PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stelios Xenos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byeongsuk Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Choi Hong Man-Beauty and the Beast. Stelios Xenos could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Byeongsuk Kim's chin.

Xenos
vs
Kim

187 cm
23
194 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
195 lbs
17 - 9 - 3

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stelios Xenos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 3, fighting out of London, Byeongsuk Kim!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim throws a looping overhand right but Xenos ducks down to avoid it.
Kim's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Xenos connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kim scrambles back to his feet.
Xenos scores with a nice head shot.
Xenos connects with a leg kick. Kim looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kim connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Xenos tries to close the distance and clinch but Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kim bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Xenos's head backwards.

Kim looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kim not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Xenos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kim's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kim's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xenos doesn't have the hooks in and Kim manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kim landing with the ground and pound.
Xenos trying to keep a closed guard but Kim is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xenos is keeping the position for now.
Xenos can't keep his opponent in guard - Kim advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kim scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xenos controlling the position well.
Xenos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but Xenos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kim showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Xenos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Xenos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xenos managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stelios Xenos just wasn't active enough.
Xenos thows a body shot but no joy.
Stelios Xenos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Xenos connects with the punch.
Xenos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Xenos is looking to score with low kicks.
Kim avoids the head kick by Xenos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kim blocks a head kick by Xenos.
Kim doesn't manage to clinch there - Xenos circles away.
Xenos loads up on a big right hand but Kim slips the punch.
Kim blocks a head kick by Xenos.
Kim misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kim. Xenos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kim connects with a jab.
Xenos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kim moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kim attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Xenos throws a head kick that misses
and Kim counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kim throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Xenos's waist but Xenos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kim off to one side.
Xenos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Stelios Xenos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xenos throws a sloppy head kick
and Kim counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xenos misses the body punch
and Kim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kim is defended easily by Xenos.
Kim comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenos wants to clinch
letting Kim counter with a right hand.
Kim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Xenos was well out of range. Poor timing from Kim.
Kim takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Xenos looks to throw a body kick
and Kim counters with a low kick, right behind Xenos 's knee.
Xenos lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Kim there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Xenos jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim moves to clinch but Xenos breaks away
and Xenos makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Xenos chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A low kick from Xenos misses

and Kim decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Xenos's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xenos is keeping the position for now.
Xenos keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
Xenos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xenos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Xenos is trying to control the position but Kim postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xenos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kim is one step ahead there.
Kim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Xenos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kim.
Kim postures up in Xenos's guard and throws a big left but Xenos blocks it.
Kim postures up in Xenos's guard and throws a big left but Xenos blocks it.
Kim wants to pass the guard but Xenos is keeping the position.
Xenos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Xenos keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
Xenos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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 is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Xenos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Byeongsuk Kim.
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Xenos.
Kim darts in trying to clinch
and Xenos counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xenos throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kim counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byeongsuk Kim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A low kick from Xenos is predictable there
and Kim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kim misses with a jab to the body
and Xenos counters with a nice leg kick.
Xenos just misses with a punch to the body.
Xenos throws out a leg kick but Kim moves out of range and Xenos only half commits.
Xenos pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Xenos thows a body shot but no joy.
Xenos throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kim counters with a straight right hand.
A low kick from Xenos is predictable there
and Kim counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xenos blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xenos misses with a leg kick

and Kim counters by moving into the clinch.
Xenos cracks Kim with a nice body shot.
Xenos taking a breather.
Kim throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kim has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kim is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kim avoids a wild elbow strike from Xenos.

Kim gets control of Xenos's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kim will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kim is adopting a defensive guard.
Kim throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kim trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xenos trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Xenos wants to pass the guard but Kim is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xenos content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stelios Xenos wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Xenos throws a leg kick
and Kim counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Xenos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kim finds it's way round the side to connect with Xenos's head.
Xenos throws a lazy head kick
and Kim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim looks to land a combination. Xenos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kim catches Xenos napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Xenos to the canvas!

Xenos is rocked!
Xenos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kim not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Xenos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kim wants to pass the guard but Xenos is keeping the position.
Kim showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Byeongsuk Kim has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Xenos lands a slapping body shot.
Byeongsuk Kim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim throws a lazy uppercut
and Xenos counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kim takes one to the side of the head.
Xenos lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Xenos getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stelios Xenos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Xenos throws a low kick but Kim avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xenos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Byeongsuk Kim has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xenos cracks the inside of Kim's front leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byeongsuk Kim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kim has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

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