PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dick Caunt (ranked 959 p4p, 44 weight class) and Takeru Kubota (ranked 845 p4p, 38 weight class). Kubota is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Devilman No Uta. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Caunt
vs
Kubota

175 cm
24
147 lbs
7 - 3 - 2

170 cm
23
140 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dick Caunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Takeru Kubota!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caunt lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Caunt lands a head shot.
Caunt bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kubota's head.
Kubota missing with a left hand there. Caunt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've been told by Caunt's head coaches at Tosen's Home for Lost Boys that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kubota drops his hands momentarily and Caunt takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kubota stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kubota moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kubota scores with a jab to the body.
Kubota punishes Caunt's body with a nice straight punch.
Caunt throws the kick towards the body but Kubota avoids it.
Kubota throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Caunt moves away from the strike by Kubota.
Caunt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kubota swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kubota misses with an uppercut.
Caunt throws a push kick but Kubota slaps the foot to one side.
Kubota lands the left hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kubota.
Nice uppercut lands for Caunt. That snapped Kubota's head back.
Good work by Caunt as he checks the leg kick.
Caunt is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kubota lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kubota looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kubota.
Caunt pushes Kubota away with a front kick.
Caunt defending well as Kubota loads up on a big left hand.
Caunt stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kubota.
Kubota cracks Caunt with a good jab.
Kubota takes a swing at Caunt's ribcage but misses.
A quick step to the side and Caunt tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Caunt slips under a jab from Kubota.
Kubota lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kubota throws a low kick but it's checked well by Caunt.
Kubota misses with a wild body shot.
Takeru Kubota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kubota misses with a hook. Caunt ducked under it nicely.
Caunt lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kubota takes a step back to recover.
Caunt misses with a wild body shot.
Caunt scoring well with a low kick there.
Kubota just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Caunt misses its intended target.
Caunt scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Caunt lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kubota throws a body punch but Caunt moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caunt moves out of range of the strikes.
Caunt takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Caunt misses the shot to the body.
Kubota throws a low kick but it's checked well by Caunt.
Kubota scores with a jab to the body.
Kubota turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kubota scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Caunt there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Caunt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Caunt uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kubota.
Caunt on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jab, jab by Kubota - just one landing.
Caunt moves away from the strike by Kubota.
Caunt avoids the head kick by Kubota.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kubota, right into the meat.
Good exchange - Caunt coming out on top.
Kubota throws an off balance right hand
and Caunt counters with a low kick, right behind Kubota 's knee.
Kubota takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Caunt connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caunt throws a shot from downtown. Kubota moves away and avoids it.
Caunt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kubota.
Kubota misses with a straight right.
Caunt lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Caunt chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kubota can pounce on him.
Good leg kick by Caunt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kubota pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kubota takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Caunt ducks under a wild hook from Kubota.

Caunt has taken the fight to the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kubota.
Kubota lands a right hand.

Caunt manages to break the clinch.
Kubota's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Good exchange - Kubota coming out on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caunt on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kubota feints and then cracks Caunt's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Caunt down.
Caunt takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Caunt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kubota throws a good cross that connects.
Nice uppercut lands for Kubota. That snapped Caunt's head back.
Kubota takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kubota now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Caunt. Kubota does a little dance to reset his feet.
Caunt misses with a leg kick.
Kubota swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Caunt throws an off balance right hand
and Kubota makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A clash of legs there as Caunt blocks the low kick.
As Kubota backs away, Caunt returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kubota blocks the body kick.
Kubota misses with a leg kick.
Caunt scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kubota doesn't seem bothered though.
Caunt takes a jab right on the kisser.
Caunt misses with a looping right.
Kubota throws a lazy right hand but Caunt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kubota tests Caunt's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Caunt is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kubota lands with a nice body punch.
Caunt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Caunt scores with a leg kick.
Kubota fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Caunt looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A swing and a miss from Kubota.
Caunt was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A telegraphed right hand from Kubota misses the target.
Caunt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kubota.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Caunt.
Takeru Kubota seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kubota, right into the meat.
Caunt moves out of range as Kubota strikes.
Kubota lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kubota throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Caunt sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kubota lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kubota throws out a loose jab but Caunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kubota has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big left from Kubota misses.
Caunt wants to slow Kubota down by chopping away at his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caunt connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kubota. Kubota circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Caunt takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kubota lands a lovely overhand right.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kubota scores with a sloppy right hand. Caunt should have avoided that one.
Caunt moves away from the strike by Kubota.
Caunt is looking for a counter combo.
An inside leg kick from Kubota misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Caunt catches Kubota right on the button with a cross.

Caunt moves into range and clinches up with Kubota.
Kubota pushes Caunt back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Caunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Caunt has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Caunt tries to throw a body punch but Kubota avoids it by throwing Caunt back against the cage.
Kubota swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kubota prevents a body shot from Caunt.
A nice left hand lands by Kubota.
Kubota lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kubota working aggressively here.
Caunt lands a hook to the side of the head.
Caunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kubota misses with a body punch.
Caunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kubota misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kubota lands a hook that snaps the head of Caunt backwards.
Kubota blocks an uppercut.
Kubota working aggressively here.
Caunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kubota tries to throw a body punch but Caunt avoids it by throwing Kubota back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A shot in the inside from Kubota.
Caunt lands a hook that snaps the head of Kubota backwards.
Caunt lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Takeru Kubota seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kubota.
Caunt is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Caunt.
Kubota tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Caunt's elbow.
Kubota working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Caunt prevents a body shot from Kubota.
Caunt misses with some punches.
Kubota is looking to break free of the clinch but Caunt has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Caunt tries to work over Kubota's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kubota lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Caunt displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kubota up against the cage.
Kubota tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubota throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Caunts head.
Caunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kubota lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Caunt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kubota misses with a looping left.
Kubota takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kubota is looking to land body kicks.
Caunt throws the kick towards the body but Kubota avoids it.
Kubota moves out of range of the body kick from Caunt.
Caunt shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kubota dips to his left and cracks Caunt with an uppercut!
Kubota throws a jab but it's blocked by Caunt.
Caunt swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Caunt misses with an attempted mid kick.
A jab from Caunt misses.
Kubota walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Caunt takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kubota connects with a leg kick. Caunt looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Caunt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kubota manages to avoid it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kubota.
Kubota throws a leg kick but Caunt checks it.
Caunt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kubota thows a left - swing and a miss!
Caunt has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kubota.
Caunt dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kubota. That did some damage!
Kubota takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Caunt buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kubota misses with a body shot.
Caunt thows a body kick. Kubota tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Caunt throws out a leg kick but Kubota moves out of range and Caunt only half commits.
Kubota thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kubota bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Caunt's head backwards.
Caunt looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caunt slips under a jab from Kubota.
Caunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kubota swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Caunt tries to close the distance and clinch but Kubota swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Caunt throws a body punch but Kubota moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Kubota showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kubota scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kubota looks to throw the jab but Caunt is out of range.
Caunt throws a wild body kick that Kubota sees coming a mile off.
Caunt walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kubota checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Caunt takes a swing at Kubota's ribcage but misses.
Kubota throws a half hearted mid kick.
Caunt's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kubota under the eye.
Caunt throws a hook but Kubota avoids it easily.
Kubota throws a solid leg kick but Caunt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kubota.
Caunt lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kubota takes a step back to recover.
Kubota keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kubota looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kubota cracks Caunt with an open hand slap.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kubota throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The fighters circling - Kubota throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kubota chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Caunt can pounce on him.
Kubota checks a leg kick.
Caunt throws a leg kick but Kubota moved away.
Caunt walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caunt avoids the body shot from Kubota.
Caunt was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kubota scores with a spinning back kick!
Caunt checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kubota throws a nice inside leg kick.
Caunt scores with a hook to the body. Kubota takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kubota jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kubota tries a low kick but Caunt avoids it.
Caunt scores with a nice strike.
Kubota blocks the body kick.
Kubota takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Caunt throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab by Kubota.
Kubota misses with a wild body shot.
Caunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Caunt fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Caunt throws out a loose jab but Kubota uses good head movement to avoid it.
Caunt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Caunt on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dick Caunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Caunt throws the kick towards the body but Kubota avoids it.
Caunt blocks the body kick.
Kubota throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Caunt!
Kubota feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Caunt's calf.
Caunt cracks the inside of Kubota's front leg.
Kubota uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Caunt.
Kubota scores with the left hand. Caunt knows he should have avoided that one.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Caunt.
Kubota connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A big right from Kubota misses.
A left lands for Caunt.

Caunt has closed the distance and engaged Kubota in a clinch.
Caunt blocking some punches.
Caunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Caunt tries to work over Kubota's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Caunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kubota is trying to break free.
Caunt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Caunt.
Caunt pushes Kubota back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Caunt.
Kubota misses with a body punch.
Caunt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kubota's elbow.
Kubota tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Caunt blocks a body shot from Kubota.
A short body shot lands from Kubota as the two fighters clinch.
Caunt blocking some punches.
Kubota throws a punch but it's blocked by Caunt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kubota.
Caunt lands a body punch in the clinch.
Caunt makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kubota tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Caunt.
Kubota can't find room to land a body shot as Caunt controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Caunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Caunt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right handed body shot lands from Caunt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kubota throws a head punch that misses.
Caunt misses with the head strike.
Kubota blocks a body shot from Caunt.
Kubota swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short body shot lands from Caunt as the two fighters clinch.
Kubota makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kubota goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kubota.
Kubota prevents a body shot from Caunt.
Caunt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Caunt can't find room to land a body shot as Kubota controls the action.
Kubota misses with a punch to the body.
Caunt working aggressively here.
Kubota lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kubota.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dick Caunt.
Well Kubota has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeru Kubota!
Takeru Kubota took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I am surprised I managed to make it to the fight, let alone win. I have been very sick and low on energy'.