PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuta Kubo (ranked 3278 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Santos (ranked 6444 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kubo
vs
Santos

175 cm
25
156 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

173 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuta Kubo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anderson Santos!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kubo but Kubo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice sprawl there from Santos as Kubo shoots in.

Kubo gets a clinch.
Santos blocks an elbow strike.
Santos is looking to take this one to the mat.
Santos tries to break free but Kubo pushes him back against the cage.
Santos is trying to force a seperation but Kubo has the dominant position.
Santos is trying to drag Kubo to the mat but Kubo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Yuta Kubo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Santos.
Santos is trying to pull guard but Kubo has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kubo pulls guard.

Kubo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos preventing the sweep.
Santos looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kubo pulls Santos in close to his closed guard and prevents Santos from doing any damage or advancing position.
Santos wants to control from the top but Kubo keeps moving.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kubo is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Santos postures up in Kubo's guard and throws a big left but Kubo blocks it.

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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kubo is on top in guard.

Kubo trying to control but Santos is working from the bottom.
Santos looking to control.
Santos wants to stand and escape but Kubo is having none of it.
Kubo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kubo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.

Kubo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kubo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kubo or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos, which made it look bad.
Kubo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kubo dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kubo checks a leg kick.
Kubo fails with the takedown
and Santos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kubo shoots in for a double leg but Santos sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kubo as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kubo moves into the clinch.

Kubo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Santos as Kubo shoots in.
Santos wants to clinch up but Kubo keeps it at a distance.
Santos has a takedown stuffed.
Kubo misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Santos feints a counter leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Santos.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kubo has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A jab from Santos does it's job there.

Kubo moves into the clinch.
Kubo jumps guard but Santos turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kubo dodges an elbow strike from Santos.

Kubo gets control of Santos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kubo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kubo keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Santos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Kubo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kubo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Santos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Santos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Santos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Santos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kubo is trying to hold Santos in close to prevent damage but Santos has managed to pass into half guard.

Santos is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kubo sees it coming and defends easily.
Kubo wants to get back to his feet.
Kubo is positioning himself well to prevent Santos advancing to mount.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kubo won't allow Santos to pass to mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kubo.
Kubo fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuta Kubo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kubo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kubo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Donk. Santos catches Kubo right on the button with a cross.
Santos tries for a takedown but Kubo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Santos tries for a takedown but Kubo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Santos is breathing heavily.
Santos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kubo fakes the leg kick and cracks Santos in the body.
Kubo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Santos swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubo blocks a leg kick.

Kubo rushes Santos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kubo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Santos tries to stall but Kubo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kubo gets underhooks to prevent Santos's takedown attempt.
Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kubo smiles and moves away.

Kubo has closed the distance and engaged Santos in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kubo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kubo clinches up with Santos and pushes him back against the cage.
Kubo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Santos can do to turn this around?
Santos is looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuta Kubo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kubo jabs Santos to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kubo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Santos sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kubo somewhat.
Kubo has a takedown stuffed.

Santos takes the fight into the clinch.

Kubo jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubo pulls Santos in close to prevent any damage.
Kubo looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos prevents Kubo from getting back to his feet.
Santos trying to control but Kubo is working from the bottom.
Kubo trying to keep a closed guard but Santos is proving a slippery customer.
Kubo is controlling Santos's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kubo leaves Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Kubo.
Anderson Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.

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 fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuta Kubo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos shoots in but no luck this time.
Kubo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kubo dives in for a single leg takedown but Santos sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As Kubo backs off Santos throws a huge counter combo but Kubo manages to avoid it all.
Santos wants to clinch.
Santos fails with the takedown.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab by Kubo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kubo instigates a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Santos.
Santos is pressed up against the cage. Kubo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santos down to the mat. Santos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Yuta Kubo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kubo with a poor takedown
and Santos counters with a stiff right hand.
Santos misses with a head kick.
Kubo fails with the takedown.

Santos gets tackled into the cage by Kubo. Kubo maintains the clinch.

Kubo jumps guard.
Santos's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos wants to control from the top but Kubo keeps moving.

Kubo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santos trying to control but Kubo is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kubo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuta Kubo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kubo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

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