PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donte Billings (ranked 1695 p4p, 1850 weight class) and Dakarai Kasongo (ranked 268 p4p, 286 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Billings
vs
Kasongo

182 cm
28
192
11 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
195
6 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

PWNAGE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donte Billings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dakarai Kasongo!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Billings misses with a hook.
Kasongo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kasongo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A lazy left from Billings finds it's target.
Billings dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kasongo dives in and grabs Billings's left leg, looking for a takedown. Billings pushes down on Kasongo's head and hops out.
Kasongo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kasongo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Billings jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Billings scores with a jab.
Kasongo slips a straight right by Billings.
Kasongo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Billings.
Billings lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kasongo blocks the body kick.
Kasongo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Billings.
And Kasongo tries to counter it with a takedown but Billings pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Billings throws a right hand that misses

and Kasongo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Billings is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Greedy Fight School that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Kasongo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo is in close to Billings's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kasongo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kasongo trying to control but Billings is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billings preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Billings working a defensive guard here.
Kasongo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Billings works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kasongo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Billings avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kasongo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kasongo stops Billings from standing up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kasongo stays in close to Billings's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Billings uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kasongo has time to react.
Donte Billings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Billings scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Dakarai Kasongo has been cut.
The fighters circling - Kasongo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kasongo dives in and grabs Billings's left leg, looking for a takedown. Billings pushes down on Kasongo's head and hops out.
A jab from Billings does it's job there.
Kasongo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Billings rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kasongo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Billings won't allow Kasongo to pass to mount.
Billings is pressing down on Kasongo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billings has momentary wrist control but Kasongo slips an elbow through the middle.
Billings wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Billings is on top in guard.

Billings is fighting to break Kasongo's control of his arms but Kasongo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kasongo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Kasongo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Billings slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kasongo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Billings doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Billings manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kasongo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kasongo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Billings controlling from the top position.

Kasongo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Billings stacks Kasongo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Billings!
Billings controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donte Billings dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dakarai Kasongo's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Billings is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kasongo.
Billings lands with a cross.
Billings throws a lazy uppercut

and Kasongo counters with a shoot takedown. Billings fights it but they end up in guard.
Kasongo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Billings's head.
Billings has momentary wrist control but Kasongo slips an elbow through the middle.
Kasongo throwing strikes from guard but Billings blocks nicely.
Billings trying to control the position.
Kasongo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasongo is working Billings over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kasongo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kasongo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kasongo trying to control the position from guard on top but Billings is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Billings trying to keep a closed guard but Kasongo is proving a slippery customer.
Kasongo won't allow Billings to sweep him here.
Kasongo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Billings's head.
Billings wants to sweep but no luck.
Billings working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kasongo.
Kasongo with a nice head shot there.
Kasongo is in close to Billings's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Kasongo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kasongo postures up in Billings's guard and throws a big left but Billings blocks it.
Kasongo throws a strike but Billings rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kasongo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kasongo controls Billings momentarily but Billings frees himself.
Kasongo is pulling down on Billings's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billings postures up.
Kasongo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Billings controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Billings with a jab.
Billings misses with a hook. Kasongo ducked under it nicely.
Kasongo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Billings missing with a left hand there. Kasongo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Billings misses with a looping left.
Kasongo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo slips a straight right by Billings.
Kasongo feints the counter takedown.
Billings throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kasongo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kasongo moves out of range as Billings strikes.
Kasongo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Billings.
Kasongo feints the counter takedown.
Billings throws a shot to the body.
Donte Billings is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch lands to the side of Kasongo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Billings scores with a nice right hand.
Billings throws a shot to the body.
Kasongo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kasongo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Billings defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Billings throws an overhand right that lands on Kasongo's shoulder, as Kasongo tries to avoid the shot.
Billings is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kasongo can do to turn this around?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billings throws a series of punches but Kasongo avoids them all with ease.
Kasongo avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donte Billings dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dakarai Kasongo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kasongo shoots in but no luck this time.
Billings thows a left - swing and a miss!
Billings scores with a jab to the body.
Kasongo fails with the takedown.
Billings throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Billings bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kasongo's head.
Billings misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasongo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Billings sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kasongo somewhat.
Donte Billings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dakarai Kasongo.
Kasongo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo lands a right hook to the body.
Billings throws a right hand that misses

and Kasongo counters with a single leg into guard. Billings didn't expect that.
Kasongo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kasongo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Billings is trying to keep Kasongo in close.
Kasongo postures up and lands a big shot to Billings's brow.
Kasongo trying to control but Billings is working from the bottom.
Kasongo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Billings manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kasongo manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kasongo pulls Billings in close to prevent any damage.
Billings trying to control but Kasongo is working from the bottom.

Kasongo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Billings is aware though and is defending well.
Billings stays in close to Kasongo's body and controls the position.
Kasongo wants to sweep here but Billings controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Billings has passed into side control.
A lull in the action here as Billings stalls from top position.
Dakarai Kasongo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kasongo regains half guard.
Kasongo trying to control here.
Kasongo is not content to let Billings control the position.
Kasongo tries to get to full guard but Billings has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kasongo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kasongo is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Billings throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Billings catches Kasongo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Billings misses with a straight right.
Billings scores with a leg kick.
Dakarai Kasongo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billings lands with a straight right. Kasongo didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donte Billings showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Billings, 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donte Billings!
During a confident post fight interview, Donte Billings thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.