PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeremiah Exvanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ralph Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Exvanderson comes to the cage accompanied by Ready To Fight. Ralph Kong told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Exvanderson
vs
Kong

183 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

190 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jeremiah Exvanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ralph Kong!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Exvanderson throws a series of punches but Kong moves out of range.
Exvanderson throws a right hand that Kong ducks under and follows up with a left that Kong also avoids with ease.
Kong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Exvanderson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jeremiah Exvanderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Exvanderson throws a shot to the body.

Exvanderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Exvanderson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Exvanderson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Exvanderson is working Kong over against the cage.
Exvanderson working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Exvanderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kong fails with the takedown.
Jeremiah Exvanderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Kong.
Exvanderson swinging wilding here.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong scores with a crisp jab that stopped Exvanderson in his tracks.
Exvanderson tries a head kick but it misses.

Kong rushes Exvanderson and presses him up against the cage.
Exvanderson takes a shot to the head.
Exvanderson misses with a knee strike.

Kong jumps guard.
Kong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kong working for a triangle but Exvanderson defends it easily.
Exvanderson stopping the sweep attempt from Kong.

Kong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exvanderson wants to stand but Kong is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Exvanderson is breathing heavily.
Kong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kong 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.
Kong wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Exvanderson is now in half guard.
Kong gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kong working for submissions but it's allowed Exvanderson to get to half guard.
Kong wants to improve his position but Exvanderson is controlling well.
Exvanderson wants to take a breather but Kong is having none of it.
Kong is trying to maintain the position but Exvanderson is very close to passing his half guard.

Exvanderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kong controlling the position for now.
Kong is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Exvanderson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Exvanderson's back!

That's four 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.

Kong working for the choke.
Exvanderson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Exvanderson wants to control his opponent's hands but Kong gets his hands free.
Exvanderson turns into Kong and is now in his guard.
Exvanderson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kong's guard.
Kong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Exvanderson wants to stand but Kong has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Exvanderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kong is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jeremiah Exvanderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kong avoids the body shot from Exvanderson.
Exvanderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kong.

Kong gets a takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Kong.
Exvanderson wants to improve his position but Kong is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Exvanderson is refusing to be controlled, as Kong sits in half guard.
Kong is breathing heavily.
Exvanderson tries to roll over but Kong keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong is looking to take a break and control but Exvanderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kong stops Exvanderson from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Exvanderson tries to clinch

and Kong counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kong.
Kong showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kong looking to sit in guard and control but Exvanderson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Exvanderson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kong unloading with bombs!
Kong controlling from the full mount.
Exvanderson really wants to buck Kong off and get back to his feet.

Kong goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Exvanderson is on top in guard.
Kong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kong lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Exvanderson!

Kong is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Exvanderson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kong landing punches.
Kong controlling from mount.
Kong cracks Exvanderson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kong raining down shots from the mount!
Kong in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Kong working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kong landing shots from mount.
Kong looking to control and managing it successfully.
Exvanderson is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Kong has taken his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Kong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Exvanderson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Exvanderson managing to control the position.
Kong wants to control from the top but Exvanderson keeps moving.

Exvanderson has his foot on Kong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kong works his way back into a safe position though.
Kong won't allow Exvanderson to get back to his feet.
Exvanderson trying to keep a closed guard but Kong is proving a slippery customer.

Kong drops back, looking for a kneebar! Exvanderson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Exvanderson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Exvanderson!
Kong manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong is controlling the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kong trying to control the action but Exvanderson is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ralph Kong just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Exvanderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kong decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Exvanderson's guard.
Exvanderson keeping moving, preventing Kong from controlling successfully.
Kong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Exvanderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong slips nicely into half guard.
Kong with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kong trying to mount his opponent but Exvanderson defends it.
Exvanderson is trying to stand up here but Kong is controlling him well.
Exvanderson is staying active underneath Kong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Exvanderson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kong postures up in Exvanderson's guard and throws a big left but Exvanderson blocks it.
Kong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Exvanderson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kong wants to control from the top but Exvanderson keeps moving.
Kong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Exvanderson keeping full guard, as Kong tries to pass.

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.
Kong controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kong drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Exvanderson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kong has Exvanderson in his guard.
Kong is trying to keep Exvanderson in close.

Exvanderson stands up from Kong's guard - Exvanderson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kong circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Exvanderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Kong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kong 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

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