PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cheick Kongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hades Hug (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hug is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Animal I Have Become . 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.

Kongo
vs
Hug

193 cm
30
240 lbs
21 - 2 - 0

207 cm
23
285 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cheick Kongo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hades Hug!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hug throws a leg kick
and Kongo counters with a low kick, right behind Hug 's knee.
That kick from Hug tenderised Kongo's leg. Kongo is trying to keep his angry face on.
A slow jab from Kongo misses its intended target.
Hug bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hug slips a jab from Kongo.
Hug defending well as Kongo loads up on a big left hand.
Good leg kick by Kongo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kongo cracks the inside of Hug's front leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hug blocks a low kick nicely.
Hug is looking to score with low kicks.
Hug tries to land a body kick
enabling Kongo to counter with a crisp jab.
Donk. Kongo catches Hug right on the button with a cross.
Kongo throws out a leg kick but Hug moves out of range and Kongo only half commits.
Hug throws a jab when Kongo was well out of range.
Kongo throws a sloppy body shot
and Hug counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hug fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kongo is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo throws a push kick but Hug slaps the foot to one side.
A big left from Hug misses.
Hug jabs Kongo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hug has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kongo finds it's way round the side to connect with Hug's head.
Hug goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kongo takes one on the button.
Hug is looking to clinch.
Kongo throws a leg kick but Hug moved away.
A good leg kick by Hug.
Hug scoring well with a low kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hug misses the shot to the body.
Hug lands with a cross.
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kongo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hug throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hug staying out of range there.
Hug scores with a body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Hug. Kongo shrugs it off though.
Hug avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Kongo misses.
Hug keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kongo.
Kongo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kongo tries to land a leg kick but Hug saw it coming and moves away.
Hug looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kongo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kongo misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo looks to score with a jab to the body but Hug is just out of range.
Cheick Kongo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hug tries a head kick but it misses.
Kongo throws a head kick but Hug moves out of range.
Kongo walks into a jab.

It looks like Cheick Kongo has been cut.
Hug scores with a jab.
Hug turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hug tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kongo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kongo throws a right hand that misses
and Hug counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kongo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hug connects with a solid leg kick.
Hug has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kongo is breathing heavily.
Hug jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kongo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kongo throws a body punch but Hug moves out of range.
Kongo drops his hands momentarily and Hug takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hug ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kongo moves away.
Hug stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kongo.
Hug stuns Kongo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hug lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kongo at a distance.
Hug is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kongo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Hug cracks Kongo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hug throws a head kick that half lands.
Hug lands a nice shot to the body.
Hug shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Hug has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kongo working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongo throws a head punch that misses.
Kongo blocks a body shot from Hug.
Kongo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hades Hug dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Decent striking displayed by Hug there.
Hug walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kongo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kongo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hug.
Hug throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kongo on the side of the head.
Kongo moves out of range of the leg kick from Hug.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.
Hades Hug seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kongo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kongo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kongo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kongo misses the body punch
and Hug counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kongo lands a high kick!
Hug is looking to clinch but Kongo is avoiding it.
A telegraphed right hand from Hug misses the target.
Hug cracks the inside of Kongo's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hug missing with a left hand there. Kongo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hug throws a leg kick but Kongo moved away.
Kongo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kongo throws a head kick but Hug moves out of range.
Hug connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hug lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kongo needs to keep his hands up - Hug had a free shot at his head there.
Hug swings for the body but Kongo moves out of range.
Kongo checks a leg kick.
Kongo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kongo misses with a leg kick.
Kongo throws a lazy body kick

and Hug counters by clinching up.
Kongo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kongo misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hug misses with a punch to the body.
Kongo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hug's elbow.
Hug has Kongo pressed against the cage, preventing Kongo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hug goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hug lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kongo swings wildly with an uppercut but Hug uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hug blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hug lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kongo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hug works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kongo.
Hug throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hug.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hug tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hug goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kongo struggles to land a body shot inside as Hug controls his hands.
Hug is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kongo is keeping busy.
Hug lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kongo missing with knees to the body.
Hug tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Hug as the two fighters clinch.
Kongo blocks a body shot from Hug.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kongo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hug scores with a shot to the side of Kongo's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kongo struggles to land a body shot inside as Hug controls his hands.
Hug dodges an elbow strike from Kongo.
Hug misses with some punches.
Hug tries to work over Kongo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kongo is trying to break free.
Hug swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hades Hug seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hug lands a shoulder strike.
Kongo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hug backwards.
Kongo tries a body shot but Hug blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongo tries a body shot but Hug blocks it.
Kongo can't find room to land a body shot as Hug controls the action.
Hug misses with a punch to the body.
Kongo prevents a body shot from Hug.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hades Hug showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
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.

Kongo throws a push kick but Hug slaps the foot to one side.
Kongo misses with a straight left.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.
Good work by Kongo as he checks the leg kick.
A punch combination from Hug misses.
Hug walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kongo.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.
Hug misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kongo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kongo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kongo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hug lands with a kick to the temple. Kongo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hug takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hug misses with a looping left.
Kongo throws a solid leg kick but Hug takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kongo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo avoids the head kick by Hug.
Kongo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hug looks to land a left hand but Kongo moved out of range nicely.
Hug tries to clinch but Kongo is having none of it.
Hug has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kongo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hug.
Hug on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kongo. Kongo obviously looking to wear him down.
Hug moves forwards but Kongo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hug stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kongo.
Kongo throws a solid leg kick but Hug takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kongo.
Hug takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A swing and a miss from Kongo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kongo. Hug does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Hug.

Hug moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kongo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A good leg kick by Kongo.
Kongo throws a wild body kick that Hug sees coming a mile off.
Kongo throws a hook but Hug avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kongo.
Hug is looking to chop away at Kongo's legs.
Kongo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kongo throws a jab when Hug was well out of range.
Hug scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hug lands a leg kick that knocks Kongo off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hug misses with a low kick.
Kongo lands a high kick!
Kongo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kongo tries to land a leg kick but Hug saw it coming and moves away.
Hug throws a body kick that misses.
Kongo moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kongo throws a leg kick which misses Hug's front leg but catches the back leg as Hug tries to avoid it.
Kongo throws a body punch but Hug moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kongo. That's going to slow Hug down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kongo scores with a body shot.
Kongo tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo fails to land with a series of punches.
Kongo takes a swing at Hug's ribcage but misses.
Hug tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hug throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hug scores with a nice head shot.
Kongo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kongo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hug on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kongo. Kongo obviously looking to wear him down.
Hug throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kongo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hug scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hug checks a leg kick.
Hug is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hug tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kongo was well out of range. Poor timing from Hug.
A swing and a miss from Hug.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheick Kongo clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kongo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kongo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hug.
Hug looks to land a right hand but Kongo moved out of range.
Hug uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kongo.
Kongo throws a solid leg kick but Hug takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kongo.
Kongo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hug throws out the jab.
Hug connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kongo throws a leg kick
and Hug counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A bone on bone clash there as Hug blocks the leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kongo.
Hug is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Hug throws a leg kick but Kongo checks it.
Kongo throws a wild body kick that Hug sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hug.
Kongo scores with a kick to the midsection.
A leg kick checked by Kongo.
Kongo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kongo is looking to score with low kicks.
Hug blocks a head kick by Kongo.
Kongo connects with a body shot.
Nice cross by Kongo.
Kongo scores with a leg kick.
Hug walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by Kongo. That's going to slow Hug down.
Kongo tries a head kick but it misses.
Kongo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo feints and then cracks Hug's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hug down.
Kongo misses with a looping right.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.
Kongo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kongo connects with a leg kick. Hug looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kongo scores with a push kick.
Kongo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kongo throws a shot from downtown. Hug moves away and avoids it.
Kongo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hug checks a low kick from Kongo.
Hug thumps Kongo with a low kick.
Hug checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo thows a leg kick but Hug checks it
and Hug counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hug misses with a hook
and Kongo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hug thinking.
Hug defending well as Kongo loads up on a big left hand.
Hug throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kongo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kongo misses with a body kick.
Kongo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hug misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kongo missing with a left hand there. Hug was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kongo throws a head kick but Hug moves out of range.
Hug blocks a low kick nicely.
Kongo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hug manages to avoid it.
Hug misses with a leg kick.
Kongo looks to land a body kick but Hug moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hug avoids the body shot from Kongo.
Hug throws a sloppy head kick and Kongo moves out of range easily.
Kongo lands an overhand right.
Kongo thows a leg kick but Hug checks it

and Hug moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hug can't find room to land a body shot as Kongo controls the action.

Kongo breaks the clinch.
Hug blocks the body kick.
Nice shot lands for Kongo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hug dodges the punch combination from Kongo.
Kongo throws a hook to the side of Hug's head but Hug sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheick Kongo had his way with Hades Hug in that round.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Hug lands a slapping body shot.
Hug tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hug connects with a high kick.
Kongo scores with a nice strike.
Hug misses with a low kick.
Hug throws the kick towards the body but Kongo avoids it.
Kongo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kongo connects with a nice looking jab.
Kongo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kongo swings for the body but Hug moves out of range.
Kongo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hug.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kongo, as that shot connected.
Hug is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hug throws a low kick but Kongo avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hug ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A head kick misses from Hug.
Hug on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kongo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hug stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kongo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses.
Kongo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kongo throws a front kick aimed at Hug's knee but Hug avoids it well.
Kongo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hug.
A punch combination from Kongo misses.
Kongo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kongo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hug looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kongo connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo throws a nice looking combination but Hug bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hug throws a leg kick but Kongo sees it coming and moves out of range.
A lazy left from Hug finds it's target.
Kongo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kongo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hug back to the cage. Kongo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kongo throws a leg kick but Hug moved away.
Kongo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hug takes one on the button.
Kongo looks to land a right hand but Hug moved out of range.
Kongo scores with a hook to the body. Hug takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Good leg kick by Hug there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hug tries to score with a low kick but Kongo moves his leg out of the way.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kongo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hug throws a push kick but Kongo slaps the foot to one side.
Kongo connects with a solid leg kick.
Kongo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hug. That did some damage!
Hug drops his hands momentarily and Kongo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kongo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kongo misses with a head kick.
Hug connects with a body shot.
Kongo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hug.
Hug throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kongo misses with a leg kick.
Hug on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kongo. Kongo obviously looking to wear him down.
Kongo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo scores with a spinning back kick!
Hug avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hug has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kongo.
Kongo throws a hook but Hug avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kongo misses with a hook. Hug ducked under it nicely.
Kongo throws a push kick but Hug slaps the foot to one side.
Hug throws a body kick the misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kongo throws a leg kick but Hug sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kongo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hug lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hug connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kongo's hands.
Hug tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kongo slips a jab from Hug.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cheick Kongo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kongo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 48:47
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 48:47
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cheick Kongo!
Cheick Kongo is the new heavyweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Cheick Kongo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.