PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Kuwabara (ranked 370 p4p, 457 weight class) and Valentin Taneyev (ranked 55 p4p, 66 weight class). Kuwabara's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kazuma Kuwabara Theme. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kuwabara
vs
Taneyev

190 cm
35
210
28 - 15 - 1

186 cm
31
209
20 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Carnage Clothing

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kazuma Kuwabara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Valentin Taneyev!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuwabara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Taneyev breaks the clinch.
Kuwabara moves in looking to clinch but Taneyev pushes him off.
Taneyev shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kuwabara shoots in but Taneyev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Taneyev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kuwabara connects with a looping right hand.
We've been hearing reports that Kuwabara has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kuwabara slips under a jab from Taneyev.
Kuwabara doesn't manage to clinch there - Taneyev circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuwabara misses with a looping left.
Taneyev shapes to counter with a head kick.

Kuwabara has managed to clinch.
Taneyev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kuwabara manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuwabara misses with a lunging right hand
and Taneyev counters with a right hand to the body.
Kuwabara throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taneyev counters with a right hand to the body.
Taneyev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kuwabara misses with a wild body shot.
Taneyev blocks a jab.
Taneyev shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kuwabara misses with a body punch
and Taneyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuwabara works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kuwabara tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Taneyev! But no joy.

Kuwabara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kuwabara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuwabara is controlling him.
Taneyev is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Taneyev scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuwabara. Taneyev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taneyev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kuwabara misses with a body shot.
Taneyev let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuwabara as he connects with a hook.
Kuwabara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taneyev moves away.
A jab from Kuwabara misses.
Jab, jab by Kuwabara - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taneyev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Kuwabara gets a double leg takedown into Taneyev's guard.

Kuwabara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Taneyev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuwabara is controlling him.

Taneyev has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kuwabara has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Taneyev lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Taneyev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuwabara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taneyev was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuwabara.
Kuwabara scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taneyev doesn't seem bothered though.
Kuwabara with a lazy takedown attempt

and Taneyev counters with a head kick that drops Kuwabara to the mat! Kuwabara scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuwabara throws the left hand but Taneyev avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara tries to close the distance and clinch but Taneyev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Taneyev looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Taneyev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kuwabara.
Taneyev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuwabara.
Kuwabara swings away with a body shot that misses
and Taneyev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Kazuma Kuwabara has been cut.
Kazuma Kuwabara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot lands for Kuwabara.
Kuwabara wants to clinch up but Taneyev keeps it at a distance.
Taneyev throws a big counter head kick but Kuwabara avoids it with no problem.
Taneyev stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuwabara. Kuwabara gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuma Kuwabara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuwabara connects with a good right hand that stumbles Taneyev. Taneyev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Taneyev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kazuma Kuwabara's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Taneyev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Taneyev defending well as Kuwabara loads up on a big left hand.
Kuwabara with a hook.
Kuwabara throws an overhand right that lands on Taneyev's shoulder, as Taneyev tries to avoid the shot.
Taneyev swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Taneyev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Taneyev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Taneyev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuwabara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuwabara throws a body shot but no joy.
Taneyev throws out a counter right but Kuwabara avoids it with no problem.
Kuwabara is looking to clinch but Taneyev is avoiding it.
Taneyev ducks under a wild hook from Kuwabara.
Taneyev raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuwabara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taneyev tries to avoid it but Kuwabara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taneyev to the ground. Taneyev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Taneyev throws a fast counter high kick but Kuwabara manages to duck under it in time.
Kuwabara just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuwabara uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Kuwabara shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Taneyev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Taneyev has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kuwabara has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Taneyev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuwabara misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuwabara. Taneyev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taneyev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kuwabara tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taneyev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuwabara somewhat.
Taneyev lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara misses with an uppercut
and Taneyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuwabara looks to score with a jab to the body but Taneyev is just out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Kuwabara there.
Kuwabara with a poor takedown

and Taneyev counters with a crisp one two that drops Kuwabara! Taneyev thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Kuwabara to his feet! Kuwabara is in big trouble!

Kuwabara is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kazuma Kuwabara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Taneyev ducks under a wild hook from Kuwabara.
Kuwabara moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromTaneyev.
Oh Kuwabara is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kuwabara darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kuwabara seems to have got his legs back now.
Kuwabara scores with a nice head shot.
Kuwabara fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuwabara rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Taneyev counters with a nice right hand that sends Kuwabara toppling to the canvas! Kuwabara scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Taneyev finish him?!
Taneyev takes one to the chin there.
Taneyev takes one to the side of the head.
Kuwabara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A shot to the body from Kuwabara misses
and Taneyev counters with a big right hand! Oh Kuwabara is in trouble here! Taneyev follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valentin Taneyev!
Valentin Taneyev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Kazuma Kuwabara stepped up to the mic, saying 'We all have to die when our time comes, but if we do our duty we don't got regrets'.