PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sung Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Cerrone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim comes to the cage accompanied by Ode to General Kim Il Sung. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kim
vs
Cerrone

190 cm
24
200 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

BALCO UNIFORM
Balco Boys - Hilo

O'Brannigan's Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sung Kim!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stephen Cerrone!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cerrone's hands.

Cerrone manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kim on his heels. He'll look to pass Kim's guard now, I'm sure.
Kim wants to sweep but no luck.

Kim is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cerrone is aware though and is defending well.

Cerrone is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Cerrone won't allow Kim to sweep him here.

Kim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Cerrone is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kim wants to get back to his feet but Cerrone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cerrone slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone trying to control the position but Kim is working away.

Cerrone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kim has escaped the position, nice work there.

Cerrone is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kim has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cerrone is looking to take a break and control but Kim is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cerrone content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim gets back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Cerrone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cerrone seems to be looking for submissions.

Kim is defending against the submission attempts here by Cerrone.
Kim regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cerrone can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cerrone stands up and waves to Kim to follow him.
Kim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone shoots in and drives through. Kim sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Cerrone.
Cerrone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Cerrone takes the fight into the clinch.

Cerrone breaks the clinch.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kim throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kim lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cerrone backs up against the cage.
Sloppy strikes from Kim. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Cerrone dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cerrone fails to land the takedown.
Kim goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cerrone misses with a takedown
and Kim counters with a nice body kick.
A left and a right from Kim both land. Nice combination.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cerrone shoots in for a takedown but Kim shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sung Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Cerrone.
Cerrone tries to bum rush Kim with a series of wild strikes but Kim uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kim gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cerrone shoots in for a double leg but Kim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kim takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cerrone shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kim pinned against the cage. Kim gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cerrone throws a hook to the side of Kim's head but Kim sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone throws a jab when Kim was well out of range.
Kim stalks Cerrone and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cerrone's face. Cerrone staggers backwards, shaken.
Kim throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cerrone wants to clinch.
Kim throws a leg kick which misses Cerrone's front leg but catches the back leg as Cerrone tries to avoid it.
Cerrone swings for the body but Kim moves out of range.
Cerrone closes the distance and clinches up with Kim, looking for a takedown. Cerrone pushes Kim against the cage but Kim circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kim thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cerrone if he has to take too many more of those.
Sung Kim is winning the standup battle so far.
Cerrone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sung Kim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cerrone shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cerrone misses with a takedown
and Kim counters with a two punch combo.
Cerrone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kim manages to avoid it.
Cerrone tries to clinch there but Kim circles away.
Cerrone misses with a combination
and Kim counters with a solid body kick.
Cerrone needs to keep his hands up - Kim had a free shot at his head there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cerrone tries to clinch there but Kim circles away.
Cerrone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stephen Cerrone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Cerrone misses.
Cerrone fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone missing with a left hand there. Kim was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cerrone sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cerrone takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Cerrone closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kim did well to prevent Cerrone getting side control.
Kim is trying to stand back up but Cerrone is controlling him

Cerrone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cerrone is breathing heavily.
Cerrone prevents Kim from standing back up.
Kim wants to get back to full guard.

Kim is defending against the submission attempts here by Cerrone.
Kim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.

Cerrone seems to be working for a kimura but Kim defends the submission attempt.

Kim is defending against the submission attempts here by Cerrone.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cerrone is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Cerrone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cerrone tries to clinch
and Kim counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kim fails to land with a series of punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kim.
Cerrone fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cerrone lands a jab to Kim's midsection.
Kim scores with a kick to the body.
Cerrone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kim lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cerrone tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Kim throws a body punch but Cerrone moves out of range.
Kim throws a right hand that Cerrone ducks under and follows up with a left that Cerrone also avoids with ease.
Cerrone is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kim rather than just go for the knockout.
Kim lands a nice looking body kick.

Cerrone shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kim napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cerrone thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kim tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cerrone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kim sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kim slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kim trying to keep a closed guard but Cerrone is proving a slippery customer.
Cerrone looking to pass the guard.

Kim wriggles free and stands up.
Sung Kim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone fails with a takedown attempt.
Kim misses with a few strikes there.
Cerrone looks to land a right hand but Kim moved out of range.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cerrone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cerrone has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kim.
Cerrone digs a good hook to Kim's body.
Cerrone scores with a shot to the body.
Nice body kick there by Kim.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cerrone throws a right hand that Kim ducks under and follows up with a left that Kim also avoids with ease.
Kim slips a straight right by Cerrone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cerrone misses with a two punch combination.
Cerrone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cerrone tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kim counters with a head kick. That will keep Cerrone thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
The fight stays on the outside here - Cerrone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cerrone connects with a nice looking jab.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch but Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cerrone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cerrone fails with a takedown attempt.
Kim misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone wants to clinch up but Kim keeps it at a distance.
Kim lands an overhand right.
Cerrone swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kim counters with a head kick.
Kim slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cerrone connects with a single shot there.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cerrone moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cerrone throws a one two combo.
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!
Cerrone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An inside leg kick lands from Kim.
Cerrone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Cerrone. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Stephen Cerrone just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Kim. Those never looked like landing.
Cerrone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cerrone doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cerrone scores with a body shot.
Cerrone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cerrone doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A punch combination from Cerrone misses.
Cerrone lands with a nice combination. Kim backs away looking to recover.
Kim scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cerrone is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Kim lands a head shot.
Kim throws a series of punches but Cerrone moves out of range.

Cerrone drives through and clinches with Kim against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone is trying to stall.
Cerrone tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Cerrone jumps guard.

Kim gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kim fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kim displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cerrone throws out the jab.
Kim misses with the combination.
Cerrone misses with a double jab.
Cerrone shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kim as he jumps to the side.
Sung Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Cerrone.
A punch combination from Kim misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cerrone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kim sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kim.
Kim scores with a kick to the midsection.
Cerrone misses with a straight right.
Kim delivers a nice body kick.
Kim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kim is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Cerrone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kim at a distance.

Cerrone clinches up with Kim and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim tries to land a knee to the head but Cerrone blocks with his arms.

Kim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cerrone on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cerrone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cerrone moves in looking to clinch but Kim pushes him off.
Kim is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kim closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kim is looking to slow Cerrone down with leg kicks.
Cerrone fails to land with a series of punches.
Cerrone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kim.
Cerrone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cerrone listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Cerrone walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kim.

Cerrone moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Cerrone misses.
Cerrone fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kim displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cerrone throws out the jab.
Kim misses with a double jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cerrone. Kim does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kim throws a leg kick which misses Cerrone's front leg but catches the back leg as Cerrone tries to avoid it.
Kim slips under a jab from Cerrone.
Cerrone tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kim swivels and escapes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kim throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Cerrone's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Cerrone with that takedown attempt.
Cerrone takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Sung Kim 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cerrone tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Kim finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cerrone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cerrone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cerrone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Donk. Cerrone catches Kim right on the button with a cross.
Kim leaves Cerrone with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kim avoids the body shot from Cerrone.
Cerrone swings for the body but Kim moves out of range.
Cerrone is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Cerrone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sung Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Cerrone.
Kim looks to land a combination but Cerrone avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone tries to clinch up.
Cerrone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kim was well out of range. Poor timing from Cerrone.
Cerrone looks to land a right hand but Kim moved out of range.
Kim throws a series of punches but Cerrone avoids them all with ease.

Cerrone shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kim wants to get back to full guard.
Kim is staying active underneath Cerrone, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cerrone is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to improve his position but Cerrone is controlling well.
Cerrone is trying to control. Kim wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kim wants to control but Cerrone is keeping busy.

Kim kicks off Cerrone and gets to his feet.
Cerrone throws an overhand right that lands on Kim's shoulder, as Kim tries to avoid the shot.
Cerrone fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone misses with a wild body shot.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Cerrone.
Cerrone is looking to clinch but Kim is avoiding it.
Cerrone lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kim backs up against the cage.
Sung Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cerrone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kim slips a jab and a cross from Cerrone.
Cerrone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kim.
A combination from Cerrone does no damage.
Cerrone takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kim digs a good hook to Cerrone's body.
Kim looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Stephen Cerrone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone wants to clinch up but Kim keeps it at a distance.
Kim displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cerrone.
Cerrone doesn't manage to clinch there - Kim circles away.
Cerrone with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kim to score with a decent uppercut.
Kim changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Cerrone instigates a clinch.
Cerrone prevents Kim from breaking the clinch.
Kim effectively controlling the action here.
Cerrone is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kim breaks from the clinch.
Cerrone lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Cerrone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cerrone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 46:50
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 46:50
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Stephen Cerrone!
Stephen Cerrone is the new middleweight champion!
Stephen Cerrone very nearly forgot to thank O'Brannigan's Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.