PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Takeru Kubota (ranked 958 p4p, 22637 weight class) and James King (ranked 127 p4p, 660 weight class). Kubota comes to the ring accompanied by Devilman No Uta (1972). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kubota
vs
King

170 cm
34
156
27 - 10 - 2

170 cm
27
161
11 - 6 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 27 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeru Kubota!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kubota throws a poor cross that misses
and King counters with a lovely shot to the body.
King ducks under a wild hook from Kubota.
Kubota misses with a wild body shot.
King throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kubota thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kubota backing away here, and King unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kubota looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kubota misses with a wild body shot.
Kubota on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Good leg kick by Kubota.
King lands with a kick to the temple. Kubota shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kubota tries to score with a low kick but King moves his leg out of the way.
King tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
King avoids the head kick by Kubota.
King jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kubota appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kubota swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kubota lands with an overhand left.
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!

King clinches.
A short right from Kubota on the inside.
Kubota throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kings head.
Kubota misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubota can't find room to land a body shot as King controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kubota.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kubota lands an uppercut.
King tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kubota avoids it.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kubota breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice shot lands for Kubota.
Kubota looks to throw the jab but King is out of range.
Kubota takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kubota moves out of range of the body kick from King.
King throws a leg kick but Kubota sees it coming and checks it nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Kubota.
Kubota throws a body kick that misses.
King looks to clinch
enabling Kubota to counter with a crisp jab.
King misses with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kubota missing with a left hand there. King was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kubota misses with a low kick.
King throws a leg kick but Kubota sees it coming and moves out of range.
King throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King moves into the clinch successfully.
Kubota lands an uppercut.
Kubota lands with a light punch inside.
King tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kubota avoids it.
King missing with knees to the body.
King looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
King lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kubota backwards.
King tries a knee to the head but Kubota blocks it.
Kubota gets through King's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for King.
King trying to land knees to the body.
Kubota lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kubota gets through King's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kubota blocks it with crossed arms.
King trying to land knees to the body.

Kubota breaks the clinch.
Kubota lands the left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kubota throws a shot from downtown. King moves away and avoids it.
Kubota is looking to score with low kicks.
Kubota connects with an inside leg kick.
Kubota blocks the body kick.
Kubota jabs at King's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Kubota dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

King attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kubota fakes high and swings low for a body shot but King manages to avoid it.
King connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
King blocks a jab.
King cracks Kubota with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice uppercut lands for Kubota. That snapped King's head back.
Kubota throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent King stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kubota.
Takeru Kubota seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kubota lands with a straight right. King didn't see that one coming.
King loads up on a big right hand but Kubota slips the punch.
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Kubota.
King uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kubota.
King misses the jab.
King thumps Kubota with a low kick.
Kubota takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
King looks to land a body kick but Kubota moved away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some bone on bone action there as King checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kubota dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on King. That did some damage!
King ducks right into an uppercut from Kubota.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kubota closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
King avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King throws a half hearted mid kick.
King throws a low kick, looking for Kubota's leg but Kubota calmly moves out of range.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Kubota moves out of range easily.
King pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A quick step to the side and Kubota tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kubota swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by King.
King misses with a leg kick.
Kubota blocks a jab.
King throws a jab when Kubota was well out of range.
King slips under a jab from Kubota.
King throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good work by King as he checks the leg kick.
Takeru Kubota is winning the standup battle so far.
King on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kubota paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kubota throws a nice outside leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kubota crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from King - the referee stops the clock and Kubota gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says King. Kubota manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from King.
Kubota checks the leg kick.
King looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota throws a body shot but no joy.
Kubota stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from King.
Kubota looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kubota chopping away at his opponent's legs.
King throws a leg kick but Kubota sees it coming and moves out of range.
King tries a head kick but it misses.
Kubota smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
King with the inside leg kick.
King uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kubota.
Kubota throws a jab when King was well out of range.
King tries to counter with a clinch but Kubota shakes him off and moves away.
Kubota blocks a head kick by King.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King moves out of range as Kubota strikes.
Some bone on bone action there as Kubota checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kubota connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kubota throws a shot from downtown. King moves away and avoids it.
King tries to counter by closing the distance.
King misses with a head kick.
Kubota looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.
Kubota lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
King misses with an attempted mid kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Kubota dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

King looks to land a body kick but Kubota moved away.
Kubota is looking to counter with a body kick.
James King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kubota throws a hook but King avoids it easily.
King connects with a jab.
King misses with a straight left.
Kubota takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice jab there from Kubota.
Kubota throws a hook but King avoids it easily.
King will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
King digs a good body shot into Kubota's ribs.
King misses with a body kick.
King throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kubota appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kubota avoids the body shot from King.
King avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
King throws a body punch but Kubota moves out of range.
Kubota is looking to land body kicks.
Kubota keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kubota ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kubota takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kubota cracks King with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throws a head kick but Kubota moves out of range.
Kubota avoids the head kick by King.
Kubota throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
Kubota lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kubota avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kubota moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kubota fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and King has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kubota takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
Kubota misses with a head kick.
Kubota lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kubota thuds a left hand into King's body.
King misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big right from Kubota misses.
Kubota checks the leg kick.
Kubota scores with a nice head shot.

King has closed the distance and engaged Kubota in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King landing knees to the head.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kubota misses with a punch on the inside.
Kubota presses King against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kubota on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kubota creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Kubota.

Kubota escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King misses with a wild combination.
Kubota throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kubota works the jab nicely.
Kubota lands with a thumping leg kick.
It looks like Kubota has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Kubota misses with a wild body shot.
Kubota scores with a hook.
King scores with a spinning back kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slow jab from King misses its intended target.
King throws a head kick but Kubota moves out of range.
Kubota appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kubota keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A shot to the liver by Kubota. Beautiful body shot.
Kubota blocks a head kick by King.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeru Kubota showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kubota 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Takeru Kubota!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Takeru Kubota!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Takeru Kubota!

Takeru Kubota wins by unanimous decision!
Takeru Kubota tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.