PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Apophis Kalmisto (ranked 23142 p4p, 23160 weight class) and Akara Kongsangchai (ranked 498 p4p, 523 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kalmisto
vs
Kongsangchai

175 cm
25
143
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
24
155
2 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

FF Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Apophis Kalmisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Akara Kongsangchai!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kongsangchai clinches with his opponent.
Kongsangchai landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kalmisto misses with a punch on the inside.
Kongsangchai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kalmisto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kongsangchai swings wildly with an uppercut but Kalmisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kalmisto blocking some punches.
Kongsangchai misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto lands an uppercut.
Kongsangchai lands a hook that snaps the head of Kalmisto backwards.
Kalmisto scores with a nice hook to the head.

Kalmisto breaks the clinch.
Kongsangchai takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kongsangchai throws a sloppy head kick and Kalmisto moves out of range easily.

Kongsangchai lands a left and a right that send Kalmisto crashing to the mat, dazed. Kongsangchai thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Apophis Kalmisto has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalmisto cracks Kongsangchai with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kongsangchai tries a head kick but it misses.

Kongsangchai rushes Kalmisto and presses him up against the cage.
Kongsangchai swings wildly with an uppercut but Kalmisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kongsangchai lands a nice uppercut.
Kongsangchai blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongsangchai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kongsangchai lands with a left to the head.
Kalmisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kalmisto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai blocking some punches.
I was talking to Kalmisto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kongsangchai lands an elbow inside.
Kalmisto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kalmisto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Kalmisto breaks from the clinch.
Kalmisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kalmisto takes a swing at Kongsangchai's ribcage but misses.
Kongsangchai misses with a left hand
and Kalmisto counters with an inside leg kick.
Kongsangchai moves in looking to clinch but Kalmisto pushes him off.
Kongsangchai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kongsangchai keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Kalmisto.
Good leg kick by Kalmisto.
Kalmisto swings for the body but Kongsangchai moves out of range.
Kalmisto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Akara Kongsangchai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kongsangchai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalmisto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kongsangchai throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kalmisto sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kalmisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalmisto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kongsangchai takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice defenses there by Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai throws a counter combo.
A swing and a miss from Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto scores with a nice body kick.
Kalmisto connects with the punch.
A head kick from Kalmisto lands but Kongsangchai takes it in his stride.

Kongsangchai is rocked!

Kongsangchai forces Kalmisto back against the cage and clinches.
Kongsangchai is still on wobbly legs! Can Kalmisto finish him?
Still in the clinch, Kongsangchai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kongsangchai seems to have recovered his senses.
Kongsangchai lands with a short shot to the head.
Kongsangchai throws a head punch that misses.
Kongsangchai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kongsangchai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kongsangchai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kongsangchai prevents a body shot from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kongsangchai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongsangchai dodges an elbow strike from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai lands a body shot.
A short uppercut from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Kalmisto.
A short right from Kalmisto on the inside.
Kongsangchai misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kalmisto.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto pushes Kongsangchai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Kalmisto breaks the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai scores with a one two! Kalmisto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kalmisto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kongsangchai throws the left hand but Kalmisto avoids the punch easily.
Kalmisto lands with a shot to the body.
Kalmisto scoring well with a low kick there.
Kalmisto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Akara Kongsangchai has been cut.
Kongsangchai doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalmisto circles away.
Kalmisto throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Kongsangchai misses the target.
Kongsangchai fails to land with a series of punches.
Kongsangchai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kalmisto circles away quickly and effectively.
Kalmisto throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kongsangchai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kalmisto cracks Kongsangchai with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kalmisto slips a straight right by Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kalmisto lands with a straight right. Kongsangchai didn't see that one coming.
The fighters circling - Kongsangchai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kongsangchai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fighters circling - Kongsangchai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kongsangchai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kalmisto circles away quickly and effectively.
Kongsangchai might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongsangchai misses with a right hand
and Kalmisto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kongsangchai misses with a hook.
Kongsangchai wants to clinch
and Kalmisto counters with a nice uppercut.
Kalmisto connects with a nice looking jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Akara Kongsangchai will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kalmisto throws a head kick but Kongsangchai moves out of range.
Good exchange - Kalmisto coming out on top.
Apophis Kalmisto is winning the standup battle so far.
Kongsangchai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kalmisto lands with a hook. Kongsangchai tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kongsangchai misses with a wild combination.
Kalmisto walks into a left hand.
Kalmisto 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.
Kongsangchai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kalmisto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kongsangchai checks a low kick from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kalmisto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kongsangchai slips a jab and a cross from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kongsangchai tries to clinch but Kalmisto moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kongsangchai misses with the combination.
Kongsangchai tries to clinch but Kalmisto is having none of it.
Kalmisto misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalmisto throws a jab but it's blocked by Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kalmisto throws a right hand that Kongsangchai ducks under and follows up with a left that Kongsangchai also avoids with ease.

Kongsangchai darts in and clinches Kalmisto up against the cage.

Kalmisto manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Kalmisto.

Kongsangchai has closed the distance and engaged Kalmisto in a clinch.
Kongsangchai takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kalmisto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kalmisto blocks an uppercut.
Kalmisto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kalmisto swings wildly with an uppercut but Kongsangchai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kalmisto misses with some punches.
Kalmisto tries to work over Kongsangchai's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto tries a body shot but Kongsangchai blocks it.
Kalmisto working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kalmisto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kongsangchai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kalmisto's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai has a couple of punches blocked by Kalmisto.
Kalmisto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kalmisto scores with a shoulder strike.
Kongsangchai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kalmisto blocks an uppercut.

Kalmisto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kongsangchai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kalmisto connects with an inside leg kick.
Kalmisto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kongsangchai finds it's way round the side to connect with Kalmisto's head.

Kongsangchai closes the distance and clinches.
Kongsangchai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kongsangchai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kalmisto.
A short right from Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kalmisto seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kongsangchai can turn it around.
Nice body punch from Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kalmisto takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kalmisto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kongsangchai has a couple of punches blocked by Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kalmisto digs a right hand into Kongsangchai's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kongsangchai's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongsangchai tries to work over Kalmisto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kalmisto lands an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kalmisto.
Kalmisto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kalmisto misses with the head strike.
Kalmisto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kalmisto throws a punch but it's blocked by Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai throws a head punch that misses.
Kongsangchai misses with an elbow strike.
Kongsangchai pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kalmisto misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kalmisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai throws a punch but it's blocked by Kalmisto.
Kalmisto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kalmisto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kongsangchai lands a nice shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short left from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto blocks an uppercut.
Kongsangchai working aggressively here.
Kalmisto pushes Kongsangchai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kalmisto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kongsangchai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kalmisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kongsangchai's defenses.
Kongsangchai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kongsangchai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kalmisto throws a punch but it's blocked by Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai misses with some punches.
Kalmisto swings wildly with an uppercut but Kongsangchai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kongsangchai has a couple of punches blocked by Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai lands with a left to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kongsangchai lands an uppercut.
Kongsangchai prevents a body shot from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai prevents Kalmisto from breaking the clinch.
Kongsangchai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kongsangchai misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Apophis Kalmisto will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kongsangchai misses with an uppercut.
Kalmisto throws a jab when Kongsangchai was well out of range.
Kongsangchai on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kongsangchai throws a leg kick but Kalmisto checks it.
Kalmisto swats away the attempt to clinch by Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kalmisto blocks a jab.
Kongsangchai misses with a wild body shot.
Kalmisto scores with a nice head shot.
Kalmisto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kongsangchai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kalmisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch but Kalmisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalmisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kalmisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalmisto throws a big counter combination but Kongsangchai scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kongsangchai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kongsangchai missing with a left hand there. Kalmisto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kongsangchai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kongsangchai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kalmisto quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalmisto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kalmisto scores with a head kick. Kongsangchai tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kongsangchai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch but Kalmisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalmisto is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kongsangchai falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kalmisto makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kongsangchai really felt that one!
Kongsangchai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kalmisto moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kalmisto throws the kick towards the body but Kongsangchai avoids it.
Kalmisto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kongsangchai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kongsangchai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kalmisto scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kalmisto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalmisto appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Kongsangchai drives through and clinches with Kalmisto against the cage.
Kalmisto lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Kongsangchai clinches up against the cage.
Kongsangchai throws a punch but it's blocked by Kalmisto.
A short uppercut from Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongsangchai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kongsangchai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kalmisto blocks it with crossed arms.
Kalmisto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Akara Kongsangchai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kongsangchai cracks Kalmisto with a nice body shot.
Kalmisto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kongsangchai backwards.
Kalmisto pushes Kongsangchai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kongsangchai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kalmisto makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kalmisto blocks an elbow strike.
Kalmisto tries a knee to the head but Kongsangchai blocks it.
Kongsangchai swings wildly with an uppercut but Kalmisto uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kongsangchai.
Kongsangchai misses with a knee strike.
Kalmisto tries to land knees in the clinch but Kongsangchai avoids the damage to the body.
Kongsangchai struggles to land a body shot inside as Kalmisto controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kalmisto.
Kalmisto blocks an uppercut.
Kongsangchai managing to block the knees to the body from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongsangchai misses with an elbow strike.
Kalmisto lands an elbow inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kalmisto fails to land.

Kalmisto breaks from the clinch.
Kalmisto misses with an uppercut.
Kongsangchai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kalmisto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Kalmisto.
Kongsangchai throws a head kick that misses.
Kalmisto connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kongsangchai. Kongsangchai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kongsangchai is looking to clinch but Kalmisto is avoiding it.
Kalmisto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kalmisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kongsangchai.
Kalmisto connects with an inside leg kick.
Kalmisto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kongsangchai clinches with his opponent.
Kongsangchai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kongsangchai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kalmisto is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalmisto trying to land knees to the body.
Kalmisto working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalmisto pushes off an throws an elbow but Kongsangchai leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kongsangchai works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kongsangchai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kalmisto throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kalmisto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kongsangchai has a couple of punches blocked by Kalmisto.
Kalmisto takes a shot to the head.
Kongsangchai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kalmisto misses with the head strike.
Kongsangchai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kalmisto scores with a nice hook to the head.
Still in the clinch, Kalmisto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kongsangchai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kongsangchai lands with a left to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kalmisto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kongsangchai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right from Kalmisto.
Kalmisto lands a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Apophis Kalmisto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kalmisto 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apophis Kalmisto!
During a confident post fight interview, Apophis Kalmisto thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.