PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Kuruvila (ranked 3404 p4p, 3380 weight class) and Abasi Njagi (ranked 187 p4p, 186 weight class). Njagi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Game - Name Me King (Feat. Pusha T). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kuruvila
vs
Njagi

173 cm
19
138
2 - 1 - 0

151 cm
19
135
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BE Younick
Nutritional Shaved Ice

Nutritional Shaved Ice
Voodoo Nutrition

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joseph Kuruvila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abasi Njagi!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Njagi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kuruvila counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Njagi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
An attempted straight right counter from Kuruvila misses the target.
Njagi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've been told by Kuruvila's head coaches at Anytime Fitness that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Joseph Kuruvila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abasi Njagi.
Njagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kuruvila but Kuruvila pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kuruvila is looking to counter punch.
Njagi shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuruvila tries to sprawl out of it but Njagi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuruvila manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuruvila throwing a counter right hand but Njagi manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Njagi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuruvila's waist but Kuruvila gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Njagi off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Njagi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kuruvila quickly recovers to half guard.
Njagi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Njagi prevents Kuruvila from standing back up.

Njagi seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Kuruvila is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Abasi Njagi!