PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Il Cheol Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Pla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Pla has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Il Cheol Kim's chin.

Cheol Kim
vs
Pla

160 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

165 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Il Cheol Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phil Pla!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pla tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pla tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim misses with a two punch combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
A combination from Kim does no damage.

Pla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pla lands a nice knee to the body.
Kim is trying to force a seperation but Pla has the dominant position.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pla keeps control of Kim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim working hard to break the clinch.
Kim can't break the clinch.
Kim is looking to break free of the clinch but Pla has double underhooks.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Kim can't break the clinch.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Kim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Kim has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Pla keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kim's efforts to push away.

Kim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Some wild striking there from Kim.
Kim misses with a wild combination.
Pla wants to clinch up but Kim keeps it at a distance.
Pla fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kim looks to land a combination but Pla avoids it well.
Kim misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Kim misses.
Kim throws a series of punches but Pla moves out of range.
Kim throws a nice looking combination but Pla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kim is breathing heavily.
Kim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim is having none of it.
Pla tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pla is looking to clinch but Kim is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Pla doesn't manage to clinch there - Kim circles away.
Kim swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kim throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pla.
Kim circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
No joy there for Kim, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim throws a right hand that Pla ducks under and follows up with a left that Pla also avoids with ease.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Pla.

Pla drives through and clinches with Kim against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pla lands a knee to the body.
Pla landing knees to the body.
Pla scores a nice knee to the body.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla has Kim pressed against the cage, preventing Kim from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pla crunches a lovely knee into Kim's ribcage.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Pla landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Pla scores a nice knee to the body.
Kim is trying to break the clinch but Pla is controlling him.
Pla working Kim over with knees to the body.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kim lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Knees to the body from Pla.
Pla scores a nice knee to the body.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim tries to break the clinch but Pla is controlling the position.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Pla prevents Kim from breaking the clinch.
Kim is trying to force a seperation but Pla has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pla lands a knee to the body.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pla scores a nice knee to the body.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim tries to break free but Pla pushes him back against the cage.
Kim is trying to force a seperation but Pla has the dominant position.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Kim wants to break free but Pla has control.

Kim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pla tries to clinch up but Kim circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Kim misses.
Kim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Pla 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.

Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pla showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kim.
Kim's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kim duly obliges.
Kim misses with a series of wild punches.
Kim misses with a wild combination.
Pla is looking to clinch.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Pla.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.

Pla moves into the clinch successfully.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Kim is looking to break free of the clinch but Pla has double underhooks.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kim is looking to break free of the clinch but Pla has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Pla lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kim is trying to break free.
Kim is trying to force a seperation but Pla has the dominant position.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Pla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Kim wants to get back to striking at distance but Pla won't allow it.
Kim wants to get back to striking at distance but Pla won't allow it.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
A frustrated look appears on Kim's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Pla lands a knee to the body.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Kim has had enough of the clinch but Pla keeps him there for the moment.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Kim is trying to break free.
Kim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pla is looking to clinch.
Pla tries to close the distance and clinch but Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pla tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kim lands a jab-cross combination.
Kim throws a right hand that Pla ducks under and follows up with a left that Pla also avoids with ease.
Kim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pla wants to clinch up but Kim keeps it at a distance.
Pla is looking to clinch.
Pla tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pla moves in looking to clinch but Kim pushes him off.
Pla tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pla slips a jab and a cross from Kim.
Pla wants to clinch.

Pla gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pla.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Kim wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim can't break the clinch.
Pla keeps control of Kim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kim wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kim has had enough of the clinch but Pla keeps him there for the moment.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Pla keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kim's efforts to push away.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim wants to break free but Pla has control.
Kim wants to get back to striking at distance but Pla won't allow it.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Kim is looking to break free of the clinch but Pla has double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kim tries to break free but Pla pushes him back against the cage.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pla.
Pla utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Pla showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kim misses with a few strikes there.
Kim swinging wildly here.
Pla is looking to clinch.
Kim throws a nice looking combination but Pla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pla tries to clinch up but Kim circles away and keeps his distance.
Pla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kim looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Il Cheol Kim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pla fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kim, pushing him back against the cage.
Phil Pla seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Kim wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pla has him pressed against the cage.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim is trying to break the clinch but Pla has him pressed against the cage.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
Pla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pla crunches a lovely knee into Kim's ribcage.
Pla landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pla prevents Kim from breaking the clinch.
Kim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Kim's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kim has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pla crunches a lovely knee into Kim's ribcage.
Kim has had enough of the clinch but Pla keeps him there for the moment.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Kim wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pla has him pressed against the cage.
Pla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kim in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.
Kim is trying to break the clinch but Pla is controlling him.
Kim wants to break free but Pla has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Kim managing to block the knees to the body from Pla.
Kim can't break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pla is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kim is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pla scores a nice knee to the body.
Pla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kim wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Kim avoiding damage as Pla throws knees to the body.
Kim looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kim tries to break free but Pla pushes him back against the cage.
Kim on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kim tries to break the clinch but Pla is controlling the position.
Kim looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pla unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kim is trying to break the clinch but Pla is controlling him.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Kim is looking to break free of the clinch but Pla has double underhooks.
Pla lands a good knee to the midsection. Kim won't want to take too many of those.
Pla keeps control of Kim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pla putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kim in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pla missing with knees to the body.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Pla prevents Kim from breaking the clinch.
Pla missing with knees to the body.

Kim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Pla.
Pla tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Pla dodges the punch combination from Kim.

Pla darts in and clinches Kim up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to circle away but Pla has him pinned against the cage.
Kim has had enough of the clinch but Pla keeps him there for the moment.
Kim takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pla crunches a lovely knee into Kim's ribcage.
Pla is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Pla lands a nice knee 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!
Pla tries to land knees in the clinch but Kim avoids the damage to the body.
Pla prevents Kim from breaking the clinch.
Pla landing knees to the body.
Kim is trying to break free.
Pla lands a good knee to the midsection. Kim won't want to take too many of those.
Kim has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Pla landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pla misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kim.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kim wants to get back to striking at distance but Pla won't allow it.
Pla tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kim avoids it.
Kim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Il Cheol Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pla keeps control of Kim as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pla trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Pla comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pla 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Pla!
A very excited looking Phil Pla rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.