PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ibe Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny McBride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danny McBride told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kong
vs
McBride

186 cm
28
166 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

197 cm
27
168 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Experienced

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Vodka Rags

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ibe Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Danny McBride!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kong throws a head kick that misses.
Kong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McBride has a takedown stuffed.

McBride shoots in and gets a takedown into Kong's guard.
Kong keeping full guard, as McBride tries to pass.

McBride is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kong has escaped and now he's on top!

McBride escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kong thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBride is trying to keep Kong in close.
Kong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
McBride keeping full guard, as Kong tries to pass.
McBride is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

McBride has his foot on Kong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kong works his way back into a safe position though.
Kong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McBride manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

McBride swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kong is now in McBride's guard. A big mistake from McBride there, giving up the dominant position!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong advances to half guard.
McBride blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kong.
McBride is refusing to be controlled, as Kong sits in half guard.
McBride is trying is best to control the position here.
McBride tries to kick Kong off but Kong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McBride blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride tries to roll over but Kong keeps him under control.
McBride is staying active underneath Kong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kong passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McBride!
McBride tries to hold on but Kong pushes him away.
Kong lands a big elbow.
Kong connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
McBride working to try and regain half guard.
Kong throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBride keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McBride is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kong scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McBride tries to hold on but Kong postures up.
Kong looking to control but McBride is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibe Kong dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice uppercut lands for Kong. That snapped McBride's head back.
Kong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McBride.
Kong connects with an inside leg kick.
Kong misses with a wild body shot.
Kong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Danny McBride is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McBride staying out of range there.
McBride tries to clinch but Kong is having none of it.
Kong tests McBride's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kong misses its intended target.
Kong cracks McBride with a right hand to the side of the head.
McBride fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McBride looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kong stuffs the takedown attempt from McBride. McBride gets slowly back to his feet.
A big right from Kong misses.
McBride is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kong misses with a hook.
Kong keeps the fight on the outside.
McBride avoids the body shot from Kong.
McBride fails in his attempt to clinch.
McBride shoots in but Kong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ibe Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny McBride.
McBride fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kong missing with a left hand there. McBride was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McBride.
Kong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kong throws a head kick but McBride moves out of range.
Kong throws the left hand but McBride avoids the punch easily.
McBride shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kong pinned against the cage. Kong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

McBride throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kong tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. McBride is in Kong's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong is trying to control the position but McBride postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McBride accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McBride avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kong can't keep his opponent in guard - McBride advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McBride wants to work for an arm triangle but Kong is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McBride seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McBride.
Kong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McBride takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McBride fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McBride displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kong throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ibe Kong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kong tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from McBride misses
and Kong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Kong misses the target.
Kong sizes up McBride with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McBride avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kong misses with a head kick.
Kong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kong throws a series of punches but McBride moves out of range.
McBride tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kong swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong misses with an uppercut. McBride saw that one coming.
McBride swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McBride defending well as Kong loads up on a big left hand.
Kong scores with a nice head shot.
Nice takedown defense from Kong. No joy for McBride on that attempt.
Ibe Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny McBride.
Kong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McBride closes the distance and clinches up with Kong, looking for a takedown. McBride pushes Kong against the cage but Kong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kong throws out a loose jab but McBride uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kong 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBride tries to clinch
and Kong counters with a nice body kick.
McBride takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kong is looking to land body kicks.
Ibe Kong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McBride shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McBride shoots for a double leg takedown but Kong sprawls well. He's pushed McBride's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A right-left combo lands from Kong.
Kong fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A punch combination from Kong misses.
Kong scores with a body shot.
Ibe Kong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong swings for the body but McBride moves out of range.
Kong misses with a hook. McBride ducked under it nicely.

McBride feints and as Kong raises his hands in defense, McBride changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kong has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

McBride drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McBride has Kong in his guard.
McBride has his hands on Kong's head, controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ibe Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kong, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ibe Kong!