PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Demir Kartal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dae Kyung Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kartal
vs
Kyung Kim

177 cm
20
162 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

174 cm
21
168 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Demir Kartal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dae Kyung Kim!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kartal darts in looking for a takedown but Kim gets double underhooks and turns Kartal into the cage.

Kim closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kim lands in his opponent's guard.
Kim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kartal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim wants to control from the top but Kartal keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Kartal's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kartal lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kartal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kim wants to sweep here but Kartal controlling him for the moment.
Kim striking off his back but it's not causing Kartal any problems.
Kartal stands up over Kim, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kartal looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kartal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kim looking to control.

Kim working for a triangle but Kartal defends it easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kartal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kim looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kartal is one step ahead there.
Kartal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kartal stands and throws Kim's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kim felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kartal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kim to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is looking for a sweep.
Kartal working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kim manages to get back to half guard.
Kim moves into full guard.
Kartal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kim on the ground.
Kim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kartal.
Kartal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kim working for a triangle but Kartal defends it easily.
Kim trying to keep a closed guard but Kartal is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kartal with a nice head shot there.
Kartal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kim lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kim trying to control but Kartal is working from the bottom.
Kim might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kartal haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim stands and throws Kartal's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kim trying to control the position but Kartal is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dae Kyung Kim will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kartal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kim misses with a hook. Kartal ducked under it nicely.
Kartal half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kim.
Kim closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kartal looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.
Kim drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kartal defends it well.
Kartal scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kim in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kartal stuns Kim with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A lazy left from Kartal finds it's target.
Kartal looks to score with a jab to the body but Kim is just out of range.
Kartal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kartal lands a nice looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kartal connects with the punch.
Kartal slips under a jab.
Kartal appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kartal takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kartal fails to land with a series of punches.
Kartal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kim was well out of range. Poor timing from Kartal.
Kim shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kartal defends it nicely.
Demir Kartal is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kartal moves forwards but Kim connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kartal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kim is fending him off so far but Kartal persists. Nope, Kim circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Kartal with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demir Kartal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kim closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kartal won't allow Kim to pass to mount.

Kim is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kim is looking to advance position but Kartal won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Demir Kartal will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kartal closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kim circles away.
Kim is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kartal takes a swing at Kim's ribcage but misses.
Kim leaves Kartal with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kim with the counter takedown but Kartal avoids it easily.
Nice body punch from Kartal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kartal shoots in but no luck this time.
Kim is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demir Kartal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Kim as Kartal shoots in.
Kartal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kim defends well and Kartal ends up having to push Kim into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kim swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A swing and a miss from Kim.
Kartal attempts a counter takedown but Kim avoids it well and moves away.
Kartal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kims jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kim looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Kartal shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kartal showed some decent athleticism there.

Kim looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to roll over but Kartal keeps him under control.
Ground and pound from Kartal.
Kartal is keen to just control but Kim is a slippery customer.
Kim moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kim is trying to control the position but Kartal postures up.
Dae Kyung Kim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kartal working some strikes from top position.
Kim has momentary wrist control but Kartal slips an elbow through the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kartal.
Kartal throwing strikes from guard but Kim blocks nicely.
Kim manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kartal manages to get himself to full guard.

Kim pushes down on Kartal's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kartal tries to roll over but Kim keeps him under control.
Kim works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim trying to control the action but Kartal is working from the bottom.

Kim is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kartal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kim is trying to get an arm triangle but Kartal is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kim wants to control for a moment but Kartal uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Demir Kartal.
I think Kartal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Demir Kartal!
Demir Kartal thanked the fans post fight for their support.