PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boyd Rumbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Makuku Kukula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boyd Rumbo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Makuku Kukula's chin.

Rumbo
vs
Kukula

192 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
19
280 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Boyd Rumbo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Makuku Kukula!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rumbo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kukula's half guard.
Rumbo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kukula wants to control but Rumbo is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kukula manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kukula wants to sweep here but Rumbo controlling him for the moment.
Rumbo distracts Kukula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kukula not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rumbo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rumbo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kukula is proving hard to escape from.
Rumbo looking to pass the guard.
Rumbo scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukula is looking to stand up but Rumbo isn't so interested in that idea.
Rumbo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rumbo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rumbo stopping the sweep attempt from Kukula.
Rumbo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rumbo is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukula has wrist control.
Kukula is trying to keep Rumbo in close.
Rumbo wants to pass the guard but Kukula is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rumbo throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rumbo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rumbo throws a body punch but Kukula moves out of range.
Rumbo tries to clinch but Kukula is having none of it.
Good work by Kukula as he checks the leg kick.
Rumbo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kukula.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rumbo.

It looks like Makuku Kukula has been cut.
Kukula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kukula looks gassed!
Kukula takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rumbo throws a low kick but Kukula avoids it.
Rumbo loads up on a big right hand but Kukula slips the punch.
Rumbo throws a right and a left that Kukula avoids nicely.

Rumbo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kukula tries to roll over but Rumbo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rumbo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rumbo stops Kukula from getting back to his feet.
Kukula is looking to improve his position.
Rumbo is trying to control. Kukula wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kukula wants to get back to full guard.
Kukula is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rumbo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rumbo prevents Kukula from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kukula lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rumbo wants to clinch but Kukula slips to the side

and Kukula counters by moving into the clinch.
Rumbo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kukula prevents it.
Kukula tries to pull guard but Rumbo holds him up against the cage and eventually Kukula drops back down to his feet.
Kukula is trying to drag Rumbo to the mat but Rumbo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kukula tries to break free but Rumbo pushes him back against the cage.
Rumbo tries to break the clinch but Kukula is controlling the position.
Rumbo tries to pull guard but Kukula holds him up against the cage and eventually Rumbo drops back down to his feet.
Kukula fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boyd Rumbo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Makuku Kukula's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kukula avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rumbo misses with a straight right.
Kukula shoots in for a double leg but Rumbo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rumbo could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kukula!

It looks like Boyd Rumbo has been cut.
Kukula tries to clinch up.
Rumbo moves out of range of the body kick.
Rumbo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Rumbo clinches up with Kukula and pushes him back against the cage.
Rumbo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kukula struggles to land a body shot inside as Rumbo controls his hands.
Rumbo wants to break free but Kukula has control.
Rumbo can't get the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukula is looking to break free of the clinch but Rumbo has double underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kukula as Rumbo tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumbo wants to get back to striking at distance but Kukula won't allow it.
Kukula is working for takedown but Rumbo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rumbo wants to get back to striking at distance but Kukula won't allow it.
Kukula tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rumbo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boyd Rumbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Makuku Kukula.
Rumbo fails to pull guard.
Kukula stops a takedown attempt from Rumbo.
Kukula jumps guard but Rumbo stands there with Kukula around his waist. Kukula gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rumbo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rumbo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kukula fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Boyd Rumbo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukula shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rumbo counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rumbo gets the takedown into side control.
Kukula wants to control but Rumbo postures up.
Kukula regains half guard.
Kukula gets full guard.
Rumbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukula controls Rumbo momentarily but Rumbo frees himself.
Kukula throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumbo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kukula's head.
Rumbo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kukula controls Rumbo momentarily but Rumbo frees himself.
Kukula avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rumbo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rumbo doesn't manage to clinch there - Kukula circles away.
Kukula bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rumbo's head backwards.
Rumbo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rumbo throws a low kick, looking for Kukula's leg but Kukula calmly moves out of range.
Kukula looks to land a combination. Rumbo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kukula.
Nice takedown defense from Kukula. No joy for Rumbo on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kukula doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rumbo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rumbo throws and elbow that misses. Kukula uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rumbo's guard. Nice move by Kukula!

Kukula stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kukula checks a low kick from Rumbo.
Kukula takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kukula dodges the punch combination from Rumbo.
Rumbo tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kukula throws a nice looking combination but Rumbo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boyd Rumbo dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Rumbo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kukula wants to clinch up but Rumbo keeps it at a distance.
Rumbo darts in trying to clinch

and Kukula counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rumbo's guard now.
Rumbo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rumbo tries to get out of the position.
Kukula wants to control from the top but Rumbo keeps moving.
Rumbo wants to sweep but no luck.
Rumbo is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukula sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rumbo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumbo is not content to let Kukula control the position.

Rumbo is defending against the submission attempts here by Kukula.
Rumbo wants to sweep but Kukula has passed to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rumbo bucks up and tries to throw Kukula off but instead Kukula has got his back!
Rumbo controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Rumbo prevents Kukula from getting a body triangle.

Kukula has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rumbo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukula struggling to keep hold of the position.
Kukula somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Rumbo trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rumbo looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rumbo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Kukula missing with strikes from the back.
Kukula is hanging on to Rumbo's back as he tries to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kukula is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Rumbo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Makuku Kukula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boyd Rumbo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kukula punches the canvas rather than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Makuku Kukula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rumbo 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boyd Rumbo!