PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denis Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Freddy Exley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kang
vs
Exley

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Denis Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Freddy Exley!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kang misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice takedown defense from Exley. No joy for Kang on that attempt.

Kang drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kang is chipping away with strikes.
Kang wants to stand but Exley has his arm trapped.
Exley is trying to control Kang's posture but Kang avoids it.
Kang wants to stand but Exley has his arm trapped.
Exley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kang's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Exley tries to get to full guard but Kang has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Exley tries to roll over but Kang keeps him under control.
Kang knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Exley on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kang closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Exley to the mat! Exley manages to get full guard.
Kang stopping the sweep attempt from Exley.

Exley has his foot on Kang's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kang works his way back into a safe position though.
Kang wants to pass the guard but Exley is keeping the position.

Exley looking for a guillotine here but Kang defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kang's guard.
Exley trying to control but Kang is working from the bottom.

Exley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kang, up you get!
Exley looks gassed!
Nice takedown defense from Exley. No joy for Kang on that attempt.

Kang closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Exley looks to move to half guard but instead Kang has passed into mount! Damn!
Kang is trying to control here but Exley has managed to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Exley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Exley looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Exley looking for a guillotine here but Kang defends easily.
Kang slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Kang tries to free his leg and advance position but Exley is retaining full guard.
Kang has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Exley is proving hard to escape from.
Exley keeping moving, preventing Kang from controlling successfully.
Kang is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Exley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kang drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Exley holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Kang dominated that round.
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.

Kang clinches with his opponent.
Kang fails to pull guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kang.
Kang is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Exley is keeping busy.
Kang is looking to break free of the clinch but Exley has double underhooks.
Exley tries to pull guard but Kang holds him up against the cage and eventually Exley drops back down to his feet.

Kang decides to pull guard.
Exley controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kang controls Exley momentarily but Exley frees himself.
Exley stops Kang from standing up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Exley stands and throws Kang's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang seems a little lost for a moment, as Exley dominates the positioning.
Exley trying to control the action but Kang is working from the bottom.
Kang tries to bench press Exley off him but Exley keeps the position.
Kang on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kang tries to get out of the position.
Kang is working to avoid the ground and pound but Exley connects with a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Exley working the ground and pound.
Kang tries to buck Exley off but Exley is having none of it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Exley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kang keeps working.
Exley working the ground and pound.

Exley is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kang has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kang is trying to escape the position but Exley is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang is looking to regain half guard here but Exley keeps moving and retains side control.
Kang is pushing Exley's head away, looking to escape. Exley manages to hold on to the position though.
Kang is looking to reverse the position.
Exley passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kang!
Exley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kang is looking to escape.
Exley might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kang kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Denis Kang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.
Exley controlling his opponent.

Exley working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kang tries to lock up and control but Exley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Exley tries to control but Kang wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Exley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Exley misses with a takedown attempt

so Kang counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Exley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kang is one step ahead there.
Kang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Exley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kang stopping the sweep attempt from Exley.

Exley is looking for a triangle but Kang pushes his legs off easily.
Exley is trying to keep Kang in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang trying to control the position from guard on top but Exley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kang is looking to stand up but Exley won't let him.
Kang stopping the sweep attempt from Exley.
Exley is trying to control the position but Kang postures up.
Exley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Well, if Exley is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kang wants to get back to full guard but Exley has mounted him!

Exley is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kang is surviving well by controlling Exley's body position as best he can.
Exley content just to control the position here.

Exley goes for an armbar but Kang turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exley looking to control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Freddy Exley just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Exley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Exley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Exley stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Exley feints and as Kang raises his hands in defense, Exley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Exley is pushing down on Kang's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kang is fighting to maintain full guard but Exley has managed to sneak the leg through.
Exley wants to take a breather but Kang is having none of it.
Exley is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Exley is keen to just control but Kang is a slippery customer.

Kang pushes Exley off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy Exley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Exley 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddy Exley!