PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hyun Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samak Tiyapairat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is To the Top. Tiyapairat is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Ram Muay. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kim
vs
Tiyapairat

176 cm
23
160 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

174 cm
23
166 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hyun Kim!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samak Tiyapairat!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tiyapairat pushes Kim up against the cage in a clinch.
Tiyapairat throws a head punch that misses.
Kim being controlled against the cage.
Tiyapairat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kim is defending well for now.
Kim fails to pull guard.
Tiyapairat creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kim jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tiyapairat walks away with a smile on his face. Kim gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tiyapairat moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kim misses with a wild body shot.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch
and Kim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tiyapairat uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kim.
Kim shoots in but Tiyapairat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tiyapairat digs a good hook to Kim's body.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch but Kim is having none of it.
Tiyapairat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiyapairat throws a leg kick which misses Kim's front leg but catches the back leg as Kim tries to avoid it.

Tiyapairat takes the fight into the clinch.
Tiyapairat missing with knees to the body.

Kim pulls Tiyapairat into guard.

Kim looking for a guillotine here but Tiyapairat defends easily.
Kim has a closed guard, preventing Tiyapairat from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kim has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiyapairat can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kim is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tiyapairat is aware though and is defending well.
Kim looking to control.
Kim wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Tiyapairat is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kim looking for submissions off his back.

Kim looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kim actively working from the bottom here.

That's four 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.

Kim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiyapairat pulls his head out easily.
Kim trying to control but Tiyapairat postures up.

Kim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiyapairat pulls his head out easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Kim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiyapairat pulls his head out easily.

Tiyapairat postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kim to stand up.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tiyapairat!
Tiyapairat takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tiyapairat throws a low kick but Kim moves out of range easily.
Kim wants to slow Tiyapairat down by chopping away at his legs.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kim scores with a body shot.
Kim throws a hook but Tiyapairat blocks it.
Kim has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tiyapairat misses with a combination

and Kim counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim is trying to control the action in half guard but Tiyapairat is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kim trying to mount his opponent but Tiyapairat defends it.
Tiyapairat has hold of Kim's hands but Kim slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kim thows a huge punch but Tiyapairat dodges it nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tiyapairat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kim.
Kim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kim wants to take a breather but Tiyapairat is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tiyapairat can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kim looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kim trying to control the action but Tiyapairat is working from the bottom.
Tiyapairat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kim. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kim not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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. Kim connects with a nice short shot to Tiyapairat's temple.
Tiyapairat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kim.
Kim throwing shots but Tiyapairat is blocking nicely.
Tiyapairat is not content to let Kim control the position.
Kim is just content to waste time from the top position. Tiyapairat takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kim trying to control but Tiyapairat is working from the bottom.
Tiyapairat is looking to stand up but Kim isn't so interested in that idea.
Kim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kim looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiyapairat has closed the distance and engaged Kim in a clinch.
Kim blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kim tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tiyapairat just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kim tries to pull guard but Tiyapairat won't allow it.
Tiyapairat has Kim pressed against the cage.
Kim fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kim successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tiyapairat wanted to stand there but Kim had control of the position.

Kim is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tiyapairat defends well.

Kim is looking for a triangle but Tiyapairat pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kim is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tiyapairat defends well.

Kim looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim controls Tiyapairat momentarily but Tiyapairat frees himself.
Tiyapairat must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tiyapairat is looking to stand up but Kim won't let him.

Kim throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kim had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiyapairat defends it easily.
Kim controls Tiyapairat momentarily but Tiyapairat frees himself.

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.

Kim is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kim is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tiyapairat defends well.

Kim looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tiyapairat passes into side control.
Hyun Kim overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kim struggling a bit here.
Kim tries to bench press Tiyapairat off him but Tiyapairat keeps the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kim is trying to control Tiyapairat's posture but Tiyapairat avoids it.
Kim tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Tiyapairat easily slips into full mount!
Tiyapairat is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kim wants to control but Tiyapairat is having none of it.
Kim sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kim regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's eight 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.

Kim looking for a triangle here. Tiyapairat is fighting it but it looks tight! Kim pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Tiyapairat is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hyun Kim!
Hyun Kim retains his lightweight title!