PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manolito Tai Kung (ranked 560 p4p, 522 weight class) and HayZeus Hiddens (ranked 70 p4p, 66 weight class). 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.

Tai Kung
vs
Hiddens

180 cm
34
170
28 - 13 - 0

178 cm
28
170
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Conviction
New Standard (for sale)

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 28 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manolito Tai Kung!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, HayZeus Hiddens!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Hiddens.
Tai Kung misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hiddens.
Tai Kung displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hiddens throws out the jab.
Hiddens throws a poor cross that misses
and Tai Kung counters with a nice body shot.
Hiddens lands with a straight right. Tai Kung didn't see that one coming.
HayZeus Hiddens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hiddens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tai Kung.
Hiddens misses with a wild body shot.
Tai Kung displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hiddens throws out the jab.
Tai Kung definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tai Kung uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hiddens has time to react.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiddens scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hiddens shoots in looking for a takedown. Tai Kung tries to sprawl out of it but Hiddens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tai Kung manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tai Kung stuffs the takedown attempt from Hiddens. Hiddens gets slowly back to his feet.
Hiddens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tai Kung manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Tai Kung misses the target.
A slow jab from Tai Kung misses its intended target.
Hiddens fails with the takedown.
Tai Kung throws a big counter combination but Hiddens scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Manolito Tai Kung has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of HayZeus Hiddens.
Tai Kung misses with a straight left.
Hiddens is looking to slow Tai Kung down with leg kicks.
Tai Kung throws a sloppy body shot

and Hiddens counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tai Kung!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tai Kung sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Tai Kung is looking for a sweep.
Hiddens fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tai Kung takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ground and pound from Hiddens seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hiddens throws an elbow but Tai Kung slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hiddens fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hiddens tries to score with some ground and pound. Tai Kung controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hiddens tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hiddens looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tai Kung is avoiding damage well.
Hiddens is trying to ground and pound but Tai Kung uses the momentary lack of control by Hiddens to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hiddens misses with a head shot. Tai Kung uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tai Kung looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hiddens trying to control the position from guard on top but Tai Kung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jab by Hiddens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hiddens looking to score a takedown here. Tai Kung is defending well but Hiddens drives through and ends up in Tai Kung's guard.
Hiddens lands a couple of digs.
Hiddens is working Tai Kung over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hiddens trying to control the position from guard on top but Tai Kung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hiddens throwing strikes but missing.
Hiddens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

HayZeus Hiddens dominated that 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.

Tai Kung lands with a cross.
Hiddens digs a good body shot into Tai Kung's ribs.
Tai Kung throws a hook but Hiddens blocks it.
Tai Kung throws a hook to the side of Hiddens's head but Hiddens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hiddens jabs at Tai Kung's body.
Hiddens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tai Kung throwing a counter right hand but Hiddens manages to avoid it.
Hiddens scores with a jab to the head.
Hiddens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiddens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tai Kung.
A big right from Hiddens misses.
Tai Kung misses the jab.
Tai Kung takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tai Kung lands a left and a right that send Hiddens crashing to the mat, dazed. Tai Kung thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like HayZeus Hiddens has been cut.
Hiddens misses with an attempted mid kick.
A shot to the liver by Hiddens. Beautiful body shot.
Hiddens cracks Tai Kung with an open hand slap.
Hiddens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Good work by Tai Kung as he checks the leg kick.
Tai Kung thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tai Kung is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
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!
Hiddens thuds his shin into the meat of Tai Kung's side.
Hiddens scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tai Kung throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Hiddens catches Tai Kung right on the button with a cross.
Tai Kung fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tai Kung misses with a hook. Hiddens ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Tai Kung does it's job there.
Tai Kung lands the left hand.
Hiddens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tai Kung swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tai Kung fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hiddens on the side of the head.
Hiddens with a nice calf kick.
Hiddens takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens connects with a leg kick.
Hiddens throws out a powerful jab.
Tai Kung misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hiddens.
Hiddens just misses with a punch to the body.
Tai Kung moves away from the strike by Hiddens.
Hiddens feints and then cracks Tai Kung's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tai Kung down.
Hiddens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tai Kung sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tai Kung misses the shot to the body.
Tai Kung misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tai Kung. Hiddens does a little dance to reset his feet.
And Hiddens tries to counter it with a takedown but Tai Kung pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens with the inside leg kick.
Hiddens throws a chopping leg kick but Tai Kung manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tai Kung throwing a counter right hand but Hiddens manages to avoid it.
Hiddens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Tai Kung counter with a right hand.
Hiddens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hiddens looks to score with a jab to the body but Tai Kung is just out of range.
Tai Kung lands a lovely overhand right.
Tai Kung's corner calls for a 1-2. Tai Kung obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice jab there from Hiddens.
Tai Kung ducks right into an uppercut from Hiddens.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manolito Tai Kung will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on HayZeus Hiddens's cut.
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!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hiddens lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tai Kung has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tai Kung and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hiddens throws a big shot that misses.
Hiddens displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tai Kung throws out the jab.
Manolito Tai Kung is winning the standup battle so far.
Hiddens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tai Kung.
Hiddens cracks Tai Kung with a good jab.
Tai Kung moves forwards but Hiddens connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hiddens waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tai Kung.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiddens connects with a body shot.
Tai Kung ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hiddens lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiddens looks for the body kick but Tai Kung saw that one coming.
Tai Kung is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hiddens.
Tai Kung takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hiddens throws a leg kick that misses.
Tai Kung doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tai Kung swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tai Kung takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tai Kung lands with a cross.
Hiddens slips a straight right by Tai Kung.
Tai Kung misses with a straight right.
Hiddens changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiddens connects with a solid leg kick.
Manolito Tai Kung is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tai Kung takes a swing at Hiddens's ribcage but misses.
Hiddens dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tai Kung. That did some damage!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hiddens swings widly with a right hand
and Tai Kung counters with a low kick, right behind Hiddens 's knee.
Tai Kung throws a jab when Hiddens was well out of range.
Hiddens with the counter takedown but Tai Kung avoids it easily.
Hiddens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tai Kung as he jumps to the side.
Tai Kung ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hiddens lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tai Kung misses with an uppercut.
Hiddens moves out of range of the strikes.
Hiddens connects with a right hand. Tai Kung shakes it off.
Tai Kung displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hiddens.
Hiddens fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tai Kung on the side of the head.
Hiddens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hiddens feints the counter takedown.
Tai Kung fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hiddens manages to avoid it.
Tai Kung walks into a straight right hand from Hiddens.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tai Kung has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hiddens finds it's way round the side to connect with Tai Kung's head.
Hiddens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tai Kung throws a right hand that Hiddens ducks under and follows up with a left that Hiddens also avoids with ease.
Hiddens scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hiddens moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hiddens shoots in and bounces Tai Kung off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hiddens trying to control the position from guard on top but Tai Kung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
HayZeus Hiddens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hiddens has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... HayZeus Hiddens!
HayZeus Hiddens spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.