PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Varun Kumar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gray is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Danger Zone. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kumar
vs
Gray

185 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Varun Kumar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Gray!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumar shoots in but Gray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gray fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kumar is looking to clinch.
Kumar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gray misses with a body shot.
Kumar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gray avoids the head kick by Kumar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kumar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gray is fending him off so far but Kumar persists. Nope, Gray circles away and we're back to standing.
Kumar shoots in for a takedown but Gray shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Varun Kumar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumar slips under a jab.
Gray is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kumar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gray throws a hook to the side of Kumar's head but Kumar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gray swings for the body but Kumar moves out of range.
Gray just misses with a punch to the body.
Kumar tries to clinch but Gray is having none of it.
Gray keeps the fight on the outside.
Gray throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gray misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kumar tries to close the distance and clinch but Gray swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kumar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gray misses with a series of wild punches.
Gray throws a shot to the body.
Billy Gray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gray lands a nice hook to Kumar's body. Kumar takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gray keeps the fight on the outside.
Kumar swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gray counters with a crisp one two that drops Kumar! Gray thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Kumar to his feet! Kumar is in big trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumar tries to clinch there but Gray circles away.
Gray lands a nice looking body shot.
Gray misses with a two punch combination.
Kumar is looking to clinch but Gray is avoiding it.
Kumar tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gray manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kumar has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kumar scores with a shoulder strike.
Gray stops a takedown attempt from Kumar.
Kumar scores with a hook to the body.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Kumar avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
Gray can't break the clinch.
Gray wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Kumar has picked Gray up - he's going for a ride! Kumar dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumar is looking to advance position but Gray won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kumar moves nicely into side control.
Kumar is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gray's shoulder. That is not cool.

Kumar is trying to get an arm triangle but Gray is defending well.

Kumar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Billy Gray will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gray throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kumar lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gray at a distance.
Gray is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kumar rather than just go for the knockout.
Kumar avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray swings for the body but Kumar moves out of range.

Kumar drives through and clinches with Gray against the cage.
Gray is trying to push Kumar away but Kumar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kumar has Gray pressed against the cage, preventing Gray from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Kumar avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
Kumar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kumar prevents Gray from breaking the clinch.
Gray is looking to break free of the clinch but Kumar has double underhooks.
Gray tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kumar's elbow.
Gray tries to break free but Kumar pushes him back against the cage.
Kumar slowing the pace effectively.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kumar.
Gray is trying to break the clinch but Kumar has him pressed against the cage.
Gray tries to work over Kumar's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kumar gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gray regains guard.
Kumar passes Gray's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kumar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gray really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kumar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumar is pressing down on Gray's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gray is holding on for now.

Kumar is looking for a kimura here.
Gray taking some punishment here, with Kumar in his half guard.

Kumar is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kumar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumar has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kumar controlling from the full mount.
Kumar connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kumar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kumar is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gray can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kumar looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kumar scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gray?
Kumar takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Varun Kumar dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gray misses with a hook to the body

and Kumar moves into the clinch.
Gray tries to throw a body punch but Kumar avoids it by throwing Gray back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kumar seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Kumar misses with a knee to the head.
Gray letting Kumar take a breather here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Varun Kumar.
Gray digs a good hook to Kumar's body.
Gray misses with an uppercut.
Kumar tries to clinch up but Gray circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kumar takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kumar throws a head kick that misses.
Kumar ducks under a wild hook from Gray.
Kumar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gray sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gray misses with a jab to the body

and Kumar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Come on Kumar - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kumar keeps control of Gray as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kumar lands a hook that snaps the head of Gray backwards.
Kumar keeps control of Gray as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gray wants to break free but Kumar has control.
Kumar will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gray up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kumar lands a takedown into guard.
Kumar sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kumar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gray swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gray wants to stand and escape but Kumar is having none of it.
Kumar passes Gray's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kumar keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Kumar is trying for a kimura here. Gray looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kumar wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Varun Kumar!