PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Paladium (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kang Soo Hoon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paladium has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kang Soo Hoon was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Paladium
vs
Soo Hoon

186 cm
22
258 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

194 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Paladium!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kang Soo Hoon!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoon gets a clinch.
Paladium looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Hoon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paladium avoids a kick to the body.
Hoon misses with a two punch combination.

Hoon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hoon is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Hoon decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hoon stalks Paladium and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Paladium's face. Paladium staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoon finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoon misses with a kick to the body.
Hoon shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Paladium sprawls well. Paladium wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hoon gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoon looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hoon looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paladium!
Hoon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Hoon has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hoon stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
John Paladium seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Paladium avoids the head kick by Hoon.
A nice combination there by Hoon.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hoon breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoon misses with a low kick.
Hoon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Hoon has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hoon breaks from the clinch.
Hoon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
John Paladium has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kang Soo Hoon.
Paladium showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hoon.
Paladium is looking to clinch.
Hoon looks to land a body kick but Paladium moved away.

Hoon clinches with his opponent.
Paladium is trying to break the clinch but Hoon has him pressed against the cage.
Hoon is working for takedown but Paladium is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hoon jumps into guard, dragging Paladium to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hoon is looking for a triangle but Paladium pushes his legs off easily.

Paladium got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hoon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paladium has managed to get both his arms back between Hoon's legs - danger averted.

Paladium has gone for a leg lock! Hoon slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paladium's guard.

Hoon gets to his feet. Paladium looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hoon looks for a takedown but Paladium sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kang Soo Hoon dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Paladium throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hoon counters by clinching up.

Hoon manages to break the clinch.

Hoon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hoon showed some decent athleticism there.
Hoon stalling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoon is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hoon is pressing down on Paladium's thigh, looking to free his foot. Paladium is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Paladium is looking to improve his position.
Hoon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hoon decides to return to a standing position.
Paladium throws a right and a left that Hoon avoids nicely.

Hoon moves into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hoon just misses with a elbow thrown towards Paladium's brow.
Hoon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Paladium avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Paladium gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hoon.
Hoon lands an elbow just above Paladium 's eye.

Paladium escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paladium closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hoon counters with a two punch combo.
Hoon misses with a kick to the body.
A big left from Paladium misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paladium throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paladium closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hoon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hoon.

Hoon jumps guard and drags Paladium to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hoon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Paladium won't allow Hoon to sweep him here.
Paladium wants to pass the guard but Hoon is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hoon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kang Soo Hoon 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Paladium looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hoon is fending him off so far but Paladium persists. Nope, Hoon circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hoon.
Hoon misses with a takedown

and Paladium counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hoon's guard now.

Hoon had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Paladium defends it easily.
Paladium wants to control from the top but Hoon keeps moving.
Hoon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoon keeping moving, preventing Paladium from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paladium working some strikes from top position.
Hoon wants to stand up but Paladium is controlling him.
Hoon trying to keep a closed guard but Paladium is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paladium is looking to clinch.
Paladium tries to clinch there but Hoon circles away.
Hoon shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John Paladium has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kang Soo Hoon.

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.
Paladium avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hoon throws a head kick but Paladium moves out of range.

Paladium shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Paladium is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hoon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Paladium.
Paladium not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paladium looks to land a strike but Hoon avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Paladium preventing the sweep.
Hoon has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hoon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hoon controls Paladium momentarily but Paladium frees himself.

Hoon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kang Soo Hoon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hoon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Paladium is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hoon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick misses from Paladium.
Hoon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Paladium checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Paladium misses with a takedown

and Hoon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
John Paladium has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Paladium's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hoon drives through and clinches with Paladium against the cage.
Paladium with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Paladium has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hoon avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hoon.
Hoon blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Paladium showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hoon 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kang Soo Hoon!