PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ibe Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shuji Nakamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Kong
vs
Nakamura

186 cm
26
166 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

161 cm
20
164 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ibe Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shuji Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nakamura gets the takedown into side control.
Kong is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nakamura's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nakamura is trying to control the action in half guard but Kong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nakamura 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.

Kong actively working from the bottom here.

Kong looking for submissions off his back.
Kong wants to get back to full guard.
Nakamura tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kong controls his leg.
Nakamura wants to take a breather but Kong is having none of it.
Kong regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura wants to stand and escape but instead Kong has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kong scoring with some ground and pound.
Kong sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nakamura's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kong frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kong avoids the attempt from Nakamura to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nakamura can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nakamura is looking to get to half guard.
Nakamura wants to try and get back to his feet.
The referee warns Nakamura that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nakamura is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong raining down shots from the mount!
Kong lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Nakamura takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nakamura wants to control but Kong is having none of it.
Nakamura is desperately trying to improve his position but Kong has a good base and remains in mount.
Kong landing strikes from the mount.
Kong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nakamura is trying desperately to improve position.
Kong with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Nakamura pushes Kong off looking to stand but Kong dives back in and keeps control.
Kong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kong tries to pass to full mount but Nakamura defends it.
Nakamura wants to control but Kong is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kong slips a nice elbow through Nakamura's hands, connecting with Nakamura's forehead.
Nakamura trying to hold on to Kong's head to control him but Kong postures up.
Nakamura blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nakamura with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nakamura.
Kong stuffs the takedown attempt from Nakamura. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.
Nakamura looks gassed!
Kong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nakamura as he avoids it easily.
A punch combination from Nakamura misses.
Nakamura fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kong avoids it really well and circles away.
Ibe Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shuji Nakamura.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kong sprawls well. Kong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nakamura gets slowly back to his feet.

Kong shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nakamura napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kong passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Nakamura!
The referee warns Nakamura that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kong.
Nakamura is looking to reverse the position.
Nakamura is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kong working away.
Nakamura is looking for a sweep.
Nakamura takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kong throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kong tries for a kimura but Nakamura is defending well.
Kong tries to move to mount but Nakamura blocks the move with his legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura tries to bench press Kong off him but Kong keeps the position.

Kong looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nakamura tries to buck Kong off but Kong is having none of it.
Kong working away.
Kong tries to advance to mount but can't.

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.
Nakamura tries to escape but Kong is in control.
Kong throws a strike aimed at the side of Nakamura's head but Nakamura avoids it well.
Nakamura is looking to reverse the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Kong.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice defenses there by Nakamura.
Nakamura shoots and misses

and Kong counters with a shoot takedown. Nakamura fights it but they end up in guard.
Nakamura wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakamura is looking to sweep but instead, Kong has passed into half guard.

Kong seems to be working for a kimura but Nakamura defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong trying to mount his opponent but Nakamura defends it.
Kong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nakamura is trying to stand up here but Kong is controlling him well.
Nakamura avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kong.
Kong working the head and body with strikes.
Nakamura wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nakamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nakamura misses with a takedown
and Kong counters with a straight right hand.
Ibe Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shuji Nakamura.
Nakamura doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kong cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kong tests Nakamura's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kong is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kong lands with a kick to the ribs.

Nakamura shoots in and bounces Kong off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kong had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibe Kong dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nakamura misses with a takedown
and Kong counters with a two punch combo.
Kong fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kong as he avoids it easily.
Nakamura has a takedown stuffed.
Ibe Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shuji Nakamura.
Nakamura throws a low kick but Kong avoids it.
Kong throws a nice head kick!
Kong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nakamura.
Kong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nakamura chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kong can pounce on him.
Nakamura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nakamura shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kong as he jumps to the side.
Nakamura ducks right into an uppercut from Kong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kong lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Nakamura at a distance.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Nakamura crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kong - the referee stops the clock and Nakamura gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kong. Nakamura manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nakamura dodges the punch combination from Kong.
Nakamura has a takedown stuffed.
Kong lands with a shot to the body.
Kong cracks Nakamura with an open hand slap.
Kong uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nakamura has time to react.

Nakamura looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Kong is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nakamura defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nakamura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nakamura wanted to stand there but Kong had control of the position.

Kong is looking for a triangle but Nakamura pushes his legs off easily.
Kong has a closed guard, preventing Nakamura from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kong working for submissions but it's allowed Nakamura to get to half guard.
Kong is looking to improve his position.
Nakamura trying to control the action but Kong is working from the bottom.
Nakamura wants to stand but Kong has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Kong wants to improve his position but Nakamura is controlling well.
Ibe Kong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kong trying to control here.
Nakamura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kong keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nakamura fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nakamura tries to clinch up but Kong circles away and keeps his distance.
Kong scores with the left hand. Nakamura knows he should have avoided that one.
Kong thuds his right hand into Nakamura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Nakamura drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shuji Nakamura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nakamura scoring with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ibe Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

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