PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malakai Rios (ranked 3420 p4p, 3718 weight class) and Jun Young Hong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rios
vs
Hong

175 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
148
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malakai Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jun Young Hong!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rios manages to avoid it.
Rios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rios.
Hong tries to clinch there but Rios circles away.

Rios closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rios lands in his opponent's guard.
Rios slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hong controlling the position.
Rios content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong can't keep his opponent in guard - Rios advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rios wants to take a breather but Hong is having none of it.
Rios passes to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Rios tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rios lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rios landing a few strikes.
Rios gets to mount! Hong was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hong is looking to get to half guard.
Rios content just to control the position here.
Rios throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hong working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hong is looking to escape.
Hong is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rios jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hong is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hong and Rios has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rios trying to control the position but Hong is working away.
Hong gets back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Rios there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hong is defending against the submission attempts here by Rios.
Rios is looking to take a break and control but Hong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malakai Rios dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rios tries to close the distance and clinch but Hong swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rios tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hong swivels and escapes.
Hong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rios.
Rios tries a head kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hong. Rios does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rios circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rios is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hong can do to turn this around?
Rios tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios is looking to clinch.
Hong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rios as he avoids it easily.

Rios gets caught flat footed, as Hong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rios throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong throws a strike but Rios rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hong keeping moving, preventing Rios from controlling successfully.
Hong wants to sweep here but Rios controlling him for the moment.
Rios wants to control from the top but Hong keeps moving.
Rios stays in close to Hong's body and controls the position.

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.
Rios trying to control but Hong is working from the bottom.
Hong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rios has hold of Hong's hands but Hong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rios's head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hong connects with a nice short shot to Rios's temple.
Rios is trying to stand up here but Hong is controlling him well.

Rios has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hong is on him like a limpet, forcing Rios back against the cage.
Hong wants to take the fight to the mat but Rios manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rios stops a takedown attempt from Hong.
Malakai Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jun Young Hong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios prevents the takedown attempt.
Hong is breathing heavily.
Hong has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rios is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rios prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rios pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rios.
And Hong tries to counter it with a takedown but Rios pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Malakai Rios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rios misses with a head kick.
Rios looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rios shoots in for a takedown but Hong shows good takedown defense.
Rios throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hong counters by moving into the clinch.
Hong is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rios pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rios stops a takedown attempt from Hong.

Hong manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rios wants to pass the guard but Hong is keeping the position.
Rios wants to control from the top but Hong keeps moving.
Hong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rios controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hong keeping moving, preventing Rios from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jun Young Hong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rios shoots in looking for a takedown. Hong tries to sprawl out of it but Rios keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rios clinches up against the cage.
Hong wants a takedown.
Rios prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hong is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rios pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Malakai Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jun Young Hong.

Rios pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rios throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hong's waist but Hong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rios off to one side.
Hong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rios has a takedown stuffed.
Hong with the counter takedown but Rios avoids it easily.
Hong pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rios back to the cage. Hong follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Rios plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rios goes for a double leg but Hong avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hong continues to drive forward.
Hong tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rios smiles and moves away.
Hong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rios throws a leg kick

and Hong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rios is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Hong presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Rios prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rios manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Hong misses
and Rios counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rios throws a body kick that misses.
Hong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hong. Rios does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rios fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Hong tries to counter it with a takedown but Rios pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hong scores with a head kick. Rios tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
No joy there for Rios, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hong is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rios rather than just go for the knockout.
Rios tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios looking to score a takedown here. Hong is defending well but Rios drives through and ends up in Hong's guard.
Rios tries to free his leg and advance position but Hong is retaining full guard.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Hong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rios scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rios controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Hong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rios decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hong, up you get!
Jun Young Hong seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Hong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rios gets underhooks to prevent Hong's takedown attempt.
Hong is trying to pull guard but Rios has him pressed against the cage.
Rios's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Hong gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rios has his feet on Hong's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rios shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hong pinned against the cage. Hong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malakai Rios showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rios 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malakai Rios!