PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anton Kuksa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Marinas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kuksa
vs
Marinas

180 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Kuksa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jose Marinas!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Kuksa scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Jose Marinas has been cut.
Marinas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kuksa counters with a series of strikes. Marinas will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuksa darts in and clinches Marinas up against the cage.

Marinas manages to break the clinch.

Kuksa scores with a takedown into Marinas's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kuksa looking to pass the guard.
Marinas wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuksa wants to get up but he can't break Marinas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Marinas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuksa is controlling him.
Marinas keeping full guard, as Kuksa tries to pass.
Marinas pulls Kuksa in close to prevent any damage.
Marinas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuksa is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuksa trying to control the position from guard on top but Marinas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuksa leaves Marinas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kuksa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marinas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kuksa darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Marinas is not content to let Kuksa control the position.
Marinas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuksa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinas is looking for a sweep. Kuksa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kuksa trying to control the action but Marinas is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Still in half guard, Kuksa seems content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anton Kuksa.
Kuksa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Marinas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kuksa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuksa trying to control the pace.
Marinas is trying to stand.
Kuksa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Marinas on the ground.
Marinas looks gassed!
Kuksa wants to stand but Marinas has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Kuksa wants to pass to mount but Marinas is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuksa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Anton Kuksa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Marinas shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuksa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Marinas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Anton Kuksa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Marinas.

Kuksa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuksa content to control rather than advance.
Kuksa trying to advance position but Marinas counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marinas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuksa's guard.
Kuksa wants to stand up but Marinas is controlling him.
Marinas wants to pass the guard but Kuksa is keeping the position.
Marinas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marinas trying to control but Kuksa is working from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuksa wants to stand and escape but Marinas is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Marinas stands up and waves to Kuksa to follow him.
Marinas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kuksa counters with a single leg into guard. Marinas didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kuksa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jose Marinas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kuksa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kuksa tries to control but Marinas wriggling away.
Kuksa wants to get back to his feet but Marinas is holding on tight.
Anton Kuksa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuksa wants to control the pace but Marinas is squirming around nicely.
Kuksa controlling from the full mount.
Kuksa wants to get back to his feet but Marinas is holding on tight.
Marinas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kuksa controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinas is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kuksa trying to control but Marinas is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Marinas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Marinas working to try and regain half guard.
Marinas holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kuksa tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kuksa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kuksa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Marinas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marinas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuksa wants to get back to his feet.
Marinas is trying to stand back up but Kuksa is controlling him
Marinas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Marinas.
Kuksa engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kuksa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Marinas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuksa is aware though and is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marinas trying to keep a closed guard but Kuksa is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuksa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marinas keeping moving, preventing Kuksa from controlling successfully.
Kuksa tries to free his leg and advance position but Marinas is retaining full guard.

Marinas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuksa defends it easily.
Kuksa content to stall in guard here.
Kuksa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kuksa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marinas working a defensive guard here.
Marinas keeping moving, preventing Kuksa from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuksa stopping the sweep attempt from Marinas.
Marinas keeping moving, preventing Kuksa from controlling successfully.

Anton Kuksa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kuksa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Marinas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kuksa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuksa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Marinas regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kuksa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jose Marinas's cut.
That's time! Kuksa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kuksa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Marinas is squirming around, avoiding Kuksa's attempts to control the action.
Kuksa controlling from the full mount.
Kuksa tries to control but Marinas wriggling away.
Marinas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Marinas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Marinas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kuksa wants to stand up but Marinas manages to regain full guard.
Marinas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuksa works over Marinas with some ground and pound from guard.
Kuksa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marinas keeping full guard, as Kuksa tries to pass.
Marinas keeping moving, preventing Kuksa from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marinas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Marinas controls Kuksa momentarily but Kuksa frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anton Kuksa wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Marinas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kuksa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Marinas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Marinas pulls Kuksa in close to prevent any damage.
Marinas trying to control the position.
Kuksa looking to pass the guard.
Kuksa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kuksa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marinas keeping moving, preventing Kuksa from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jose Marinas.
Kuksa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kuksa shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Marinas is trying to defend but Kuksa finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kuksa wants to free his trapped foot but Marinas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kuksa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Marinas wants to improve his position but Kuksa is controlling well.

Kuksa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marinas is just riding it out for now. Kuksa eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuksa is keen to just control but Marinas is a slippery customer.
Marinas tries to get to full guard but Kuksa has control of the leg.
Kuksa is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Marinas trying to control but Kuksa postures up.
Kuksa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marinas can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marinas is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kuksa is staying active.
Jose Marinas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anton Kuksa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kuksa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marinas's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Kuksa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kuksa 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Kuksa!