PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Liam McKnight (ranked 3058 p4p, 354 weight class) and Stefan De Jong (ranked 3404 p4p, 379 weight class). The key to victory for Liam McKnight has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

McKnight
vs
De Jong

188 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
189 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam McKnight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan De Jong!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Jong tries to clinch up.
De Jong shoots in for a double leg but McKnight sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McKnight throws a combination that misses

and De Jong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McKnight wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and De Jong manages to pass to side control.

De Jong trying to control from half guard but McKnight is working away.
McKnight is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Jong stalling.

De Jong is trying to work for a kimura but McKnight is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKnight wants to get back to full guard.
McKnight knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for De Jong on the ground.
McKnight looks like he's trying to stand up.
De Jong slows the pace down in half guard.
McKnight is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Tycoon Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
De Jong is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
De Jong is looking to take a break and control but McKnight is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
De Jong stops McKnight from getting back to his feet.

De Jong is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

De Jong is trying to work for a kimura but McKnight is defending well.
De Jong seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
De Jong is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McKnight wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McKnight tries a head kick but it misses.

McKnight takes the fight into the clinch.

McKnight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
De Jong avoids the head kick by McKnight.

De Jong shoots in and gets a takedown into McKnight's guard.
De Jong is standing up over McKnight. McKnight looks to escape but De Jong dives into side control.

McKnight pushes De Jong away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, De Jong gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
De Jong taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKnight is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
De Jong working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
De Jong staying calm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Jong wants to stand but McKnight is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan De Jong dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McKnight doesn't manage to clinch there - De Jong circles away.
Liam McKnight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McKnight throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
McKnight misses with a head kick.
De Jong feints the counter takedown.
McKnight fails with an attempt to clinch.
De Jong misses with a few strikes there.
McKnight gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and De Jong counters with a single leg into guard. McKnight didn't expect that.
De Jong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McKnight looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Jong is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKnight keeping moving, preventing De Jong from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKnight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from De Jong.
De Jong tries to free his leg and advance position but McKnight is retaining full guard.
De Jong is standing up over McKnight. McKnight looks to escape but De Jong dives into side control.
Stefan De Jong has got the better of the ground game so far.
De Jong has knee on belly and moves into mount.
McKnight is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
De Jong looking to finish McKnight with some ground and pound. This is bad for McKnight!
McKnight is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
De Jong is looking to stand but McKnight has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKnight is in a horrible position here. De Jong smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McKnight is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
De Jong punishing his opponent with strikes.
De Jong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
De Jong has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McKnight's face.
De Jong wants to get back to his feet but McKnight is holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKnight is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Jong dominating with strikes here.
McKnight is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
De Jong unloading with bombs!

De Jong looking for a guillotine from mount but McKnight is having none of it.
McKnight tries to buck De Jong off but he can't manage it.
A nice elbow there by De Jong.
De Jong controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Jong lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
De Jong controlling the position easily from mount.

De Jong is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But McKnight has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from McKnight!
De Jong controls McKnight momentarily but McKnight frees himself.
De Jong lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan De Jong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McKnight throws a head kick that misses

and De Jong counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by De Jong.
De Jong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
De Jong slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McKnight is looking for a sweep.
De Jong moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
De Jong throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Jong is looking to take a break and control but McKnight is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKnight is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but De Jong has just dragged him back down to the mat.
De Jong landing a few strikes.
You can see the frustration on McKnight's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
De Jong tries to stand but McKnight is controlling his head.
A control attempt from McKnight but he's now mounted!

De Jong is going oldschool here, as he tries to force McKnight to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so McKnight shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Jong trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McKnight squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
De Jong lands a heavy elbow.
McKnight regains half guard.
McKnight is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. De Jong lands a nice short elbow.
De Jong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McKnight's head.
We've been informed that De Jong has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKnight is staying active underneath De Jong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
De Jong seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
De Jong working over McKnight with some ground and pound. McKnight looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

McKnight kicks off De Jong and gets to his feet.
A punch combination from De Jong misses.
McKnight throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and De Jong counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

McKnight has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but De Jong is on him like a limpet, forcing McKnight back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Jong can't get the takedown.
De Jong tries to break the clinch but McKnight is controlling the position.
De Jong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Jong breaks from the clinch.
De Jong fails with a takedown attempt.
McKnight throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Liam McKnight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McKnight stuffs the takedown attempt from De Jong. De Jong gets slowly back to his feet.
Liam McKnight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefan De Jong.
McKnight goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
McKnight throws a head kick but De Jong moves out of range.
Stefan De Jong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A low kick from McKnight misses

and De Jong counters with a shoot takedown. McKnight fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Stefan De Jong.
I've got De Jong winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan De Jong!
Stefan De Jong decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.