PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Rugowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kingo Kongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rugowski
vs
Kongo

225 cm
34
277 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

194 cm
31
244 lbs
26 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bubba Rugowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kingo Kongo!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugowski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Rugowski misses.
Rugowski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kongo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rugowski stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kongo avoids a kick to the body.

Rugowski clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Rugowski fails to land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kongo.

It looks like Bubba Rugowski has been cut.
Rugowski tries to work over Kongo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kongo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rugowski backwards.
Good body shot from Rugowski.
Rugowski takes an elbow to the temple.
Rugowski blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kongo lands an elbow that stopped Rugowski in his tracks for a moment.
Rugowski takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kongo trying to land knees to the body.
Rugowski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rugowski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kongo is trying to stall.
Rugowski avoiding damage as Kongo throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo looking to throw knees to the head but Rugowski is blocking nicely.

Rugowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kongo tries to clinch there but Rugowski circles away.
Rugowski throws a sloppy head kick and Kongo moves out of range easily.
Kongo ducks right into an uppercut from Rugowski.

It looks like Kingo Kongo has been cut.
Kongo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kongo just misses with a punch to the body.
Kongo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rugowski's calf.
Kongo throws a sloppy head kick

and Rugowski counters by moving into the clinch.
Rugowski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rugowski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rugowski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kongo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kongo throws an elbow but it misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kongo.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rugowski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rugowski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rugowski blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rugowski.
Rugowski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kongo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Rugowski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rugowski is looking to land body kicks.
Rugowski scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kongo tries a low kick but Rugowski avoids it.
Kongo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rugowski counters with a straight right hand.
Kongo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rugowski thuds his shin into the meat of Kongo's side.
Kongo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kongo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rugowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rugowski throws a series of punches but Kongo moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo dodges the punch combination from Rugowski.
Kongo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rugowski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kongo misses with a low kick.
Kongo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rugowski has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rugowski keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rugowski slips under a jab from Kongo.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kongo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kongo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kongo rushes Rugowski and presses him up against the cage.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rugowski avoids it.
Kongo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rugowski's elbow.
Rugowski working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugowski letting Kongo take a breather here.
Kongo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rugowski is trying to break the clinch but Kongo has him pressed against the cage.
Rugowski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kongo fails to land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kongo throws an elbow but misses.
Rugowski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rugowski is trying to break free.
A left hand lands to the body for Rugowski.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kongo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rugowski lands a hook that snaps the head of Kongo backwards.
Kongo working Rugowski over with knees to the body.
Rugowski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kongo's elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongo blocking some punches.
Kongo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Rugowski breaks from the clinch.

Kongo tries to keep at a distance but Rugowski has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Rugowski dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Rugowski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kongo blocks the body kick.
Rugowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rugowski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A shot to the body from Rugowski misses
and Kongo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kongo avoids the body shot from Rugowski.
Kongo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Rugowski gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rugowski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kongo takes a shot to the head.
Rugowski is trying to force a seperation but Kongo has the dominant position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kongo.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rugowski throws a punch but it's blocked by Kongo.
Rugowski can't find room to land a body shot as Kongo controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Rugowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rugowski staying out of range there.
The fighters circling - Kongo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kongo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rugowski moves into range and clinches up with Kongo.
Kongo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kongo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rugowski swings wildly with an uppercut but Kongo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rugowski tries to circle away but Kongo has him pinned against the cage.
Kongo lands a hook to the side of the head.

Bubba Rugowski's cut is getting worse.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kongo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rugowski takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo lands a nice shot to the body.
Kongo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kongo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rugowski has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kongo blocking some punches.
Kongo scores with a shot to the side of Rugowski's head.
Kongo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kongo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Rugowski breaks the clinch.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.

Rugowski has closed the distance and engaged Kongo in a clinch.
Kongo misses with the head strike.
Rugowski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kongos head.
Rugowski wants to break free but Kongo has control.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kongo in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rugowski lands with a left to the head.
Kongo gets through Rugowski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Bubba Rugowski's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugowski is trying to break the clinch but Kongo is controlling him.
Rugowski wants to break free but Kongo has control.
Kongo looking to throw knees to the head but Rugowski is blocking nicely.

Rugowski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kongo connects with a high kick.
Kongo lands a slapping body shot.
Rugowski throws a head kick but Kongo moves out of range.
Rugowski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kongo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rugowski.
Kongo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Rugowski clinches up against the cage.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rugowski avoids it.

Rugowski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rugowski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kongo.
Kongo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugowski throws a head punch that misses.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rugowski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kongo takes a jab right on the kisser.

Rugowski forces Kongo back against the cage and clinches.
Bubba Rugowski has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kongo.
Rugowski throws a head punch that misses.
Kongo with a knee to the head.
Kongo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rugowski blocks it with crossed arms.
Kongo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rugowski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rugowski lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kongo pushes Rugowski back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Rugowski scores with a nice short uppercut.

Rugowski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bubba Rugowski will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Kongo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Rugowski closes the distance and clinches.
Rugowski avoids the elbow strike from Kongo, against the cage.
Rugowski is trying to break free.
Rugowski prevents a body shot from Kongo.
Rugowski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kongo misses with a punch on the inside.
Kongo swings wildly with an uppercut but Rugowski uses good head movement to avoid it.

Rugowski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kongo wants to clinch up but Rugowski keeps it at a distance.

Kongo clinches up against the cage.

Rugowski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kongo blocks a head kick by Rugowski.
Kongo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rugowski rather than just go for the knockout.
Kongo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rugowski momentarily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kongo. That's going to slow Rugowski down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo lands a leg kick that knocks Rugowski off balance momentarily.
Kongo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Kongo has managed to clinch.
Rugowski misses with a punch on the inside.
Rugowski wants to get back to striking at distance but Kongo won't allow it.
Rugowski avoids the elbow strike from Kongo, against the cage.
Rugowski throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kongos head.
Kongo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kongo misses with a knee strike.
Rugowski lands a nice uppercut.
Kongo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kongo trying to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kongo.

Rugowski breaks from the clinch.
Rugowski throws a series of punches but Kongo avoids them all with ease.
Kongo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugowski misses with a wild body shot.
Kongo is looking to clinch but Rugowski is avoiding it.
Rugowski bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rugowski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kongo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rugowski swats away the attempt to clinch by Kongo.
Kongo blocks a head kick by Rugowski.
Rugowski avoids the head kick by Kongo.
Rugowski tries to land a front kick but Kongo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kongo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kongo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rugowski slips under a jab from Kongo.
Rugowski misses with an uppercut. Kongo saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rugowski manages to avoid it.
Rugowski throws a head kick that misses.

Rugowski takes the fight into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rugowski as Kongo tries to tie him up.
Kongo working aggressively here.
Kongo landing knees to the head.
Rugowski misses with some punches.
Rugowski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rugowski is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kongo works on Rugowski's body with a couple of short punches.
Kongo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rugowski backwards.

Rugowski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rugowski slips a straight right by Kongo.
Rugowski is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kongo stalks Rugowski and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rugowski's face. Rugowski staggers backwards, shaken.

Jeez, Bubba Rugowski's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo tries to clinch up but Rugowski circles away and keeps his distance.
Kongo throws a sloppy head kick and Rugowski moves out of range easily.
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!
Kongo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The fighters circling - Rugowski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rugowski swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rugowski pushes Kongo up against the cage in a clinch.
Kongo stalling in the clinch but Rugowski improves position.
Rugowski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kongo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rugowski blocks it with crossed arms.
Kongo just leaning against Rugowski, taking a breather.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongo cracks Rugowski with a nice body shot.
Kongo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kingo Kongo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kongo blocks an uppercut.
Bubba Rugowski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rugowski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kingo Kongo.
Well Rugowski 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Bubba Rugowski!
Bubba Rugowski thanked the fans post fight for their support.