PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Austin Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waru Kuzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waru Kuzuri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Williams
vs
Kuzuri

170 cm
27
147 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

163 cm
30
135 lbs
35 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

[JMFC] Arashi Fighting Nutrition
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Austin Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waru Kuzuri!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Williams misses.
Kuzuri tries to bum rush Williams with a series of wild strikes but Williams uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Williams moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A slow jab from Williams misses its intended target.
A jab from Kuzuri misses.
Kuzuri moves out of range of the strikes.
Kuzuri scores with a jab to the body.
Kuzuri misses with a low kick.
Kuzuri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuzuri misses with an uppercut.
Williams lands a jab to the head.
Williams connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kuzuri lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kuzuri swings for the body but Williams moves out of range.
Williams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuzuri manages to avoid it.
Williams scores with a leg kick.
Kuzuri scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzuri pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kuzuri tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Kuzuri slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Waru Kuzuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Williams misses
and Kuzuri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuzuri tries to clinch but Williams is having none of it.
Kuzuri tries to clinch there but Williams circles away.

Williams shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Williams was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Williams throws an elbow but Kuzuri slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kuzuri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuzuri manages to work his way to half guard, despite Williams's best efforts.
Kuzuri gets back to full guard.
Williams trying to control but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.
Williams sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kuzuri keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Williams wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
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.

We're going to have a standup here because Austin Williams wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuzuri throws a jab but it's blocked by Williams.

Williams throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kuzuri was covering up waiting for the punch and Williams finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuzuri working a defensive guard here.
Kuzuri is controlling Williams's posture.
Williams has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Williams landing with the ground and pound.
Williams being controlled here momentarily.
Williams stands up over Kuzuri, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Williams landing some decent shots from guard.
Kuzuri is trying to keep Williams in close.
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Kuzuri blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Williams wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Kuzuri working a defensive guard here.
Williams landing some decent shots from guard.

Kuzuri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Williams looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Austin Williams will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Williams gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kuzuri.

Kuzuri has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuzuri.
Williams misses with an elbow strike.
Kuzuri blocks a body shot from Williams.
Williams scores with a nice hook to the head.
I was talking to Williams's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kuzuri lands a shot to the body.
Kuzuri misses with a punch to the body.
Kuzuri lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Williams lands a body shot.
Kuzuri throws a punch but it's blocked by Williams.
Kuzuri blocking some punches.
Kuzuri lands a right hand that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
Williams blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kuzuri tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kuzuri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams throws a jab when Kuzuri was well out of range.

Kuzuri has managed to clinch.
Williams fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuzuri has a couple of punches blocked by Williams.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuzuri drops his hands momentarily and Williams takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Williams checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Williams throws the left hand but Kuzuri avoids the punch easily.
Williams turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuzuri as he connects with a hook.
Williams cracks Kuzuri with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kuzuri throws a leg kick which misses Williams's front leg but catches the back leg as Williams tries to avoid it.
Kuzuri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Williams is out of range and Kuzuri settles back down.
Kuzuri works over Williams's head and body with a nice combination.
Kuzuri throws the kick towards the body but Williams avoids it.
Kuzuri scores with a hook to the body. Williams takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams slips a jab from Kuzuri.
Kuzuri misses with an uppercut. Williams saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri scores with a leg kick.
Kuzuri misses with a wild body shot.
Kuzuri throws a wild body kick that Williams sees coming a mile off.
Kuzuri connects with a nice looking jab.
Williams has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kuzuri.
Williams throws a front kick aimed at Kuzuri's knee but Kuzuri avoids it well.
Williams lands a jab to Kuzuri's midsection.
Kuzuri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Kuzuri dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuzuri is looking to clinch.

Kuzuri closes the distance and clinches.
Kuzuri misses with a punch on the inside.
Williams tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuzuri's elbow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Williams.
Williams can't find room to land a body shot as Kuzuri controls the action.
Kuzuri misses with a punch to the body.
Kuzuri lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kuzuris head.
Kuzuri misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short uppercut from Williams.
Kuzuri tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.
Kuzuri tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Kuzuri fails to land.
Kuzuri working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kuzuri dodges an elbow strike from Williams.
Kuzuri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Kuzuri fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Kuzuri fails to land.
Kuzuri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kuzuri tries a body shot but Williams blocks it.
Kuzuri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuzuri misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuzuri blocks an uppercut.
Kuzuri works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri is leaning against Williams and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kuzuri lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Kuzuri gets through Williams's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kuzuri misses with the head strike.

Williams wants the takedown. Kuzuri is fighting it off but Williams persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kuzuri's guard against the cage.
Williams wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Williams postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Williams throws a big elbow that misses.
Williams stopping the sweep attempt from Kuzuri.

Kuzuri looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Williams working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waru Kuzuri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams misses with a hook. Kuzuri ducked under it nicely.
Waru Kuzuri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Williams's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kuzuri connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Williams scrambles back to his feet.
Williams waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuzuri.
Kuzuri throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Williams connects with a nice looking jab.
A solid body kick from Williams.
Kuzuri thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Williams if he has to take too many more of those.
Kuzuri misses with a body shot.
Kuzuri misses the shot to the body.
Kuzuri moves into range and connects with a jab.
Williams scores with a nice right hand.
Kuzuri connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Williams momentarily.
Kuzuri throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Williams darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Williams keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuzuri.
Williams bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kuzuri's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzuri throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzuri uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Williams.
Williams uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuzuri.

Williams drives through with a takedown into Kuzuri's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Williams wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Williams is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuzuri has wrist control.
Kuzuri trying to control the position here.
Kuzuri bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Williams's guard.
Kuzuri preventing the sweep.
Kuzuri is fighting to break Williams's control of his arms but Williams is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Kuzuri from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kuzuri wants to get back to full guard but Williams has passed into side control.
Williams has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Williams trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Austin Williams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Williams lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Williams lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kuzuri hang on?
Williams can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuzuri is looking to escape.
Kuzuri wants to hold on but Williams pushes him away.
Kuzuri is wriggling around trying to escape.
Williams with the ground and pound from mount.
Kuzuri gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams controlling the pace.
Kuzuri trying to control from the bottom.
Williams thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuzuri's head.
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!
Williams is looking to take a break and control but Kuzuri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Williams prevents Kuzuri from improving his position.
Kuzuri slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Williams sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kuzuri's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams controlling the pace.
Kuzuri wants to control but Williams is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Williams 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Williams!
During a confident post fight interview, Austin Williams thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.