PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideo Kono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Macdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kono
vs
Macdonald

168 cm
20
149 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

171 cm
25
136 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hideo Kono!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ian Macdonald!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kono fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Macdonald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Macdonald gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kono.
Macdonald gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like Ian Macdonald has been cut.
Kono stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kono paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Macdonald is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kono cracks Macdonald with a right hand to the side of the head.
Macdonald is still on wobbly legs! Can Kono finish him?
Macdonald looks for a takedown but Kono sprawls well.
Kono scores with a jab.
Kono feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Macdonalds jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Macdonald decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Macdonald prevents Kono from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macdonald seems to have recovered his senses.

Macdonald is working for a kimura but Kono is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macdonald passes to side control.
Macdonald cracks Kono with a big right hand but Kono just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kono parries the strikes from Macdonald easily there. Macdonald is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kono to escape.
Kono is looking for a sweep.
Macdonald working away.
Kono is looking for a sweep.
Macdonald wants to stand but Kono is controlling his arm.
Kono knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Macdonald on the ground.
Macdonald wants to control but Kono is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kono wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kono wants to control but Macdonald postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Macdonald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kono, who protects the arm well.
Kono wants to get back to his feet.
Kono is looking to regain half guard here but Macdonald keeps moving and retains side control.
Kono manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kono is trying to stand back up but Macdonald is controlling him
Macdonald tries to pass to full mount but Kono defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kono wants to improve his position but Macdonald is controlling well.
Macdonald trying to control from half guard but Kono is working away.

Macdonald stands up and beckons Kono to join him on the feet.
Macdonald takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Macdonald tries to move into range but Kono moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Macdonald takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kono listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kono scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Macdonald takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Kono drops Macdonald with a beautiful combination! Macdonald stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kono is looking for the KO!
Macdonald misses with a hook.
Kono fires a straight punch through the middle that cracks Macdonald square on the jaw! Damn, Macdonald is out cold on his feet and topples face first to the canvas! Wow, I haven't seen a knockout that brutal in a long time!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Hideo Kono!
Hideo Kono retains his bantamweight title!
An out of breath Hideo Kono thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.