PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Epolito (ranked 157 p4p, 319 weight class) and Yasol Kim (ranked 21 p4p, 49 weight class). Epolito comes into the arena with Rowdy/ Bandits blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Epolito
vs
Kim

172 cm
35
154
25 - 11 - 0

175 cm
40
162
34 - 16 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Northern Zombie
NARCOS

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anthony Epolito!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yasol Kim!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epolito blocks the body kick.
Epolito lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Epolito lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kim will feel that in the morning.
Epolito misses the shot to the body.
Epolito lands the left hand.
Both fighters circling a little - Kim finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Epolito digs a good body shot into Kim's ribs.
Epolito throws a right hand that misses

and Kim moves into the clinch.
Kim cracks Epolito with a nice body shot.
Kim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
Kim dodges an elbow strike from Epolito.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Epolito.
Kim throws a head punch that misses.

Epolito manages to break the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kim keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Epolito.
Kim pivots, looking for a leg kick but Epolito is out of range and Kim settles back down.
Epolito throws a lazy right hand but Kim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A big right from Epolito misses.
Epolito swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kim counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kim scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Epolito swings widly with a right hand
and Kim counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Epolito misses.
Kim blocks a head kick by Epolito.
Epolito swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Epolito misses with a left hand
and Kim counters with a nice low kick that buckles Epolito's knee momentarily.
Epolito blocks a leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kim. That's going to slow Epolito down.
Kim takes a swing at Epolito's ribcage but misses.
Epolito looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kim gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Epolito.
Epolito looks to score with a jab to the body but Kim is just out of range.
Kim only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kim takes one on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Epolito.
Epolito 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.
Epolito misses with a hook to the body

and Kim counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kim lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Kim fails to land.
Kim landing knees to the head.
Kim working aggressively here.
Epolito throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Epolito just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kim's brow.
Kim throws a head punch that misses.
Epolito looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Epolito breaks from the clinch.
Epolito looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab from Epolito misses.
Kim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim moves away from the strike by Epolito.
Kim flicks out a counter leg kick but Epolito steps away.
Kim lands a leg kick that knocks Epolito off balance momentarily.
Kim throws a lazy right hand but Epolito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Epolito tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kim is able to avoid easily.
Epolito throws a hook to the side of Kim's head but Kim sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kim looks to score with a jab to the body but Epolito is just out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Epolito misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Epolito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kim throws a lazy right hand but Epolito sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kim fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Epolito is out of range.
Epolito swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Epolito throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Epolito lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kim lands the left hand.
Epolito keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kim.
Epolito lands with a hook. Kim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kim lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Epolito takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Epolito connects with a leg kick.
Epolito looks for the body kick but Kim saw that one coming.
Epolito swings for the body but Kim moves out of range.
Kim loads up on a big right hand but Epolito slips the punch.
Kim dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Epolito.
Epolito throws a body punch but Kim moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim looks to land a left hand but Epolito moved out of range nicely.
A nice leg kick from Kim, right into the meat of the thigh.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Epolito crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kim - the referee stops the clock and Epolito gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kim. Epolito manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Epolito.
Kim swings for the body but Epolito moves out of range.
Epolito looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Epolito shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kim throws a body shot but no joy.
Epolito tries to land a front kick but Kim steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Epolito tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Epolito throws a body kick that misses.
Kim now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kim lands with a straight right. Epolito didn't see that one coming.
Epolito motions for Kim to come forward. Epolito throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Epolito throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kim makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Anthony Epolito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kim scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Epolito doesn't seem bothered though.
Epolito misses with a straight right.
Kim scores with a jab. Epolito acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yasol Kim will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Epolito takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Epolito darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Epolito steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kim.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Epolito.
Kim tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kim scores with a body shot.
Donk. Kim catches Epolito right on the button with a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kim crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Epolito - the referee stops the clock and Kim gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Epolito. Kim manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Epolito lands a lovely overhand right.
Epolito is looking to land body kicks.
And Kim responds with a good body kick, but Epolito manages to step out the way in time.
Epolito avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A big left from Epolito misses.
Epolito misses with a two punch combination.
Kim doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Epolito clobbers Kim with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kim.
Epolito checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kim throws a solid leg kick but Epolito takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kim.
Kim takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim throws a leg kick but Epolito moved away.
Epolito is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kim throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Epolito thumps Kim with a low kick.
Kim with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Epolito tries to move into range but Kim moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Epolito does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kim lands with a shot to the body.
Jab by Epolito.
Kim loads up on a big right hand but Epolito slips the punch.
Kim uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Epolito.
Kim swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kim moves away from the strike by Epolito.
Epolito lands with a hook. Kim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Epolito connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kim's hands.
Epolito misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Epolito. Kim does a little dance to reset his feet.
Epolito doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kim misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito just misses with a punch to the body.
Kim lands a jab to the head.
Epolito misses with a looping left.
Epolito checks a low kick from Kim.
Kim with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kim just misses with a punch to the body.
Epolito fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kim on the side of the head.
Epolito blocks a jab.
A jab from Epolito misses.
Epolito looks to land a left hand but Kim moved out of range nicely.
Kim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Epolito misses with a right hand
and Kim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kim avoids a kick to the body.
Epolito avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Epolito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Epolito tries a head kick but it misses.
Kim does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kim.
Kim moves out of range of the body kick from Epolito.
Epolito misses with an uppercut.
Epolito throws an overhand right that lands on Kim's shoulder, as Kim tries to avoid the shot.
Jab, jab by Epolito - just one landing.
Kim looks to land a body kick but Epolito moved away.

Kim moves into the clinch.
Kim swings wildly with an uppercut but Epolito uses good head movement to avoid it.

Epolito's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kim blocks a jab.
Epolito throws a body kick that misses.
Epolito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kim dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Epolito. That snapped Kim's head back.
Kim lands a glancing blow to the side of Epolito's head.
Kim clobbers Epolito with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Epolito takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Epolito throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kim makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Epolito loads up on a big right hand but Kim slips the punch.
Epolito throws a big shot that misses.
Kim lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Epolito at a distance.
Epolito throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kim tries to clinch there but Epolito circles away.
Epolito throws out a loose jab but Kim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epolito misses with a straight left.
Anthony Epolito is winning the standup battle so far.
Kim throws a body punch but Epolito moves out of range.
Epolito cracks Kim with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Epolito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kim.
Kim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Epolito looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kim is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Epolito with a body shot.
Kim throws a body punch but Epolito moves out of range.
Epolito lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kim. Epolito does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anthony Epolito will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Epolito throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Epolito blocks a leg kick.
Nice shot by Epolito.

Kim rushes Epolito and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Kim.
Epolito gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Yasol Kim has been cut.
Epolito blocks an uppercut.
Kim throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Epolito looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Epolito has a couple of punches blocked by Kim.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim lands a right hand.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Kim.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Kim.
Kim blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kim creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Epolito tries a body shot but Kim blocks it.

Epolito breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Epolito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kim looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kim scores with a jab.
Epolito throws a right hand that Kim ducks under and follows up with a left that Kim also avoids with ease.
Kim slips under a jab from Epolito.
Kim throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Epolito on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Epolito throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Epolito.
Epolito has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kim finds it's way round the side to connect with Epolito's head.
Epolito walks into a left hand.
Epolito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Epolito walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kim checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A nice leg kick from Kim, right into the meat of the thigh.
Epolito misses with a body shot.
Kim tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kim throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Kim has Epolito up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim tries to throw a body punch but Epolito avoids it by throwing Kim back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kim fails to land.
Kim lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Epolito is looking to break free of the clinch but Kim has double underhooks.
Epolito looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Epolito lands with a light punch inside.
Yasol Kim seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Epolito tries to work over Kim's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kim.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short left from Kim.
Epolito is trying to break the clinch but Kim has him pressed against the cage.
Kim has Epolito pressed against the cage, preventing Epolito from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kim lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kim lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kim is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Epolito working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito is trying to force a seperation but Kim has the dominant position.
Epolito blocks an uppercut.
Epolito misses with an elbow strike.
Epolito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Epolito misses with an elbow strike.
Kim softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Epolito misses with an elbow strike.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kim lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Epolito blocks a body shot from Kim.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A body shot lands from Kim.
Epolito throws an elbow that misses.
Still in the clinch, Kim scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kim misses with the head strike.
Kim scores with a shoulder strike.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Epolito.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kim.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot in the inside from Kim.
Kim stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kim lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Kim scores with a nice short uppercut.
Epolito blocks an uppercut.
Epolito looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kim lands a shoulder strike.
Kim struggles to land a body shot inside as Epolito controls his hands.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Kim.
Kim swings wildly with an uppercut but Epolito uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kim.
Kim misses with a punch on the inside.
Kim throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epolitos head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yasol Kim really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yasol Kim's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kim's jab looks to have found its range, popping Epolito under the eye.
The fighters circling - Epolito throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kim does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kim with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Epolito tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Epolito connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Epolito crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kim - the referee stops the clock and Epolito gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kim. Epolito manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Epolito loads up on a big right hand but Kim slips the punch.
Epolito tries a head kick but it misses.
Epolito is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epolito misses with a body kick.
Kim connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Epolito's hands.
Kim scores with a jab to the head.
Kim misses with a body kick.
Epolito misses with an uppercut
letting Kim counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epolito swings widly with a right hand
and Kim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kim wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kim moves away from the strike by Epolito.
Kim lands the left hand.
Epolito throws out a loose jab but Kim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kim unleashes a big counter combination but Epolito bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Kim rushes Epolito and presses him up against the cage.
Kim swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Epolito throws a head punch that misses.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Epolito lands a hook to the side of the head.

Epolito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kim misses with a low kick.
Epolito was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kim cracks Epolito with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice body kick there by Kim.
Kim feints and then cracks Epolito's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Epolito down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kim moves into range and clinches up with Epolito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Kim.
Kim throws a punch but it's blocked by Epolito.
A short left from Kim.
Kim lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kim.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.
Kim just leaning against Epolito, taking a breather.
Kim trying to stall but Epolito improves his position.
Kim misses with a punch on the inside.

Epolito breaks the clinch.
Epolito connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kim has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Epolito throws a jab when Kim was well out of range.
Kim scores with a nice strike.
Kim throws a leg kick but Epolito sees it coming and moves out of range.
Epolito slips a straight right by Kim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kim finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Epolito was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kim throws the left hand but Epolito avoids the punch easily.
Kim moves out of range of the body kick.
Kim throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kim fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Epolito stuns Kim with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Epolito connects with a jab.
A jab from Epolito finds it's way through Kim's defenses.
Epolito misses with an uppercut.
Epolito moves out of range of the strikes.
Kim lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Epolito throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kim.
Kim tries to clinch but Epolito moves out of range.
Epolito misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to work over Epolito's front leg with a kick but Epolito checks it.
A little feinted left hand from Epolito on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kim is looking to clinch but Epolito is avoiding it.
Epolito finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kim scores with a leg kick.
Epolito throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Epolito.
Epolito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kim manages to avoid it.
Kim wants to counter the offense by Epolito and move into the clinch position.
Kim throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Epolito misses with a leg kick.
Kim moves out of range as Epolito strikes.

Kim rushes Epolito and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Epolito prevents a body shot from Kim.
Kim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Epolito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kim.
That kick from Kim tenderised Epolito's leg. Epolito is trying to keep his angry face on.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yasol Kim dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Yasol Kim's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Epolito looks for the body kick but Kim saw that one coming.
Good work by Kim as he checks the leg kick.
Epolito throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kim counters with a nice uppercut.
Kim misses with a series of wild punches.
Epolito throws out a powerful jab.

Kim moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kim.
Epolito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kims head.
Kim misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Kim fails to land.
Kim throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Epolitos head.
Kim blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Kim working aggressively here.
Epolito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kim scores with a shot to the side of Epolito's head.
Epolito lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.
Kim lands a hook that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.
Kim stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Epolito tries to break the clinch but Kim is controlling the position.
Epolito wants to break free but Kim has control.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Epolito lands a nice uppercut.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Epolito.
Epolito is trying to break the clinch but Kim is controlling him.
Kim swings wildly with an uppercut but Epolito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epolito throws an elbow but it misses.
Epolito swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Epolito's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kim closes the distance and clinches.

Epolito breaks the clinch.
Kim misses the shot to the body.
Kim connects with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Epolito misses with a kick to the body.
Kim misses with a body shot.
A low kick lands for Kim.
Kim uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Epolito.
Kim flicks out a counter leg kick but Epolito steps away.
Kim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Epolito moves away.
A low kick lands for Epolito.
Epolito scores with a nice head shot.

Epolito gets tackled into the cage by Kim. Kim maintains the clinch.
Kim lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Epolito throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Yasol Kim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito working aggressively here.
Epolito lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Epolito is looking to break free of the clinch but Kim has double underhooks.
Epolito is trying to break free.
Kim blocking some punches.
Epolito is looking to break free of the clinch but Kim has double underhooks.
Kim misses with the head strike.
Epolito blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim working aggressively here.

Epolito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epolito lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Epolito misses with a looping right.
Epolito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kim manages to avoid it.
Kim throws a solid leg kick but Epolito takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kim.
Epolito misses with an uppercut. Kim saw that one coming.
Epolito misses with a lunging right hand
and Kim counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Anthony Epolito has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big right from Epolito misses.
Kim scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Kim clinches with his opponent.
Kim blocks a body shot from Epolito.
Kim avoids a wild elbow strike from Epolito.
Kim keeps control of Epolito as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Epolito goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yasol Kim.
I think Kim has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 48:47
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 46:49
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Anthony Epolito!
Anthony Epolito retains his lightweight title!
Anthony Epolito really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Shadow Realm Apparel logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.