PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khoa Le (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kotaro Fuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Le might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Search and Destroy. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Le
vs
Fuma

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
158 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Khoa Le!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kotaro Fuma!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Le with a poor takedown
and Fuma makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Le really felt that one!
Fuma throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fuma throws a wild body kick that Le sees coming a mile off.
Le is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fuma sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Le gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fuma counters with a head kick. That will keep Le thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khoa Le. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fuma changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Le tries to avoid it but Fuma manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Le to the ground. Le escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fuma slaps away a takedown attempt from Le, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fuma counters with a three punch combo that has Le backing up. Le nods at Fuma to acknowledge the strikes.
Fuma looks gassed!
Fuma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Le.
Le with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fuma counters by moving into the clinch.

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

Fuma moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fuma after a bit of a struggle.
Fuma lands a knee to the body.
Le changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fuma fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fuma scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le misses with a takedown attempt

and Fuma counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Le's guard now.
Le looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Le working a defensive guard here.

Le is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Fuma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Le has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fuma has managed to get both his arms back between Le's legs - danger averted.
Fuma won't allow Le to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fuma gets to his feet. Le looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
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!

Fuma changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Le looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Le struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Le is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Fuma is controlling him well.
Le is looking for a sweep.
Le is working hard here to advance position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Le's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Le is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotaro Fuma dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fuma thows a body kick. Le tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Le throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fuma's waist but Fuma gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Le off to one side.
Le tries for a takedown but Fuma circles away easily

and Fuma counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fuma.
Le goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fuma prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khoa Le. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuma's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Le shoots for a takedown but Fuma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Khoa Le is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fuma has Le up against the cage in a clinch.
Fuma is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Fuma ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Fuma no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le wants to pass the guard but Fuma is keeping the position.

Le is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fuma is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fuma has escaped and now he's on top!
Le is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fuma makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fuma.

Le postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fuma is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Le, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fuma stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Le swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Le is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Le isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fuma stacks Le on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Fuma!
Le tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Le taking punishment in the form of punches.
Le is looking for a sweep.
Le is trying to buck Fuma off.
Kotaro Fuma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Le wants to control but Fuma postures up.
Fuma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Le keeps working.
Le takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kotaro Fuma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Le's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Fuma misses.
Le closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fuma circles away.
A leg kick checked by Fuma.
Le shoots in for a takedown but Fuma shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fuma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Fuma with that takedown attempt.
Le shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fuma as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khoa Le. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Le scores a takedown into full mount!

Le looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Fuma really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Le. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fuma bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fuma must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Le looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Le throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Le 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.
Fuma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Le is keeping the position for now.

Fuma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Le looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fuma avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Fuma is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Le is adopting a defensive guard.
Fuma preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuma trying to control the position from guard on top but Le is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Le looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Le is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Khoa Le has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Le throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khoa Le showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fuma 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kotaro Fuma!