PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sung Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan LaVelle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kim
vs
LaVelle

180 cm
25
188 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sung Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nathan LaVelle!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaVelle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kim stuffs the takedown attempt from LaVelle. LaVelle gets slowly back to his feet.
Kim tries a head kick but it misses.
Kim tries a head kick but it misses.
LaVelle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

LaVelle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kim to score an easy takedown into full guard.

LaVelle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kim doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kim manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
LaVelle wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LaVelle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

LaVelle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kim decides to take the fight back to the feet.
LaVelle fails with the takedown
letting Kim counter with a right hand.
Sung Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan LaVelle.
LaVelle looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim misses with a jab, cross combination.

LaVelle gets caught flat footed, as Kim shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kim sitting in guard, not really doing much.
LaVelle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Kim looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
LaVelle had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kim is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. LaVelle Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kim's back instead.
Kim manages to reverse the position and now he's in LaVelle's guard. Nice work there by Kim.
LaVelle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kim with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
LaVelle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kim wants to control from the top but LaVelle keeps moving.
Kim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kim has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
LaVelle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kim counters with a nice double leg into side control. LaVelle won't be happy with that.

Kim decides to stand up, so the ref orders LaVelle to his feet.
Kim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sung Kim dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kim pushes LaVelle up against the cage in a clinch.

Kim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
LaVelle with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kim counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kim lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Nathan LaVelle has been cut.

Kim closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kim lands in his opponent's guard.

LaVelle is working an open guard so Kim takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
LaVelle steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kim. That one must have hurt.

Kim shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kim is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so LaVelle is just riding it out for now. Kim eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaVelle is looking to improve his position.
Kim wants to free his trapped foot but LaVelle is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
LaVelle is looking to improve his position.
Kim trying to control from half guard but LaVelle is working away.

Kim is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kim passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for LaVelle!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Kim connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Kim goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now LaVelle is on top in guard.
LaVelle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
LaVelle passes easily into side control. Nice work.

LaVelle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kim knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kim wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sung Kim dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathan LaVelle's cut.
That's time! Kim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Donk. Kim catches LaVelle right on the button with a cross.
Kim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but LaVelle was well out of range. Poor timing from Kim.
Kim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim fails to land with a series of punches.
LaVelle checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by LaVelle.
LaVelle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kim counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kim punishes LaVelle's body with a nice straight punch.
Kim fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sung Kim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kim closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
LaVelle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
LaVelle can't get the takedown.
Still in the clinch, Kim scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kim working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Kim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Kim does no damage.
LaVelle throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kim counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kim wants to clinch.

Kim gets a clinch.
LaVelle wants a takedown.
Sung Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan LaVelle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Kim - that landed with a thud.

Kim's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut there from Kim.
LaVelle has his takedown stuffed
and Kim counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. LaVelle is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nice uppercut lands for Kim. That snapped LaVelle's head back.
Kim scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

LaVelle is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim scoring well with a low kick there.

Kim rushes LaVelle and presses him up against the cage.

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

Kim shoots in and bounces LaVelle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but LaVelle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nathan LaVelle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim advances position into side control!
Kim taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kim stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Sung Kim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
LaVelle showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kim.

Kim looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sung Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kim has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sung Kim!