PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kermodian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Kumsaloti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kermodian kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum. Kumsaloti comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Spoogie-Pree Me Suh kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Manny Kumsaloti has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mark Kermodian's chin.

Kermodian
vs
Kumsaloti

185 cm
41
215 lbs
31 - 35 - 2

194 cm
34
220 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 35 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Kermodian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Manny Kumsaloti!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumsaloti throws a body kick that misses.
Kermodian misses with a low kick.
Kermodian wants to land a leg kick but Kumsaloti is out of range.
Kermodian lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kermodian moves in looking to clinch but Kumsaloti pushes him off.
Kumsaloti's corner calls for a 1-2. Kumsaloti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kermodian has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kumsaloti.
Kumsaloti throws a leg kick which misses Kermodian's front leg but catches the back leg as Kermodian tries to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kumsaloti wants to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Kermodian.
Kumsaloti lands a jab to the head.
Kumsaloti doesn't manage to clinch there - Kermodian circles away.
Kermodian attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kumsaloti has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kermodian.
Kermodian connects with a crisp jab.
Kermodian throws a lazy head kick
and Kumsaloti counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kumsaloti checks a leg kick.
Kermodian with a poor takedown
and Kumsaloti counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kumsaloti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kermodian.
Kumsaloti shoots in for a double leg but Kermodian sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kumsaloti on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kermodian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kermodian is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kumsaloti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kermodian paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kumsaloti tries for a takedown but Kermodian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kermodian tries to work over Kumsaloti's front leg with a kick but Kumsaloti checks it.
Kermodian misses with a low kick as Kumsaloti jumps back.
Kermodian wants to slow Kumsaloti down by chopping away at his legs.
Kumsaloti bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kermodian's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kermodian tries to clinch up.
Kermodian throws a lazy head kick
enabling Kumsaloti to counter with a crisp jab.
Kermodian lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumsaloti is looking to clinch.
Kermodian will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Some wild striking there from Kermodian.
Kermodian misses with a head kick.
Kumsaloti scores with a shot to the body.

Kumsaloti clinches.
Kermodian scores with a shot to the side of Kumsaloti's head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kumsaloti blocks an elbow strike.
Kumsaloti tries to circle away but Kermodian has him pinned against the cage.

Kumsaloti breaks the clinch.
Kermodian scoring well with a low kick there.
Kumsaloti doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kermodian counters with a one-two to the body.
Mark Kermodian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Kumsaloti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kermodian fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A combination from Kumsaloti does no damage.
Kermodian looks to throw a body kick
and Kumsaloti counters with a one-two to the body.
Kumsaloti tries to clinch but Kermodian is having none of it.
Kermodian shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kumsaloti as he avoids it easily.
Kumsaloti avoids the head kick by Kermodian.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kermodian, right into the meat.
Kumsaloti has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kermodian.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kermodian with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Kermodian looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kermodian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kermodian wants to control from the top but Kumsaloti keeps moving.
Kermodian looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumsaloti is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kumsaloti keeping moving, preventing Kermodian from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kermodian stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kumsaloti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kumsaloti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kumsaloti being controlled here, momentarily.
Kumsaloti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kumsaloti manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Kumsaloti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kermodian is trying to maintain a safe position but Kumsaloti gets an underhook and turns Kermodian into the cage.
Kumsaloti wants to break free but Kermodian has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Kermodian will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kermodian tries to bum rush Kumsaloti with a series of wild strikes but Kumsaloti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kermodian throws a combination that misses

and Kumsaloti counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kumsaloti decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick by Kermodian misses
enabling Kumsaloti to counter with a crisp jab.

Kumsaloti closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kumsaloti tries for a kimura but Kermodian is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Kermodian's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kermodian is looking to reverse the position.

Kumsaloti tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kermodian being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumsaloti creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kermodian sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kermodian tries to bench press Kumsaloti off him but Kumsaloti keeps the position.
An elbow from Kumsaloti crashes against the mat.

Kumsaloti decides to stand back up.
Manny Kumsaloti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Kermodian. No joy for Kumsaloti on that attempt.
Kermodian avoids the head kick by Kumsaloti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kermodian scores with a push kick.
Kermodian connects with a nice looking jab.

Kermodian feints and as Kumsaloti raises his hands in defense, Kermodian changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kumsaloti keeping moving, preventing Kermodian from controlling successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kumsaloti wriggles free and stands up.
Kermodian connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kumsaloti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mark Kermodian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kumsaloti slips under a jab.
Kermodian on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kumsaloti. Kermodian does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kermodian shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kumsaloti's guard.
Kermodian forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kumsaloti manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kumsaloti is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kermodian is controlling him.
Kermodian trying to control but Kumsaloti is working from the bottom.
Kermodian not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kumsaloti is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kermodian is controlling him.
Kermodian is stalling in the full guard.
Kermodian wants to control from the top but Kumsaloti keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumsaloti can't keep his opponent in guard - Kermodian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kermodian wants to pass the guard but Kumsaloti is defending well.
Kumsaloti wants to improve his position but Kermodian is controlling well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kumsaloti trying to control but Kermodian postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumsaloti avoids the head kick by Kermodian.
Kermodian gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kumsaloti.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kermodian throws a head kick but Kumsaloti moves out of range.
Kermodian throws a jab when Kumsaloti was well out of range.
Good leg kick by Kermodian there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Kumsaloti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kermodian fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kumsaloti is out of range.
Kermodian throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kumsaloti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kumsaloti lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kermodian swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kumsaloti counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kermodian thinking.

Kumsaloti drops Kermodian with a nice combination! Kumsaloti dives into Kermodian's guard, looking to finish!

Kermodian is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kermodian keeping moving, preventing Kumsaloti from controlling successfully.
Oh Kermodian is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Kumsaloti gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Kumsaloti has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kumsaloti drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kermodian pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kermodian misses with a body punch
and Kumsaloti counters with a straight that turns Kermodian's legs to rubber! Kumsaloti pushes forward with more strikes and Kermodian goes down, battered and bloody! That's a wrap folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manny Kumsaloti!
An out of breath Manny Kumsaloti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.