves into the clinch.
Kubo jumps guard but Vinicius stands there with Kubo around his waist. Kubo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kubo tries to pull guard but Vinicius holds him up against the cage and eventually Kubo drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kubo manages to pull guard.
Vinicius wants to pass the guard but Kubo is keeping the position.
Kubo working a defensive guard here.
Vinicius is looking to work some ground and pound but Kubo has wrist control.
Vinicius preventing the sweep.
Kubo is trying to control the position but Vinicius postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kubo wants to sweep here but Vinicius controlling him for the moment.

Kubo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vinicius swats away the attempt to clinch by Kubo.
Vinicius throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vinicius moves in looking to clinch but Kubo pushes him off.

Vinicius fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kubo, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kubo is trying to pull guard but Vinicius has him pressed against the cage.
Kubo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vinicius has him pressed against the cage.
Kubo jumps guard but Vinicius turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Masaya Kubo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Vinicius clinches up against the cage.
Kubo tries to pull guard but Vinicius forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Kubo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Vinicius advances position into side control!
Kubo is looking for a sweep.
Kubo is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kubo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vinicius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kubo keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Kubo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kubo tries to improve position but can't.
Vinicius controlling the position.

Vinicius decides to stand back up.

That's two 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.
Kubo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kubo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vinicius paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Vinicius clinches.

Vinicius has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kubo regains guard immediately.
Kubo keeping moving, preventing Vinicius from controlling successfully.
Vinicius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vinicius wants to stand but Kubo is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kubo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vinicius doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vinicius manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vinicius prevents Kubo from getting back to his feet.
Kubo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kubo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kubo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vinicius avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Masaya Kubo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.

Kubo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kubo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vinicius is keeping busy.
Kubo gets underhooks to prevent Vinicius's takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vinicius breaks the clinch.
Kubo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vinicius tries to avoid it but Kubo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vinicius to the ground. Vinicius escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Marcus Vinicius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Masaya Kubo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kubo shoots for a takedown but Vinicius saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Vinicius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kubo 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Masaya Kubo!