PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kyung Yeon Kang (ranked 7088 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sitichai Silachai (ranked 3049 p4p, 335 weight class). Kyung Yeon Kang has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Yeon Kang
vs
Silachai

175 cm
25
158 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyung Yeon Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sitichai Silachai!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Chad Campbell and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silachai throws a sloppy head kick and Kang moves out of range easily.
Kang appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kang has a takedown stuffed.
Kang avoids the head kick by Silachai.
Kang dives in for a single leg takedown but Silachai sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kang moves into the clinch.
Kang wants to take the fight to the mat but Silachai manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyung Yeon Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kang is trying to drag Silachai to the mat but Silachai just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Silachai tries to break free but Kang pushes him back against the cage.

Kang breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silachai lands a head kick. Kang smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Silachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silachai avoids the head kick by Kang.
Kang fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kang or perhaps it was just good defense by Silachai, which made it look bad.
Kang is breathing heavily.
Kang avoids the head kick by Silachai.
Kang blocks a head kick by Silachai.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses.
Kang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Silachai as he avoids it easily.
Kang scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kang or perhaps it was just good defense by Silachai, which made it look bad.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses.

Kang moves into the clinch successfully.
Silachai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silachai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Silachai stops a takedown attempt from Kang.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kang breaks the clinch.
Silachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Silachai throws a combination that misses

and Kang counters by moving into the clinch.

Kang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silachai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Kang closes the distance and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Kang.
Kang is trying to pull guard but Silachai has him pressed against the cage.

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

Kang looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Silachai trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kang throws a big elbow that misses.
Silachai striking off his back but it's not causing Kang any problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silachai doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silachai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Silachai will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kang stopping the sweep attempt from Silachai.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Silachai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kang counters by clinching up.
Silachai wants to get back to striking at distance but Kang won't allow it.

Kang pulls guard successfully.
Kang pulls Silachai in close to his closed guard and prevents Silachai from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kang tries to strike from the bottom.
Kang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Silachai on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang is adopting a defensive guard.

Silachai stands and steps away. Kang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Silachai throws a nice head kick!
Kang avoids the head kick by Silachai.
Silachai throws a head kick but Kang moves out of range.
Kang throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Silachai's waist but Silachai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kang off to one side.
Silachai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silachai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silachai throws a combination that misses

and Kang counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Kang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kang scores with a takedown into Silachai's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kang is looking to work some ground and pound but Silachai has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kyung Yeon Kang will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Silachai misses with a straight right.
Sitichai Silachai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kang is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silachai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silachai throws a head kick but Kang moves out of range.
Kang attempts a counter takedown but Silachai avoids it well and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kang.
Silachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kang is looking to counter the offense by Silachai and move into the clinch.
Kang fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyung Yeon Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silachai misses with a head kick.
Silachai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kang.
Silachai lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kang gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kang missing with knees to the body.

Kang manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kang wants to stand up but Silachai is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang has his hands on Silachai's head, controlling the position.
Silachai wants to stand but Kang has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kang managing to control the position.
Silachai preventing the sweep.
Silachai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses.
Kang blocks a jab.
Kang tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silachai swivels and escapes.
Kang blocks a head kick by Silachai.
Kyung Yeon Kang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kang darts in and clinches Silachai up against the cage.

Kang has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Silachai clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Silachai turns into Kang and is now in his guard.

Kang has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silachai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kang doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Silachai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Silachai stands and steps away. Kang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kang avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kang digs a good hook to Silachai's body.

Kang moves into the clinch successfully.
Silachai wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Silachai tries to break free but Kang pushes him back against the cage.
Kang prevents Silachai from breaking the clinch.
Kang slows down the pace here.
Kang has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silachai avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silachai has had enough of the clinch but Kang keeps him there for the moment.
Kang pushes off an throws an elbow but Silachai leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kang prevents Silachai from breaking the clinch.
Silachai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kang.
Silachai being controlled against the cage.
Silachai is trying to push Kang away but Kang has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kang prevents Silachai from breaking the clinch.
Kang tries to pull guard but Silachai holds him up against the cage and eventually Kang drops back down to his feet.
Silachai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sitichai Silachai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kang bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Silachai misses with a double jab.
Kang drops down looking for a counter takedown but Silachai sprawls and moves away.
Silachai throws a sloppy head kick and Kang moves out of range easily.
Kang thinks about countering with a head kick.
Kang fails with a takedown attempt.
Kang fails to land the takedown.
Silachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Silachai. Those never looked like landing.

Kang drives through and clinches with Silachai against the cage.

Kang pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kang has Silachai pulled in close to control his posture.
Silachai trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kang's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang controlling Silachai's posture.
Kang's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Silachai would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sitichai Silachai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Silachai misses

and Kang counters by clinching up.

Silachai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kang gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silachai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kang is working for takedown but Silachai is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyung Yeon Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silachai wants to break free but Kang has control.
Silachai is trying to break the clinch but Kang is controlling him.

Kang has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Silachai uses from the top position.
Kang pulls Silachai in close to prevent any damage.
Silachai is looking to stand up but Kang won't let him.
Kang controls Silachai momentarily but Silachai frees himself.

Silachai got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kang has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Silachai has managed to get both his arms back between Kang's legs - danger averted.
Silachai tries to stand but Kang is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Silachai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kang blocks a head kick by Silachai.
Sitichai Silachai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from Silachai. No joy for Kang on that attempt.
Silachai throws a counter combo.
Kang is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silachai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
It looked like Kang wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kang lands with a nice body punch.
Silachai throws a head kick but Kang moves out of range.
Kang is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silachai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Silachai throws a combination that misses

and Kang holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Silachai wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silachai blocks a body shot from Kang.
Silachai is looking to break free of the clinch but Kang has double underhooks.

Kang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silachai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kang.
Nice sprawl there from Silachai as Kang shoots in.
Silachai throws a head kick that misses.
Silachai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kang gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Silachai is looking to break free of the clinch but Kang has double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silachai is trying to force a seperation but Kang has the dominant position.

Kang jumps guard and drags Silachai to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kang is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kang seems keen to control Silachai's posture.

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 Kyung Yeon Kang.
I think Kang 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!