PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Santos (ranked 5377 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuta Kubo (ranked 3862 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Santos
vs
Kubo

173 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anderson Santos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuta Kubo!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kubo stuffs the takedown attempt from Santos. Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kubo counters by clinching up.
Santos stops a takedown attempt from Kubo.

Kubo jumps into guard, dragging Santos to the mat.
Kubo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kubo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos manages to get himself to full guard.

Kubo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Santos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santos wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo being controlled here momentarily.
Kubo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kubo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Santos is trying to keep Kubo in close.
Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kubo is one step ahead there.
Santos wants to stand but Kubo is controlling the position.

That's two 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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kubo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Santos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kubo, into his guard.

Santos won't allow Kubo to sweep him here.

Santos gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Santos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kubo.
Santos with a poor takedown
and Kubo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Santos. No joy for Kubo on that attempt.
Santos tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kubo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Santos as he jumps to the side.
Kubo shoots in for a takedown but Santos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Santos with that takedown attempt.
Santos moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kubo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Santos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kubo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Santos avoids it really well and circles away.
Kubo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kubo counters with a body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kubo is defended easily by Santos.
Santos tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kubo manages to circle out of the way.
Santos scores with a jab. Kubo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Santos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kubo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Santos tries for a takedown but Kubo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kubo wants to counter with a clinch but Santos pushes him away.
Kubo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santos.

Santos moves into the clinch successfully.
Santos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santos 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. Santos gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Santos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A low kick from Santos misses
and Kubo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santos throws a head kick that misses.
Kubo tries to counter with a clinch but Santos shakes him off and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Santos successfully pulls guard.
Kubo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kubo controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo working away.
Kubo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kubo tries to stand but Santos is controlling his head.
Santos is trying to control Kubo's posture but Kubo avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kubo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two 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.
Kubo wants to stand but Santos has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Well, if Kubo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Santos wants to control but Kubo is keeping busy.
Kubo uses his free foot to push down on Santos's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Santos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kubo.
Kubo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kubo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Kubo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Santos to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Santos shrugs it off.
Kubo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kubo tries to control but Santos wriggling away.
Kubo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Santos. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo controlling from the full mount.

Kubo is working for a guillotine from mount but Santos frees his head quite easily.
Kubo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kubo throws a wild left hand from mount and Santos manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Santos trying to hold on to Kubo's head to control him but Kubo postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuta Kubo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kubo throws a head kick that Santos semi-blocks.

Santos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Santos.

Kubo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santos.
Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Santos fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kubo just manages to avoid it.

Kubo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos is trying to keep Kubo in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubo advances position into side control!
Santos tries to buck Kubo off but Kubo is having none of it.
Kubo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kubo trying to control the action but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Kubo controlling the action here.
Kubo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Santos controls his leg.
Kubo passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tries to hold on but Kubo postures up.

Kubo is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Santos has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kubo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Santos avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kubo.

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.
Kubo controlling the position easily from mount.
Santos wants to hold on but Kubo pushes him away.
Kubo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kubo controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubo trying to control but Santos is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuta Kubo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

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