PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Will Hitem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kong Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hitem might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Trae - Inkredible Ft Lil Wayne & Rick Ross Instrumental . Kong Long has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Will Hitem's chin.

Hitem
vs
Long

200 cm
18
275 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Hitem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kong Long!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Long looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Long shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hitem sprawls well. Hitem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Long gets slowly back to his feet.
Long throws a jab but it's blocked by Hitem.
Hitem thuds his right hand into Long's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Kong Long has been cut.
Long misses with a double jab.
Long works over Hitem's head and body with a nice combination.
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!
Hitem falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hitem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Long has Hitem up against the cage in a clinch.
Hitem tries to pull guard but Long won't allow it.
Hitem tries to break the clinch but Long is controlling the position.
Hitem wants to break the clinch but can't.
Long lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hitem backwards.
Hitem wants to break free but Long has control.
Hitem tries to circle away but Long has him pinned against the cage.

Long manages to pull guard.
Hitem wants to stand but Long has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long has his feet on Hitem's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kong Long seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Long is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

A jab-cross combination lands for Long and sends Hitem crashing to the mat! Long follows him down to the mat - Hitem regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Hitem is rocked!

It looks like Will Hitem has been cut.
Hitem wants to get back to his feet.

Hitem pushes Long off and gets back to his feet.
Hitem is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hitem blocks a head kick by Long.
Hitem's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hitem duly obliges.
Hitem lands a slapping body shot.
Long throws a combination that misses
and Hitem counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Long moves into the clinch successfully.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Long throws a combination that misses
and Hitem counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hitem throws a left and a right that both miss
and Long counters with a straight right hand.
Long takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hitem throws a right and a left that Long avoids nicely.

Long fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hitem, pushing him back against the cage.
Long changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hitem fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Will Hitem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kong Long.
No joy there for Hitem, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Long misses with a double jab
and Hitem counters with a three punch combo that has Long backing up. Long nods at Hitem to acknowledge the strikes.
Hitem wants to clinch but Long slips to the side
and Long counters with a straight right hand.

Long takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Long manages to break the clinch.
Hitem throws a left and a right that both miss

and Long moves into the clinch.
Long will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hitem up against the cage.

Long breaks from the clinch.
Long throws a combination that misses
and Hitem counters with a nice body shot.

Long moves into the clinch.

Long pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hitem scores with a shot to the body.
Long throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hitem counters with a body kick.
A punch combination from Long misses.
A combination from Hitem does no damage.
Long looks to clinch
and Hitem counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Long tries to clinch but Hitem moves away
and Hitem counters with a three punch combo that has Long backing up. Long nods at Hitem to acknowledge the strikes.

That has opened up Kong Long's cut even more.

Hitem tries to keep at a distance but Long has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Long's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hitem avoids the head kick by Long.
Hitem works over Long's head and body with a nice combination.
Long tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hitem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Long throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hitem counters with a two punch combo.
Hitem is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hitem connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Long throws a combination that misses
and Hitem counters with a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from Hitem.
Long keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hitem looks to clinch

and Long holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Long lands a head kick. Hitem smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Long tries to clinch but Hitem is having none of it.
Long swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hitem counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kong Long dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hitem swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Long counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hitem's guard now.
Long sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hitem's guard.
Long stops Hitem from getting back to his feet.
Long is trying to control the action in half guard but Hitem is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Long controlling the action here.
Long trying to control the action but Hitem is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hitem wants to get back to his feet.
Long trying to control the action but Hitem is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Long is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Long wants to clinch but Hitem slips to the side
and Hitem counters with a left and a right that stings Long.
Long misses with a jab, cross combination.

Long forces Hitem back against the cage and clinches.
Long is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hitem has had enough of the clinch but Long keeps him there for the moment.
Long lands a hook to the side of the head.

Long's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Long will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Long takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Long lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hitem swats away the attempt to clinch by Long.
Hitem tries to clinch there but Long circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hitem fails to pull guard.
Long lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Long.
Long stalling the fight.
Long throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hitems head.

Long has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hitem regains guard immediately.
Long prevents Hitem from getting back to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Long. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hitem wants to get back to his feet but Long passes into half guard.
Long with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Long working over Hitem with some ground and pound. Hitem looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Long is trying to control. Hitem wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Long might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hitem kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Long scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

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.
Hitem stuffs the takedown attempt from Long. Long gets slowly back to his feet.
Hitem closes the distance looking to clinch

and Long counters by clinching up.
Long has a couple of punches blocked by Hitem.
Hitem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Long's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Long moves into range and clinches up with Hitem.
Long jumps guard but Hitem stands there with Long around his waist. Long gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Long has Hitem pressed against the cage, preventing Hitem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hitem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Long scores with a shoulder strike.
Long has Hitem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hitem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Will Hitem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kong Long.
Long scores with a knee to the head.
Hitem tries to break the clinch but Long is controlling the position.
Hitem is trying to break the clinch but Long is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kong Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Long uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hitem.
Will Hitem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hitem goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Long falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hitem counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Long tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hitem counters with a left and a right that stings Long.
Danga de danga de dang - Hitem scores with a four punch combination!
Long with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hitem connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Long misses with a double jab
enabling Hitem to counter with a crisp jab.
Long throws a right and a left that Hitem avoids nicely.
Hitem tries to clinch up.
Hitem misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Long closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Long breaks the clinch.
Long throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hitem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Long connects with a solid leg kick.

Long forces Hitem back against the cage and clinches.
Long fails to pull guard.

Long breaks from the clinch.
Hitem wants to slow Long down by chopping away at his legs.
Hitem misses with a combination
and Long counters with a one-two to the body.
Hitem throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Long's head.

Long clinches.
Hitem is trying to break free.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hitem stuffs the takedown.
Will Hitem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kong Long.
Long lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hitem circles away quickly and effectively.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hitem, as that shot connected.
Long misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long wants to clinch up but Hitem keeps it at a distance.
Long misses with a takedown attempt
and Hitem counters with a stiff right hand.
Hitem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Long pushes Hitem up against the cage in a clinch.
Long lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hitem backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hitem.
Long stalling the fight.

Hitem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hitem swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Long to counter with a crisp jab.
Hitem darts in trying to clinch

and Long counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Long.

Long pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hitem misses with a jab to the body
and Long counters with a left and a right that stings Hitem.
Hitem thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hitem counters by clinching up.
Long manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Long drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Hitem's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Long breaks the clinch.
Long steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hitem.
Long throws a right and a left that Hitem avoids nicely.
Long tries to clinch up but Hitem circles away and keeps his distance.
Kong Long is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Long lands with a cross.
Long fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hitem scores with a push kick.
Long looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Long misses.

That's four 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.
Long throws a combination that misses
and Hitem counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hitem throws a low kick, looking for Long's leg but Long calmly moves out of range.

Long shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hitem wants to get back to his feet but Long is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Long decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hitem, up you get!

Hitem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Long darts in and clinches Hitem up against the cage.
Will Hitem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Long scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hitem fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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 Will Hitem.
I think Long has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kong Long!