PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nai Khanom Tom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vaan Tseng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tseng's choice of entrance music: Anathema - Deep. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Khanom Tom
vs
Tseng

193 cm
30
245 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

205 cm
27
255 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent

Perkele!

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nai Khanom Tom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vaan Tseng!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khanom Tom takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tseng connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Khanom Tom momentarily.
We've been informed that Tseng has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Tseng throws a sloppy head kick and Khanom Tom moves out of range easily.
Tseng works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Tseng checks a low kick from Khanom Tom.
We've been told by Khanom Tom's head coaches at Brazilian Elite Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Khanom Tom takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tseng is trying hard to land a takedown here. Khanom Tom sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Khanom Tom looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Tseng takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Vaan Tseng has been cut.
Tseng lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Khanom Tom pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tseng takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Khanom Tom tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tseng is able to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khanom Tom throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Khanom Tom drops his hands momentarily and Tseng takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Khanom Tom jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tseng takes one on the chin but seems OK.
An inside leg kick lands from Tseng.
Khanom Tom misses with a head kick.
Khanom Tom feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tseng's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tseng shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Khanom Tom pinned against the cage. Khanom Tom gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Khanom Tom throws a leg kick that misses.
Tseng misses with a takedown attempt
and Khanom Tom counters with a stiff right hand.
Nai Khanom Tom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaan Tseng.
Khanom Tom throws the kick towards the body but Tseng avoids it.
Khanom Tom lands a leg kick that knocks Tseng off balance momentarily.
Tseng tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khanom Tom defends well and Tseng ends up having to push Khanom Tom into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Khanom Tom attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
That kick from Khanom Tom tenderised Tseng's leg. Tseng is trying to keep his angry face on.
A telegraphed right hand from Khanom Tom misses the target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tseng darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tseng lunges at Khanom Tom with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Khanom Tom's hand.
Khanom Tom throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tseng.
Tseng is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Khanom Tom had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Khanom Tom misses with a low kick.
Tseng throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Khanom Tom on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanom Tom throws a nice outside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Khanom Tom gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tseng.
Tseng throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Khanom Tom.
Khanom Tom swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Khanom Tom dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tseng throws a front kick aimed at Khanom Tom's knee but Khanom Tom avoids it well.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Khanom Tom lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tseng has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tseng and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nice jab there from Tseng.
Khanom Tom tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tseng is able to avoid easily.
Tseng is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Khanom Tom shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khanom Tom. Tseng does a little dance to reset his feet.
Khanom Tom thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tseng if he has to take too many more of those.
Tseng has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Khanom Tom lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Tseng is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Khanom Tom uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Donk. Tseng catches Khanom Tom right on the button with a cross.
Tseng checks a low kick from Khanom Tom.
And Tseng tries to counter it with a takedown but Khanom Tom pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khanom Tom throws a looping overhand right but Tseng ducks down to avoid it.
Tseng with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Khanom Tom to score with a decent uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khanom Tom. Tseng does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tseng tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tseng lands a body shot.
Khanom Tom throws a body kick that misses.
Tseng lands a jab-cross combination.
Tseng throws a shot to the body.
Khanom Tom tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Khanom Tom does it's job there.
Tseng misses with a looping right.
Khanom Tom connects with a crisp jab.
Tseng avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khanom Tom swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tseng misses with a double jab
and Khanom Tom counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tseng moves out of range of the body kick.
Tseng connects with a right hand. Khanom Tom shakes it off.
Tseng throws a lazy right hand but Khanom Tom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khanom Tom takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Tseng uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khanom Tom.
Tseng is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Khanom Tom has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tseng finds it's way round the side to connect with Khanom Tom's head.
A left lands for Tseng.
Khanom Tom throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tseng just misses with a punch to the body.
Khanom Tom tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tseng keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khanom Tom 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.
Khanom Tom dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tseng. That did some damage!
Khanom Tom throws out a loose jab but Tseng uses good head movement to avoid it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Khanom Tom.
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 Nai Khanom Tom will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vaan Tseng's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Khanom Tom misses the shot to the body.
Tseng cracks a nice hook into Khanom Tom's ribs.
Khanom Tom throws a right hand that Tseng ducks under and follows up with a left that Tseng also avoids with ease.
Tseng scores with a jab to the body.
Tseng shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khanom Tom as he jumps to the side.
Khanom Tom throws a low kick, looking for Tseng's leg but Tseng calmly moves out of range.
Tseng connects with a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Khanom Tom as Tseng shoots in.
Nai Khanom Tom is winning the standup battle so far.
Khanom Tom throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tseng sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Tseng.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tseng blocks a leg kick.
Khanom Tom blocks a leg kick.
Tseng scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Khanom Tom scores with a jab. Tseng acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khanom Tom scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanom Tom drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tseng avoids the head kick by Khanom Tom.
Tseng takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tseng avoids the head kick by Khanom Tom.
Khanom Tom cracks the inside of Tseng's front leg.
Khanom Tom throws a nice outside leg kick.

Tseng feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Khanom Tom wants to stand but Tseng is controlling the position.
Tseng postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tseng trying to control but Khanom Tom is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tseng postures up in Khanom Tom's guard and throws a big left but Khanom Tom blocks it.
Khanom Tom pulls Tseng in close to prevent any damage.
Tseng throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Khanom Tom works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanom Tom keeping moving, preventing Tseng from controlling successfully.
Khanom Tom might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Khanom Tom keeping full guard, as Tseng tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tseng avoids a kick to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tseng. Khanom Tom shrugs it off though.
Tseng's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tseng shoots in looking for a takedown. Khanom Tom tries to sprawl out of it but Tseng keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Khanom Tom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nai Khanom Tom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vaan Tseng.
Khanom Tom fails to land with a series of punches.
Tseng moves out of range of the strikes.
Tseng avoids a kick to the body.
Tseng displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Khanom Tom throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tseng misses with a double jab
and Khanom Tom counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tseng swings for the body but Khanom Tom moves out of range.
Khanom Tom looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tseng throws a low kick, looking for Khanom Tom's leg but Khanom Tom calmly moves out of range.
No joy there for Tseng, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Khanom Tom moves out of range of the strikes.
Tseng checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Tseng takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Khanom Tom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tseng.
Tseng thuds his shin into the meat of Khanom Tom's side.
Khanom Tom is looking to slow Tseng down with leg kicks.
Khanom Tom throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A cross from Tseng lands.
Khanom Tom throws an overhand right that lands on Tseng's shoulder, as Tseng tries to avoid the shot.
Tseng cracks Khanom Tom with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tseng checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khanom Tom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khanom Tom keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Khanom Tom gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tseng punishes Khanom Tom's body with a nice straight punch.
Tseng cracks Khanom Tom with a good jab.
Khanom Tom throws a body shot but no joy.
Khanom Tom lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Khanom Tom misses with an uppercut.
And Tseng tries to counter it with a takedown but Khanom Tom pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Khanom Tom misses.
Khanom Tom lands with a right hand.
Tseng drops his hands momentarily and Khanom Tom takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tseng misses with a body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Khanom Tom.
Tseng avoids a punch combination nicely.
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 Nai Khanom Tom will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vaan Tseng's cut.
That's time! Khanom Tom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Tseng misses with a looping right.
Khanom Tom misses the jab.
Tseng misses with a hook. Khanom Tom ducked under it nicely.
Tseng misses with a straight left.
Tseng scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
You can see that Tseng has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
A jab from Khanom Tom misses.
Khanom Tom uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tseng.
Khanom Tom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tseng.
Khanom Tom half committed to a counter leg kick.
Tseng tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice uppercut there from Tseng.
A leg kick checked by Tseng.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khanom Tom connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tseng momentarily.
Some bone on bone action there as Tseng checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The crowd cheers as Tseng lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khanom Tom doesn't seem phased though.
Some bone on bone action there as Tseng checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Tseng drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khanom Tom looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tseng is one step ahead there.
Khanom Tom keeping full guard, as Tseng tries to pass.
Khanom Tom keeping moving, preventing Tseng from controlling successfully.
Khanom Tom has Tseng pulled in close to control his posture.
Khanom Tom keeping moving, preventing Tseng from controlling successfully.
Tseng is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tseng trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vaan Tseng has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Khanom Tom wriggles free and stands up.
Good exchange - Tseng coming out on top.
Nai Khanom Tom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Tseng misses.
Khanom Tom scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Khanom Tom looks to land a body kick but Tseng moved away.
Tseng changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tseng swings for the body but Khanom Tom moves out of range.
Khanom Tom slips a jab from Tseng.
Khanom Tom swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tseng.
Khanom Tom blocks a jab.
Tseng gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Khanom Tom counter with a right hand.
Khanom Tom lands the left hand.
Tseng loads up on a big right hand but Khanom Tom slips the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tseng darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Tseng as he checks the leg kick.
Khanom Tom throws a low kick but Tseng avoids it.
Tseng throws a head kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Khanom Tom, right into the meat.
Tseng takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tseng just misses with a punch to the body.
Tseng throws a lazy head kick
and Khanom Tom counters with a left and a right that stings Tseng.
Tseng tries to score with a low kick but Khanom Tom moves his leg out of the way.
Khanom Tom thinks about countering with a body kick.
Tseng misses with a kick to the body.
Tseng throws an off balance right hand
and Khanom Tom counters with a straight right hand.
Khanom Tom connects with a jab.
Khanom Tom lands with a straight right. Tseng didn't see that one coming.
Khanom Tom misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tseng throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Khanom Tom.

Tseng is rocked!
Tseng looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Khanom Tom gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tseng.
Tseng on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Khanom Tom. Khanom Tom obviously looking to wear him down.
Khanom Tom scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Khanom Tom throws a head kick but Tseng moves out of range.
Tseng tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Khanom Tom will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Khanom Tom throws a looping overhand right but Tseng ducks down to avoid it.
And Tseng tries to counter it with a takedown but Khanom Tom pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Khanom Tom lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tseng connects with the punch.

It looks like Nai Khanom Tom has been cut.
Tseng rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Khanom Tom makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Khanom Tom gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tseng.
Khanom Tom lands a lovely overhand right.
Tseng swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nai Khanom Tom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Khanom Tom, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nai Khanom Tom!