PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benoit Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keastie Kannegaard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Kong
vs
Kannegaard

189 cm
23
178 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

176 cm
20
172 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Benoit Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keastie Kannegaard!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kong cracks Kannegaard with an open hand slap.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kannegaard misses with a body shot.
Kong lands with an overhand left.
Kannegaard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kong works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kannegaard wants to clinch.
Kong throws the left hand but Kannegaard avoids the punch easily.
A nice combination there by Kong.
Kannegaard moves in looking to clinch but Kong pushes him off.
Kannegaard is looking to clinch.
Kannegaard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kong misses with an uppercut. Kannegaard saw that one coming.
Kong lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kannegaard tries to close the distance and clinch but Kong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kong is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A left and a right from Kong both land. Nice combination.
Kannegaard tries to close the distance and clinch but Kong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Kong.
Kannegaard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kannegaard moves in looking to clinch but Kong pushes him off.
A nice combination there by Kong.

Kong shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Kong is working for a kimura but Kannegaard is defending it quite comfortably.
Kannegaard wants to control but Kong is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kannegaard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kong.
Kannegaard won't allow Kong to pass to mount.

Kong is working for a kimura but Kannegaard is defending it quite comfortably.
Kong working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kong seems to be looking for submissions.

Kong is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong trying to control the action but Kannegaard is working from the bottom.
Kong is thwarting Kannegaard's attempts to control the position.
Kong trying to pass the guard but Kannegaard defending well.
Kong is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kannegaard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kannegaard is trying is best to control the position here.
Kannegaard taking some punishment here, with Kong in his half guard.
Kong is looking to take a break and control but Kannegaard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kannegaard is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benoit Kong dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kannegaard takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kannegaard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice straight punches there by Kong. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kong.
Kannegaard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kong counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kannegaard misses with a body shot
and Kong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kannegaard wants to clinch but Kong slips to the side
and Kong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot by Kong.
Kannegaard wants to clinch but Kong slips to the side
and Kong counters with a left and a right that stings Kannegaard.
Benoit Kong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kong thuds his right hand into Kannegaard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kannegaard tries to clinch up
and Kong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kong is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kong looks to land a combination but Kannegaard avoids it well.
Kannegaard closes the distance but Kong moves to the side
and Kong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong connects with a crisp jab.
Kannegaard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kong connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kong counters with a straight right hand.
Kong falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kannegaard counters with a straight right hand.
Kannegaard with a poor takedown
and Kong counters with a nice body shot.
Kannegaard walks into a stiff left hand from Kong.
Kong darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kannegaard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kong counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kong lands a really nice looking cross but Kannegaard seems unphased.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
and Kong counters with a straight right hand.
Kong lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kong looks to land a combination. Kannegaard sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Kong shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kannegaard napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kannegaard is trying to buck Kong off.
Kong advances nicely into full mount.
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!
Kong trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong fails to move to back control.
Kong thowing shots but they're missing.
Kannegaard blocking the ground and pound.

Kong swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kannegaard is now in Kong's guard. A big mistake from Kong there, giving up the dominant position!
Kannegaard looking to sit in guard and control but Kong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kong wants to pass the guard but Kannegaard is keeping the position.
Kannegaard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kannegaard wants to sweep but no luck.
Kong looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benoit Kong 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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kannegaard closes the distance but Kong moves to the side
and Kong connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kannegaard moves away.
Kannegaard tries to move into range but Kong moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kannegaard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kannegaard closes the distance but Kong moves to the side
and Kong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kannegaard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kong cracks Kannegaard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
and Kong counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kannegaard's waist but Kannegaard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kong off to one side.

Kannegaard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kannegaard lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kong breaks from the clinch.
Kannegaard tries to clinch
and Kong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kannegaard is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kong.
Kannegaard wants to clinch
and Kong counters with a one-two to the body.
Kannegaard darts in trying to clinch
and Kannegaard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kannegaard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kannegaard darts in trying to clinch
and Kannegaard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benoit Kong is winning the standup battle so far.
Kong goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kannegaard swings for the body but Kong moves out of range.
Benoit Kong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kong.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kong counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kannegaard tries to clinch
enabling Kong to counter with a crisp jab.
Kong is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
letting Kong counter with a right hand.
Kong swinging wildly here.
Kannegaard tries to clinch
and Kong counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
and Kong counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kannegaard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A jab from Kong misses.
Kannegaard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kong counters with a stiff right hand.
Kong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A cross from Kong lands.
Kong misses with a double jab.
Kannegaard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kong.
Kannegaard has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kannegaard's hands.
Kannegaard closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kong counters with a right hand to the body.
Kong sizes up Kannegaard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Kong counter with a right hand.
Kong lands a really nice looking cross but Kannegaard seems unphased.
Kannegaard defending well as Kong loads up on a big left hand.
Kannegaard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kong finds it's way round the side to connect with Kannegaard's head.
A jab from Kong misses.
Kong lands with a nice combination. Kannegaard backs away looking to recover.
Kong swinging wildly here.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
and Kong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kong looks for a takedown but Kannegaard sprawls well.
Kong shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kannegaard sprawls well. Kannegaard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kong gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benoit Kong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kannegaard clinches but Kong breaks the clinch
letting Kong counter with a right hand.
Kong scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kannegaard wants to clinch but Kong slips to the side
and Kong counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kannegaard thinking.
Keastie Kannegaard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Kannegaard has Kong up against the cage in a clinch.
Kong has Kannegaard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kannegaard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kannegaard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kannegaard lands a body shot.
Kannegaard digs a right hand underneath Kong's ribcage. Kong let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Kong breaks from the clinch.
Keastie Kannegaard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kannegaard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kong counters with a straight right hand.
Kannegaard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kong.
Kannegaard tries to clinch but Kong moves away
enabling Kong to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benoit Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benoit Kong!