PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Darrell Watts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marao Kuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Watts
vs
Kuma

210 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

168 cm
20
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Darrell Watts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marao Kuma!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuma dives in for a single leg takedown but Watts sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuma wants to break free but Watts has control.
Kuma has had enough of the clinch but Watts keeps him there for the moment.
Kuma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Watts walks away with a smile on his face. Kuma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Watts.
Kuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuma throws a head kick that misses.
Kuma misses with a takedown attempt - Watts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Darrell Watts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marao Kuma.
Kuma tries to close the distance and clinch but Watts swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kuma tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Watts smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuma shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Watts as he avoids it easily.
Watts shoots in for a double leg but Kuma sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuma scores with a spinning back kick!
Watts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Watts will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kuma changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Watts looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Watts really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Watts is trying to improve his position.
Watts manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kuma's best efforts.
Kuma looks winded!
Kuma wants to stand up but Watts is controlling the position.
Kuma throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuma tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Watts.
Watts is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuma seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Watts does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watts is looking to control Kuma's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Watts avoid being mounted?
Watts manages to get to full guard.
Watts keeping full guard, as Kuma tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts looking for a sweep. Not yet Watts, not yet.

Watts has his feet on Kuma's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Marao Kuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kuma gets a clinch.
Watts drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Watts putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kuma in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Watts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watts bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuma shoots in looking for a takedown but Watts manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuma's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Watts lands a right hook to the body.
Watts shoots in for a takedown but Kuma shows good takedown defense.
Watts misses with a wild body shot.

Watts closes the distance and clinches.
Watts lands an elbow that stopped Kuma in his tracks for a moment.
Kuma is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Watts breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Watts shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kuma but Kuma pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Darrell Watts will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Watts sprawls well. Watts wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kuma gets slowly back to his feet.
Kuma avoids the head kick by Watts.
Kuma slaps away a takedown attempt from Watts, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuma stuffs the takedown attempt from Watts. Watts gets slowly back to his feet.
Watts darts in looking for a takedown but Kuma gets double underhooks and turns Watts into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darrell Watts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Watts's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kuma - that will leave a mark!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuma throws a sloppy head kick
and Watts counters with a head kick. That will keep Kuma thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kuma tries to clinch up but Watts circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuma throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Watts is defended easily by Kuma.
Kuma tries a head kick but it misses.

Kuma closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A lull in the action here.
Kuma grinds an elbow into Watts's temple.
Watts takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kuma has control of an arm but Watts manages to advance to Kuma's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuma looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Kuma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Watts trying to control momentarily.
Watts is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kuma is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watts not allowing Kuma to control his hands.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kuma is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Watts avoiding Kuma 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kuma doesn't escape.

Watts is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kuma is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marao Kuma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kuma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuma falls off balance throwing a combination

and Watts counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Watts.
Kuma working hard to break the clinch.
Kuma tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Watts ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watts no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kuma throws a strike but Watts rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kuma is looking to stand up but Watts isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Watts gets to his feet. Kuma looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kuma fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watts avoids it really well and circles away.
Kuma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Watts darts in looking for a takedown but Kuma gets double underhooks and turns Watts into the cage.
Kuma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Watts.
Watts is trying to drag Kuma to the mat but Kuma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darrell Watts. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Watts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuma looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuma fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Watts shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kuma as he avoids it easily.
Watts fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuma avoids it really well and circles away.
Watts has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kuma.
Kuma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Watts.
Watts lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kuma at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuma throws a series of punches but Watts moves out of range.
Watts shoots for a takedown but Kuma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Watts on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuma. Kuma obviously looking to wear him down.
Watts moves out of range of the strikes.
Kuma misses with a takedown attempt - Watts sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kuma shoots in looking for a takedown but Watts manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuma's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kuma wants to clinch

and Watts counters by moving into the clinch.
Watts is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Watts has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kuma after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watts is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuma pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuma is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Watts is defending well.
Watts stalling.

Kuma manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Watts preventing the sweep.
Kuma trying to control the position.
Watts throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Watts works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marao Kuma.
I think Kuma has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marao Kuma!