PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Bocek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibe Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bocek comes to the cage accompanied by Song 2. Mark Bocek has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bocek
vs
Kong

176 cm
21
159 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

186 cm
25
166 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Bocek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ibe Kong!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bocek avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fighters circling - Kong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kong throws a body punch but Bocek moves out of range.
Bocek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kong but Kong pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ibe Kong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bocek was well out of range. Poor timing from Kong.
Kong throws a low kick, looking for Bocek's leg but Bocek calmly moves out of range.
Kong throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kong throws a hook to the side of Bocek's head but Bocek sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bocek looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kong is looking to control Bocek's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kong avoid being mounted?

Bocek seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocek wants to free his trapped foot but Kong is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bocek throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kong is pressing down on Bocek's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bocek passes Kong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bocek lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bocek working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bocek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kong keeps working.
Bocek wants to free his trapped foot but Kong is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kong is looking to control Bocek's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kong avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bocek with the ground and pound but Kong uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Bocek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bocek keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kong's head.
Kong has momentary wrist control but Bocek slips an elbow through the middle.
Bocek throws a big right hand that misses.
Kong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bocek postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bocek postures up in Kong's guard and throws a big left but Kong blocks it.
Bocek has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bocek lands a couple of elbows.
Kong looking for a sweep. Not yet Kong, not yet.
Bocek forces his way into half guard.
Bocek trying to control from Kong's half guard. Kong has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocek postures up in Kong's guard and throws a big left but Kong blocks it.
Bocek throws a big right hand that misses.
Bocek wants to pass the guard but Kong is keeping the position.
Bocek is pushing down on Kong's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kong is fighting to maintain full guard but Bocek has managed to sneak the leg through.
Bocek landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kong is looking for a sweep. Bocek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bocek lands a nice short elbow.
Kong makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kong.
Kong has momentary wrist control but Bocek slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong being controlled here, momentarily.
Bocek lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kong is rocked!
Bocek pushing down on Kong's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kong moves into full guard.
Bocek is looking to work some ground and pound but Kong has wrist control.
Bocek tries to free his leg and advance position but Kong is retaining full guard.
Kong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bocek postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kong looks gassed!
Bocek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Bocek dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kong.
Bocek moves out of range of the strikes.
Kong throws a jab but it's blocked by Bocek.
Kong misses with a two punch combination.

Bocek scores with a takedown into Kong's guard.
Kong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bocek controls the pace.
Kong keeping moving, preventing Bocek from controlling successfully.
Bocek throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bocek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocek with a nice head shot there.
Bocek wants to control from the top but Kong keeps moving.
Bocek throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kong throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Kong misses.
Kong scores with a hook to the body. Bocek takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kong throws a hook but Bocek blocks it.
Bocek misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kong lands a with a good body shot.

Bocek closes the distance and pushes Kong back into the cage.
Kong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kong swings wildly with an uppercut but Bocek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kong digs a right hand underneath Bocek's ribcage. Bocek let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Bocek gets control of Kong's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bocek will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kong being controlled here momentarily.
Bocek has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocek can't keep his opponent in guard - Kong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bocek regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kong.
Kong throwing strikes but missing.

Kong is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bocek is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bocek has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four 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.
Bocek passes Kong's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kong is looking to improve his position.
Kong wants to control but Bocek is keeping busy.
Bocek working the head and body with strikes.
Bocek throwing shots but Kong is blocking nicely.
Bocek throwing shots but Kong is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Bocek dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kong throws a series of punches but Bocek moves out of range.
Kong throws a hook but Bocek avoids it easily.
Bocek is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kong misses with a head kick.
Bocek shoots in for a takedown but Kong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kong misses with a takedown
and Bocek counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bocek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Bocek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kong fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bocek shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kong defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bocek slips under a jab.
Mark Bocek is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kong fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bocek sprawls well initially but Kong persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bocek is trying to stand.
Bocek gets full guard.
Bocek is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bocek wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bocek is looking to stand up but Kong isn't so interested in that idea.
Kong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bocek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kong trying to control but Bocek is working from the bottom.
Bocek can't keep his opponent in guard - Kong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bocek trying to control from the bottom.
Bocek keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bocek is holding on to half guard well.
Mark Bocek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bocek is refusing to be controlled, as Kong sits in half guard.
Kong throws a strike but Bocek avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
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.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kong thows a big elbow that misses.
Kong is looking to work some ground and pound but Bocek has wrist control.
Kong trying to control but Bocek is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kong cracks a nice hook into Bocek's ribs.
Kong throws a head kick that misses

and Bocek counters with a shoot takedown. Kong fights it but they end up in guard.

Kong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bocek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bocek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bocek passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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 Mark Bocek.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bocek, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Mark Bocek!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Mark Bocek!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Mark Bocek!

Mark Bocek wins by unanimous decision!