PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Assan Karim Chorr (ranked 3884 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuta Kubo (ranked 6960 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Karim Chorr
vs
Kubo

178 cm
25
153 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Assan Karim Chorr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuta Kubo!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chorr tries to clinch up

and Kubo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kubo.
Kubo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Chorr working a defensive guard here.

Kubo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kubo throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubo is looking to stand up but Chorr won't let him.
Kubo looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kubo stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kubo takes the fight into the clinch.

Kubo jumps into guard, dragging Chorr to the mat.
Chorr trying to control the position from guard on top but Kubo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kubo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kubo managing to control the position.
Kubo keeping moving, preventing Chorr from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chorr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kubo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chorr being controlled here momentarily.
Kubo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kubo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kubo dives in for a single leg takedown but Chorr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As Kubo tries to get set, Chorr tries to push him back and clinch up but Kubo manages to avoid the attempt.
Chorr misses the shot to the body.
Chorr looks to score with a jab to the body but Kubo is just out of range.
Kubo keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice cross by Chorr.

Kubo has managed to clinch.

Kubo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kubo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chorr throws a sloppy head kick and Kubo moves out of range easily.
Chorr tries to clinch but Kubo is having none of it.

Kubo pushes Chorr up against the cage in a clinch.
Chorr tries to pull guard but Kubo holds him up against the cage and eventually Chorr drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo is trying to drag Chorr to the mat but Chorr just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Chorr tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Assan Karim Chorr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chorr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kubo is defending well.
Kubo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Kubo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Chorr wants to clinch up but Kubo keeps it at a distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kubo, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chorr connects with a leg kick. Kubo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kubo shoots in and drives through. Chorr sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuta Kubo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kubo closes the distance and clinches.

Kubo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chorr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kubo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kubo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chorr avoids it really well and circles away.
Chorr lands a jab-cross combination.
Assan Karim Chorr is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chorr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kubo but Kubo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chorr throws a sloppy head kick and Kubo moves out of range easily.
Kubo dives in for a single leg takedown but Chorr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Chorr is looking to counter the offense by Kubo and move into the clinch.
Chorr tries to clinch but Kubo moves away
and Kubo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chorr as he avoids it easily.
Assan Karim Chorr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuta Kubo.

Kubo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Chorr, pushing him back against the cage.
Kubo tries to pull guard but Chorr forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Chorr manages to pull guard.
Kubo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kubo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kubo won't allow Chorr to get back to his feet.
Kubo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Chorr keeping full guard, as Kubo tries to pass.
Chorr wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubo postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kubo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A combination from Kubo does no damage.
Kubo misses with a body shot.
Chorr misses with a series of wild punches.
Kubo shapes to counter with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Chorr or perhaps it was just good defense by Kubo, which made it look bad.
Chorr shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kubo counters with a series of strikes. Chorr will be more careful next time no doubt.
Assan Karim Chorr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chorr sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kubo is defended easily by Chorr.
Chorr is looking to counter punch.
Kubo has a takedown stuffed.
Kubo is breathing heavily.
Kubo slaps away a takedown attempt from Chorr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kubo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Chorr scores with a three punch combo!
Chorr leaves Kubo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kubo pushes Chorr up against the cage in a clinch.
Kubo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kubo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chorr is defending well for now.

Chorr jumps guard and drags Kubo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Chorr working a defensive guard here.
Kubo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kubo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chorr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Chorr manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kubo manages to get himself to full guard.

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 Assan Karim Chorr will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Chorr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kubo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chorr somewhat.
Kubo shoots in but no luck this time.
Chorr tries to clinch but Kubo is having none of it.

Kubo rushes Chorr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kubo lands a hook that snaps the head of Chorr backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Chorr jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kubo walks away with a smile on his face. Chorr 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.
Chorr will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Assan Karim Chorr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chorr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kubo swivels and escapes.
Chorr tries to close the distance and clinch but Kubo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Chorr shoots and misses
and Kubo counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo dives in for a single leg takedown but Chorr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kubo clinches up with Chorr and pushes him back against the cage.
Chorr is trying to break free.
Chorr wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Kubo breaks the clinch.
Kubo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kubo moves into the clinch successfully.

Kubo breaks from the clinch.
Kubo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kubo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kubo closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chorr tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kubo just stands there and leans against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Chorr's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kubo pulls Chorr into guard.
Chorr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kubo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Chorr uses it to pass to side control.
Chorr trying to control the position but Kubo is working away.
Chorr tries to advance to mount but Kubo denies him.
Chorr moves into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chorr throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kubo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kubo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chorr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Assan Karim Chorr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kubo is squirming around, avoiding Chorr's attempts to control the action.
Kubo wants to control but Chorr is having none of it.
Kubo is looking to improve his position but Chorr isn't that keen on the idea.
Chorr 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.
Chorr wants to control the pace but Kubo is squirming around nicely.
Poor strikes thrown by Chorr there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Chorr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chorr thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chorr trying to control but Kubo is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kubo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Chorr.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yuta Kubo.
I think Kubo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuta Kubo!