PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abe Kongo (ranked 3519 p4p, 4062 weight class) and Bruna Faria (ranked 448 p4p, 507 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kongo
vs
Faria

172 cm
25
173
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
140
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abe Kongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruna Faria!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kongo clinches with his opponent.
Kongo scores with a shoulder strike.

Kongo pulls guard effortlessly.
Faria trying to control but Kongo is working from the bottom.
Kongo trying to control the position here.
Faria looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Faria thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kongo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kongo wants to stand and escape but Faria is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Faria dives into side control.
Kongo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Faria wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Faria working away.
Faria trying to control the position but Kongo is working away.
The ground and pound from Faria seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Faria is looking to take a break and control but Kongo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kongo struggling a bit here.
Kongo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Faria postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Faria stands up and beckons Kongo to his feet.
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Faria wants to counter with a clinch but Kongo pushes him away.
Faria checks a low kick from Kongo.
Faria tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kongo throws a leg kick

and Faria counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kongo won't be happy with that.
Faria fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Faria throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Faria has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Faria has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Faria trying to control but Kongo is having none of it.

Faria is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kongo can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faria wants to control the pace but Kongo is squirming around nicely.
Faria fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kongo is squirming around, avoiding Faria's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Faria is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kongo has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kongo is working to get back to half guard.
Faria wants to control the pace but Kongo is squirming around nicely.

Faria looking to secure an arm triangle but Kongo defends it well.

Faria working for a guillotine from mount but Kongo is in no mood to give up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruna Faria dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Faria swings for the body but Kongo moves out of range.
Kongo looks to land a combination but Faria avoids it well.

Kongo takes the fight into the clinch.
Kongo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kongo tries to break the clinch but Faria is controlling the position.
Faria tries to score a body lock takedown but Kongo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kongo is trying to pull guard but Faria turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faria avoids it.
Kongo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Faria smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kongo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kongo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abe Kongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kongo is trying to pull guard but Faria turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo wants to break free but Faria has control.

Faria has Kongo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Faria pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kongo tumbling to the mat - Faria dives into Kongo's guard.

Faria stands and steps away. Kongo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kongo leaves Faria with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Abe Kongo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kongo has Faria up against the cage in a clinch.
Faria is trying to maintain a safe position but Kongo gets an underhook and turns Faria into the cage.
Faria wants a takedown but no success here.

Faria breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Faria is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kongo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo scoring well with a low kick there.

Kongo moves into the clinch successfully.
Faria avoiding damage as Kongo throws knees to the body.
Kongo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kongo missing with knees to the body.
Kongo lands with a light punch inside.
Kongo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Faria has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kongo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kongo is trying to break the clinch but Faria is controlling him.
Kongo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Faria tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kongo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Faria tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kongo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Faria managing to block the knees to the body from Kongo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kongo successfully pulls guard.

Kongo is working an open guard so Faria takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nice body kick from Faria.
Faria avoids the head kick by Kongo.
Faria throws a nice head kick!

Kongo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Faria managing to block the knees to the body from Kongo.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kongo tries to pull guard but Faria holds him up against the cage and eventually Kongo drops back down to his feet.
Kongo tries to break free but Faria pushes him back against the cage.
Abe Kongo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kongo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faria keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kongo's efforts to push away.

Faria jumps guard and drags Kongo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kongo wants to stand and escape but instead Faria has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Kongo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kongo tries to get out of the position.
Kongo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Faria is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Faria accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Faria throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Faria thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Faria decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kongo, up you get!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abe Kongo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Faria keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kongo gets a clinch.
Kongo effectively controlling the action here.

Faria pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kongo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kongo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Faria is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abe Kongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faria is trying to pull guard but Kongo has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faria drags the fight down to the ground.
Kongo preventing the sweep.
Faria manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kongo manages to get himself to full guard.

Faria wants to pass the guard but Kongo is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faria postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kongo keeping moving, preventing Faria from controlling successfully.
Bruna Faria has got the better of the ground game so far.

Faria gets to his feet. Kongo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Faria takes one on the button.
Faria tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kongo defends well and Faria ends up having to push Kongo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It looked like Kongo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Faria tries a head kick but it misses.
Kongo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Faria moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Faria tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Faria tries to keep at a distance but Kongo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kongo stalling in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faria is trying to maintain a safe position but Kongo gets an underhook and turns Faria into the cage.
Kongo gets underhooks to prevent Faria's takedown attempt.
Faria blocks an elbow strike.

Kongo jumps guard.
Faria wants to control from the top but Kongo keeps moving.

Faria drops back looking for a leg! Kongo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kongo manages to kick Faria off! Faria jumps back into Kongo's guard.
Faria takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Faria slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo has his hands clasped together around Faria's back. He's all about the action.
Faria wants to control but Kongo is keeping him busy.

Faria is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kongo defends it well.
Faria works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kongo tries to buck Faria off but Faria is having none of it.
Faria tries to advance to mount but can't.

Kongo wants to improve his position, back to half guard but Faria has ideas of his own. He's got hold of Kongo's far side arm and it looks like he's got an Americana. Ohh! Ohhhh! OOOOOOOOOH! A human being's arm is not meant to bend like that! Kongo is tapping like a morse code operator on the Titanic! SOS SOS! He's out of here! Great win for Faria!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Bruna Faria!