PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Kiryu (ranked 331 p4p, 658 weight class) and Hendrix Cabrera (ranked 43 p4p, 93 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kiryu
vs
Cabrera

184 cm
30
194
11 - 6 - 1

185 cm
29
185
15 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
Conquer

FF Gear
Conviction

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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuma Kiryu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hendrix Cabrera!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabrera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kiryu pinned against the cage. Kiryu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kiryu connects with a right hand. Cabrera shakes it off.

It looks like Hendrix Cabrera has been cut.
Nice defenses there by Kiryu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some bone on bone action there as Cabrera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cabrera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cabrera drops his hands momentarily and Kiryu takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu thows a body kick. Cabrera tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kiryu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kiryu connects with an inside leg kick.
Cabrera throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kiryu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cabrera throws a lazy right hand but Kiryu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cabrera tries a low kick but Kiryu avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Cabrera.
Nice straight punches there by Kiryu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kiryu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu connects with a single shot there.

That has opened up Hendrix Cabrera's cut even more.
Kiryu slips a jab and a cross from Cabrera.
Kiryu thinks about countering with a head kick.
Cabrera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kiryu throws out the jab.
Cabrera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kazuma Kiryu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Cabrera throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kiryu tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cabrera is in Kiryu's guard.
Kiryu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cabrera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kiryu looking for a sweep. Not yet Kiryu, not yet.
Cabrera wants to pass the guard but Kiryu is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu has control of Cabrera's left arm, preventing Cabrera from doing any damage.
Kiryu keeping full guard, as Cabrera tries to pass.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Cabrera has gone for a leg lock! Kiryu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cabrera's guard.

Kiryu stopping the sweep attempt from Cabrera.

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.

Cabrera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kiryu defends it easily.
Cabrera wants to sweep here but Kiryu controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cabrera working for submissions but it's allowed Kiryu to get to half guard.
Cabrera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuma Kiryu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hendrix Cabrera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - Cabrera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kiryu looks to land a left hand but Cabrera moved out of range nicely.
Kiryu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cabrera changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kiryu swings for the body but Cabrera moves out of range.
Cabrera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kiryu throws out the jab.
It seemed like Cabrera was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kiryu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cabrera can do to turn this around?
Kiryu throws a hook but Cabrera blocks it.
Cabrera looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Crunch! Cabrera slams his shin into Kiryu's torso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiryu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kazuma Kiryu is winning the standup battle so far.
Cabrera cracks Kiryu with an open hand slap.
Kiryu ducks right into an uppercut from Cabrera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a chopping leg kick but Cabrera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kiryu.
Cabrera slips under a jab.
Cabrera scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Kazuma Kiryu has been cut.
Cabrera shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kiryu defending well as Cabrera loads up on a big left hand.
Cabrera is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Cabrera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kiryu sprawls well initially but Cabrera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Cabrera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu won't allow Cabrera to pass to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiryu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cabrera wants to pass the guard but Kiryu is keeping the position.

Cabrera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kiryu dives on top into guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kiryu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cabrera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cabrera throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kiryu uses it to pass to side control.

That's four 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.
Cabrera gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Cabrera has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Cabrera tries to get to full guard but Kiryu has control of the leg.
Cabrera is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hendrix Cabrera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Kiryu.
Kiryu throws a looping overhand right but Cabrera ducks down to avoid it.
Cabrera throws the kick towards the body but Kiryu avoids it.
Kiryu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cabrera.
Cabrera misses with a body shot.
Kiryu throws a leg kick but Cabrera checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiryu misses with an uppercut
and Cabrera counters with a straight right hand.
Cabrera on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A low kick from Kiryu is predictable there
and Cabrera counters with a three punch combo that has Kiryu backing up. Kiryu nods at Cabrera to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera walks into a left hand.
Cabrera fails with a takedown attempt.
Kiryu throws a body shot but no joy.
Cabrera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kiryu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cabrera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu misses with the body kick
enabling Cabrera to counter with a crisp jab.
Kiryu throws a front kick that sends Cabrera stumbling back into the cage.
Kiryu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A big left from Kiryu misses.
Kiryu throws a low kick but Cabrera moves out of range easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Kiryu. That snapped Cabrera's head back.
Kiryu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kiryu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kiryu lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu tests Cabrera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice defenses there by Cabrera.
It seemed like Cabrera was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cabrera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kiryu lands with a hook. Cabrera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

The cut above Hendrix Cabrera's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kiryu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cabrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kiryu.
Cabrera throws a hook but Kiryu avoids it easily.
Kiryu throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Cabrera misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera throws a leg kick which misses Kiryu's front leg but catches the back leg as Kiryu tries to avoid it.
Cabrera moves away from the strike by Kiryu.
Cabrera follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Kiryu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kiryu swings widly with a right hand
and Cabrera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kiryu lands with an uppercut that bounces Cabrera off the cage and back into range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabrera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kiryu throwing a counter right hand but Cabrera manages to avoid it.
Cabrera throws a head kick that Kiryu semi-blocks.
Kiryu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuma Kiryu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kiryu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuma Kiryu!
Kazuma Kiryu thanked the fans post fight for their support.