PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fela Kuti (ranked 2830 p4p, 3298 weight class) and Panda One (ranked 382 p4p, 436 weight class). Kuti comes to the cage accompanied by Expensive Shit. Fela Kuti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuti
vs
One

192 cm
26
195
8 - 8 - 0

150 cm
25
197
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
HELLBENT

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fela Kuti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Panda One!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
One moves out of range as Kuti strikes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kuti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but One circles away quickly and effectively.
One with the counter takedown but Kuti avoids it easily.

One looking to score a takedown here. Kuti is defending well but One drives through and ends up in Kuti's guard.

Kuti uses the cage to get back to his feet.
One fails with an attempt to clinch.

One darts in and clinches Kuti up against the cage.
One jumps guard but Kuti stands there with One around his waist. One gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kuti lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

One pulls guard effortlessly.

Kuti stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A jab from Kuti misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Kuti. That snapped One's head back.
One staying out of range there.
One drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kuti defends it well.
One looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuti is just out of range.
It looked like Kuti was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from One.
One lands with a shot to the body.
One swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kuti.
Kuti throws a big shot that misses.
Kuti throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuti throws a body shot but no joy.
We've been told by Kuti's head coaches at The Goya - 🥊 MMA Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
One throws a series of punches but Kuti moves out of range.
Fela Kuti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
One takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kuti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kuti tries to close the distance and clinch but One swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
One throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
One lands an overhand right.
A jab from One misses.
Good shot there by Kuti.
One connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kuti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but One circles away quickly and effectively.
A swing and a miss from One.
Kuti lands with a straight right. One didn't see that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuti fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from One.
Kuti throws a big shot that misses.
One on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kuti takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
One moves out of range as Kuti strikes.

One shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kuti wants to get back to his feet.
One takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
One is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuti is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
One is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
One is looking to advance position but Kuti won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
One prevents Kuti from improving his position.

One is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuti defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

One looking for a submission but Kuti manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

One is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kuti is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kuti has escaped and now he's on top!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
One is looking for a triangle but Kuti pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuti stands up and waves to One to follow him.
One throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuti scores with a jab to the body.
One throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuti.
Kuti misses with an uppercut. One saw that one coming.
One looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Panda One has been cut.
Kuti looks to throw the jab but One is out of range.
One ducks right into an uppercut from Kuti.
Kuti waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract One.
Kuti throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuti misses with a double jab.
One connects with a body shot.
One defending well as Kuti loads up on a big left hand.
One throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuti is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kuti misses with a straight right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fela Kuti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Panda One's cut.
That's time! Kuti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuti takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kuti avoids the body shot from One.
One avoids the body shot from Kuti.
Kuti misses with a wild body shot.
Fela Kuti is winning the standup battle so far.
One misses the jab.
Kuti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from One.
Kuti misses the jab.
Kuti takes a swing at One's ribcage but misses.
One misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuti.
It looked like Kuti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
One is looking to clinch but Kuti is avoiding it.
One uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuti.

Kuti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
One swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for One.
Kuti throws a punch but it's blocked by One.
Kuti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that One can do to turn this around?

One jumps into guard, dragging Kuti to the mat.

One looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fela Kuti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuti wanted to stand there but One had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

One escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

One looking for subs off his back but Kuti has passed one foot through into half guard.

One is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kuti pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

One looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

One actively working from the bottom here.
Kuti wants to pass to mount but One is defending the position.

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.

One looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuti tries to pass the half guard into mount. One knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

One looking for submissions off his back.

Kuti stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows One to get to his feet.
One keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuti.
One changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kuti throws a jab when One was well out of range.
Kuti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
One is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kuti rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice body punch from One.
One throws a hook but Kuti blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuti. One does a little dance to reset his feet.
One feints the counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuti. One does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuti scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
One bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kuti's head backwards.
One tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. One sees it coming and avoids it easily.
One keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuti.
One blocks a jab.
Kuti misses with a body shot.
And One tries to counter it with a takedown but Kuti pushes his down on his head and steps out.
One blocks a jab.
A swing and a miss from One.
One moves out of range of the strikes.
Kuti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
One throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
One staying out of range there.
Kuti keeps the fight on the outside.
One takes a swing at Kuti's ribcage but misses.
One tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuti cracks One with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One misses with an uppercut.
Kuti misses with an uppercut. One saw that one coming.
Kuti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
One tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kuti swats away the attempt to clinch by One.
It looked like Kuti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
One uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuti.
Kuti takes a body punch but keeps moving.
One fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kuti throws out a loose jab but One uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuti throws out a loose jab but One uses good head movement to avoid it.
One slips a jab from Kuti.
One tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
One thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuti throws a predictable looking body shot

and One counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kuti manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. One keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Kuti looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
One is trying to pull guard but Kuti has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fela Kuti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Panda One's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

One tries to clinch but Kuti is having none of it.
Kuti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuti throws a big shot that misses.
Kuti throws a lazy right hand but One sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
One throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kuti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kuti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

One decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

One is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kuti is staying active underneath One, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
One might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kuti haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuti trying to control here.
Kuti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
One is looking to take a break and control but Kuti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

One is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kuti is defending against the submission attempts here by One.

That's two 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.
Kuti is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kuti looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Kuti.
One misses with a hook.
One has a takedown stuffed.
One takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuti throws a hook but One avoids it easily.
One feints the counter takedown.

Kuti gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows One to score an easy takedown into full guard.
One trying to control but Kuti is working from the bottom.

One drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuti looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuti looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuti!

Fela Kuti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kuti moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
One tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kuti presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
One is squirming around, avoiding Kuti's attempts to control the action.
One tries to reverse the position but Kuti maintains control.
One is squirming around, avoiding Kuti's attempts to control the action.
One is in all sorts of trouble here.
Panda One has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuti controlling his opponent.
One keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
One keeps trying to improve his position.
Kuti looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kuti will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuti's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Fela Kuti.
Well Kuti 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 Saam Ante scores the fight for Fela Kuti!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Fela Kuti!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Fela Kuti!

Fela Kuti wins by unanimous decision!
After the big win, Fela Kuti made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Brooklyn Apothecary and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.