PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Byeongsuk Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Van Candy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim comes into the arena with Choi Hong Man-Beauty and the Beast blaring out of the sound system. Candy is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: To Catch a Predator. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kim
vs
Candy

190 cm
24
195 lbs
15 - 7 - 3

178 cm
25
195 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 15 - 7 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Byeongsuk Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Van Candy!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Candy shoots in but no luck this time.
Kim throws a leg kick but Candy sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Candy.
Kim swings for the body but Candy moves out of range.
Candy throws a body kick that misses.
Decent striking displayed by Kim there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kim.
The crowd cheers as Kim lands an impressive looking overhand right. Candy doesn't seem phased though.
Kim misses with a looping right.
Kim scores with a body shot.
Good exchange - Kim coming out on top.
Kim moves out of range of the body kick from Candy.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kim, as that shot connected.
Candy defending well as Kim loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot by Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Candy defending well as Kim loads up on a big left hand.
Candy on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kim throws a body punch but Candy moves out of range.
Kim is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kim just misses with a punch to the body.

Candy shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Candy showed some decent athleticism there.
Candy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Candy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.
Candy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Candy working the head and body with strikes.

Candy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Candy wants to pass the guard but Kim is defending well.

Candy is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Candy not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Candy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Candy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kim knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Candy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.
Candy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Candy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Candy passes to side control.

Candy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kim is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Candy working the ground and pound but Kim is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Candy tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kim's legs.
Candy working the head with strikes.
Candy tries to advance to mount but can't.
Candy misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim tries to buck Candy off but Candy is having none of it.
Kim takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kim takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Candy wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kim, who protects the arm well.

Candy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kim is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Van Candy will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Candy is looking to score with low kicks.
Candy is looking to score with low kicks.
Candy throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kim blocks a head kick by Candy.
Candy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kim was well out of range. Poor timing from Candy.
Kim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kim is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Candy.
Candy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Candy throws a body kick that misses.
Kim misses with a low kick.

Candy drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kim trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Candy from controlling successfully.
Kim keeping full guard, as Candy tries to pass.
Kim is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Candy is controlling him.
Candy postures up and lands a big shot to Kim's brow.
Candy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two 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.
Candy wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Candy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kim's guard.
Candy trying to control the action but Kim is working from the bottom.
Candy stalling away here and it's allowed Kim to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Candy won't allow Kim to sweep him here.

Candy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Candy wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Candy trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Candy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Candy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Candy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four 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.

Candy is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kim looking to control but Candy passes into half guard.

Candy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Candy.

Candy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kim doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Candy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Candy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Candy throws a body kick that misses.
Candy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Candy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kim.
Candy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kim takes a swing at Candy's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kim comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Candy tries to land a front kick but Kim steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Candy defending well as Kim loads up on a big left hand.
Candy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kim. Kim obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Candy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kim throws out a loose jab but Candy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Candy ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Byeongsuk Kim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kim lands with a shot to the body.
Kim lands an overhand right.
Kim scores with a jab to the body.
Kim fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kim throws a shot to the body.
Kim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Candy moves away.
Kim scores with a nice right hand.

Kim moves into the clinch.
Kim working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Candy has Kim pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kim manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Candy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Candy misses with an elbow over the top.
Candy changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kim fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Byeongsuk Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Candy. That did some damage!
Candy shoots in looking for a takedown but Kim manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Candy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Byeongsuk Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Candy.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kim.
Kim tests Candy's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kim pushes Candy up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kim misses with a punch on the inside.
Candy is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short left from Kim.
Kim misses with a punch on the inside.
Candy fails to pull guard.
Kim taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Kim fails to land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kim misses with some punches.
Kim digs a right hand into Candy's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Candy's gas tank.
Kim throws a head punch that misses.
Candy tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kim smiles and moves away.
Candy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kim's waist but Kim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Candy off to one side.
Kim fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kim throws out a loose jab but Candy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kim tries to land a leg kick but Candy saw it coming and moves away.
Kim shoots in but Candy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kim throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Candy on the side of the head.
Candy throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim swinging wildly here.
Candy keeps the fight on the outside.
Candy walks into a stiff left hand from Kim.
Candy looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fighters circling - Kim throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kim misses with a wild combination.
Kim checks a leg kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot to the body from Kim misses
and Candy counters with an inside leg kick.
Candy chopping away at his opponent's legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byeongsuk Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Candy 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Candy!