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TWGC 35 (185lbs, D3): Finals - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 1 losses; Asher Barnes! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 2 wins and 0 losses; Kyle Kuzma!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Kuzma moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuzma goes for a takedown in the clinch but Barnes prevents it.
Kuzma gets underhooks to prevent Barnes's takedown attempt.
Kuzma is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Barnes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuzma is trying to drag Barnes to the mat but Barnes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Asher Barnes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kyle Kuzma.
Barnes stops a takedown attempt from Kuzma.
We've been informed that Kuzma has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Barnes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kuzma.
Barnes looking for a takedown.
Kuzma has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Barnes is trying to keep an underhook but Kuzma manages to get the takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Barnes (0) vs (2) Kuzma
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Kuzma is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barnes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barnes is looking for a triangle here but Kuzma uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Barnes (0) vs (5) Kuzma
Barnes sneaks back into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzma is taking a breather. Barnes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Barnes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
Barnes is working hard here to advance position.
Kuzma controlling the action here.
Kuzma wants to pass to mount but Barnes is defending the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking for a sweep. Kuzma is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barnes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kuzma not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barnes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Barnes (2) vs (5) Kuzma
Kuzma seems keen to control Barnes's posture.
Barnes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barnes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuzma is keeping the position for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barnes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barnes is looking to pass into half guard but Kuzma pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kuzma is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Barnes (2) vs (7) Kuzma
Kuzma is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barnes can't keep his opponent in guard - Kuzma advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Barnes tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kuzma has advanced to mount. Uh oh. Score +3 for passing guard: Barnes (2) vs (10) Kuzma
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuzma's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Barnes regains half guard.
Kuzma takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Let's hope that Kuzma has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Barnes wants to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Barnes is pressing down on Kuzma's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kuzma controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kuzma won't allow Barnes to sweep him here.
Kuzma is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Barnes is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kuzma is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barnes looking to control.
Kuzma looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barnes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kuzma has passed into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Barnes (2) vs (13) Kuzma
Barnes is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here as Kuzma stalls from top position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma moves into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Barnes (2) vs (15) Kuzma
Kuzma controlling from mount.
Barnes tries to reverse the position but Kuzma maintains control.
Kuzma with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Kuzma goes for an armbar but Barnes turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Barnes. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Barnes (4) vs (15) Kuzma
Kuzma has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is looking to pass into half guard but Kuzma pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kuzma is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Barnes (4) vs (17) Kuzma
Barnes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kuzma advances to half guard.
Kuzma not doing much here.
Barnes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuzma is taking a breather. Barnes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kuzma.
Barnes wants to improve his position but Kuzma is controlling well.
Kuzma looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but Kuzma has control of the leg.
Barnes trying to hold on to Kuzma's head to control him but Kuzma postures up.
Kuzma slows the pace down in half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Kuzma.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuzma trying to mount his opponent but Barnes defends it.
Kuzma controlling the pace.
Kuzma prevents Barnes from improving his position.
Kuzma is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Barnes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuzma is working away from the top position though.
Kuzma is looking to advance position but Barnes won't allow it.
Barnes tries to get to full guard but Kuzma has control of the leg.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Barnes is in trouble now - Kuzma has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Barnes (4) vs (20) Kuzma
Kuzma looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kuzma is continuing to stall.
Kuzma is looking to work his way around to Barnes's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Barnes working to try and regain half guard.
Kuzma tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kuzma with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Barnes is trying to escape the mount.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Barnes tries to hold on but Kuzma postures up.
Kuzma controlling from the full mount.
Barnes tries to hold on but Kuzma pushes him away.
Kuzma controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnes tries to lock up and control but Kuzma gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Barnes is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuzma has a good base and remains in mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kuzma wins on points by 20 to 4.
After the fight, Kyle Kuzma was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly. |
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