PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hae Ki Park (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Biff Rydberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Biff Rydberg struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.7lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. 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.

Ki Park
vs
Rydberg

171 cm
26
145 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

165 cm
28
150 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Cobra Pharmaceuticals (159++ Stamina)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hae Ki Park!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Biff Rydberg!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Park slips a jab from Rydberg.
A shot to the body from Rydberg misses
and Park counters with a stiff right hand.
Rydberg misses with a hook.
Park fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rydberg manages to avoid it.
Rydberg tries to clinch but Park moves out of range.
Rydberg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Park paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rydberg looks to land a right hand but Park moved out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Park.
Park connects with a solid leg kick.
Park thows a left - swing and a miss!

Park moves into the clinch.
Park lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rydberg or not.
Park lands a knee to the body.
Park working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rydberg blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Park is struggling to control the position.
Park prevents a body shot from Rydberg.
Park is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Park is pushing Rydberg up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Park throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Park prevents a body shot from Rydberg.
Park lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rydberg throws an elbow but misses.
Park comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice body punch from Rydberg.
Rydberg misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Rydberg.
Rydberg creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Park's defenses.

It looks like Hae Ki Park has been cut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Park.
Park crunches a lovely knee into Rydberg's ribcage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rydberg putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Park in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Park throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Still in the clinch, Rydberg scores with a nice short uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Park - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rydberg works on Park's body with a couple of short punches.
Park scores with a shoulder strike.
Rydberg lands with a left to the head.
Park stalls.
Park can't find room to land a body shot as Rydberg controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydberg blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Park.
Park takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rydberg avoids the elbow strike from Park, against the cage.
Park looking to throw knees to the head but Rydberg is blocking nicely.
Rydberg on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rydberg pushes off an throws an elbow but Park leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rydberg lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Park avoids the elbow strike from Rydberg, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rydberg.
Rydberg misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rydberg tries to land a knee to the head but Park blocks with his arms.
Park blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rydberg misses with a body punch.
Park swings wildly with an uppercut but Rydberg uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rydberg throws an elbow but misses.
Park can't find room to land a body shot as Rydberg controls the action.
Rydberg missing with knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rydberg tries to throw a body punch but Park avoids it by throwing Rydberg back against the cage.
Park prevents a body shot from Rydberg.
Rydberg can't find room to land a body shot as Park controls the action.
Park misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Park misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Park scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rydberg tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rydberg being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hae Ki Park dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hae Ki Park's cut.
That's time! Park's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Park takes one to the side of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Rydberg misses the target.
Rydberg takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rydberg checks a leg kick.
Rydberg doesn't manage to clinch there - Park circles away.
Park pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hae Ki Park seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rydberg misses with a wild body shot.
Park lands a glancing blow to the side of Rydberg's head.
Park scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Park rushes Rydberg and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rydberg.
Park lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rydberg backwards.
Park is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rydberg struggles to land a body shot inside as Park controls his hands.
Rydberg lands a good knee to the midsection. Park won't want to take too many of those.
Rydberg creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Park's defenses.
Rydberg lands a good knee to the midsection. Park won't want to take too many of those.
Park lands a knee to the body.

Park breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rydberg throws a one two combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Park uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rydberg.
Rydberg lands a jab to Park's midsection.
Rydberg cracks Park with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rydberg uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Park.
Park wants to land a leg kick but Rydberg is out of range.
Park throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Park tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rydberg cracks a nice hook into Park's ribs.
Park fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Park throws a sloppy head kick and Rydberg moves out of range easily.
Rydberg throws a shot to the body.
Hae Ki Park is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Rydberg misses.
Rydberg avoids the head kick by Park.
A punch lands to the side of Rydberg 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Park misses with a combination
and Rydberg counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Park thinking.
A combination from Park does no damage.
Rydberg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rydberg blocks a leg kick.
Park misses with a low kick as Rydberg jumps back.
Rydberg with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rydberg sizes up Park with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rydberg throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Park counters with an outside leg kick.
Rydberg throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Park stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park fails to land with a series of punches.
Park swats away the attempt to clinch by Rydberg.
Park tries to bum rush Rydberg with a series of wild strikes but Rydberg uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rydberg lands a really nice looking cross but Park seems unphased.
Park slips a straight right by Rydberg.
Park throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rydberg tries to clinch there but Park circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Park pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Rydberg catches Park right on the button with a cross.
Park tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Biff Rydberg will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hae Ki Park's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Park keeps the fight on the outside.
Park thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rydberg swings for the body but Park moves out of range.
Park scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rydberg in his tracks.
Rydberg throws the left hand but Park avoids the punch easily.
Rydberg moves out of range as Park throws a body kick.
Park throws a leg kick but Rydberg sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rydberg tries to clinch but Park moves out of range.
Park misses the shot to the body.
Rydberg works over Park's head and body with a nice combination.
Rydberg is looking to clinch but Park is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydberg thows a body shot but no joy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Park, right into the meat.
Rydberg cracks Park with a right hand to the side of the head.
Park misses the shot to the body.
Park moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Park misses with a body kick.
Park lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Park bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rydberg's head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Park.
A swing and a miss from Rydberg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rydberg rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Park counters with a low kick, right behind Rydberg 's knee.
Rydberg lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Park throws a hook but Rydberg blocks it.
Park pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Park throws a leg kick that misses.
Park ducks under a wild hook from Rydberg.
Rydberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Park looks to land a left hand but Rydberg moved out of range nicely.
Park ducks under a wild hook from Rydberg.
Rydberg looks to land a right hand but Park moved out of range.
Rydberg avoids a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydberg avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rydberg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Park misses with a hook
enabling Rydberg to counter with a crisp jab.
Rydberg looks to land a left hand but Park moved out of range nicely.
Park tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rydberg was well out of range. Poor timing from Park.
Park missing with a left hand there. Rydberg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rydberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Park lands a front kick.
Park avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rydberg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park misses with a leg kick
and Rydberg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Park goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Park moves out of range of the strikes.
Rydberg lands with an overhand left.
Park throws a wild body kick that Rydberg sees coming a mile off.
Park throws a leg kick which misses Rydberg's front leg but catches the back leg as Rydberg tries to avoid it.
Park uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rydberg tries to clinch but Park is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Park throws a poor cross that misses
and Rydberg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Park's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rydberg under the eye.
Park looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hae Ki Park.
Well Park has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hae Ki Park!
Hae Ki Park made sure to mention his sponsor, Gilop® in his post fight interview.