PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remedios Verzosa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kim
vs
Verzosa

183 cm
29
195 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

185 cm
32
190 lbs
32 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

Project Mayhem
Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mikey Kim!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Remedios Verzosa!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verzosa ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Kim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kim scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verzosa throws a poor cross that misses
and Kim counters with a nice kick to the body.
Verzosa tries to move into range but Kim moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kim scores with a shot to the body.
Verzosa tries to clinch there but Kim circles away.

Kim takes the fight into the clinch.
Verzosa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kim gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Verzosa on the inside.
Verzosa blocks an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Verzosa fails to land.
Verzosa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verzosa dodges an elbow strike from Kim.
Kim throws an elbow but it misses.
Verzosa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kim prevents it.
Kim lands an elbow that stopped Verzosa in his tracks for a moment.
Verzosa lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kim throws an elbow but it misses.
Verzosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kim pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Verzosa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mikey Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.
Verzosa tries a body shot but Kim blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kim.
Kim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kim looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kim tries a knee to the head but Verzosa blocks it.
Verzosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Verzosa blocks the elbow strike.
Verzosa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Verzosa looking to stall.
Verzosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kim comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Verzosa tries to score a body lock takedown but Kim shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Verzosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Kim lands an elbow inside that Verzosa shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim working Verzosa over with knees 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!
Verzosa takes an elbow to the temple.
Verzosa takes a knee right on the jaw!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Verzosa.
Kim connects with a knee to the head.
Kim lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Verzosa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kim gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Verzosa looks winded!
Kim landing knees to the head.
Verzosa takes an elbow to the temple.
Kim tries a knee to the head but Verzosa blocks it.
Verzosa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Verzosa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Verzosa.
Kim lands an elbow inside that Verzosa shrugs off.
Verzosa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kim avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Verzosa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Verzosa misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim misses with an elbow over the top.
Verzosa avoiding damage as Kim throws knees to the body.
Verzosa misses with the head strike.
Kim throws an elbow but it misses.
Kim tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Verzosa blocks an elbow strike.
Verzosa avoiding damage as Kim throws knees to the body.
Verzosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Verzosa throws a head punch that misses.
Verzosa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kim prevents it.
Kim misses with an elbow strike.
Verzosa dodges an elbow strike from Kim.
Kim creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch on the inside from Verzosa fails to land.
Verzosa looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Verzosa on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Verzosa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to land knees in the clinch but Verzosa avoids the damage to the body.
Verzosa tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Verzosa back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Verzosa.
Verzosa taking a breather.
Verzosa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kim fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A clash of legs there as Kim blocks the low kick.
Verzosa avoids the body shot from Kim.
Verzosa lands a nice shot to the body.
Verzosa on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verzosa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kim circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Verzosa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Verzosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kim goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Verzosa dodges the punch combination from Kim.
Remedios Verzosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verzosa throws a body punch but Kim moves out of range.
Verzosa misses with an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kim moves away from the strike by Verzosa.
Verzosa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kim lands a body shot.
Verzosa scores with a hook to the body. Kim takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Verzosa throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kim counters with a nice uppercut.
Kim bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kim goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kim tries to work over Verzosa's front leg with a kick but Verzosa checks it.
Kim looks to throw the jab but Verzosa is out of range.
Verzosa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Verzosa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Verzosa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Verzosa fails with a takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Kim misses its intended target.
Kim throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mikey Kim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kim throws a looping overhand right but Verzosa ducks down to avoid it.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Verzosa.
Kim misses with a right hand
and Verzosa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Verzosa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kim.
Mikey Kim is winning the standup battle so far.
Verzosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Kim. Beautiful body shot.
Verzosa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Verzosa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kim.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Verzosa.
Kim walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Verzosa checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa misses the jab.
Kim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kim is looking to wear down Verzosa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Verzosa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kim tries to clinch up but Verzosa circles away and keeps his distance.
Kim swats away the attempt to clinch by Verzosa.
Verzosa looks to land a body kick but Kim moved away.
Kim throws a sloppy head kick and Verzosa moves out of range easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kim stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Verzosa.
Kim steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Verzosa.
Verzosa throws the kick towards the body but Kim avoids it.
Verzosa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kim. Kim obviously looking to wear him down.
Verzosa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Verzosa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kim swivels and escapes.
Kim looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kim throws a lazy body kick
and Verzosa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Verzosa closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kim quickly recovers to half guard.
Verzosa wants to pass to mount but Kim is defending the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verzosa trying to advance position but Kim counters by regaining guard.
Verzosa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Verzosa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Verzosa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Verzosa throws an elbow that misses. Kim uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Verzosa's guard. Nice move by Kim!
Verzosa looking to control.
Verzosa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Verzosa goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kim turns into him and now he's in Verzosa's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Remedios Verzosa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kim stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verzosa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kim throws a lazy head kick
and Verzosa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kim throws a lazy head kick
and Verzosa counters with a nice uppercut.
Kim is looking to clinch but Verzosa is avoiding it.
Kim misses with a series of wild punches.
Verzosa is looking to clinch.
Kim wants to clinch.
Verzosa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa checks a leg kick nicely.

Verzosa shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kim's guard.
Verzosa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Verzosa from controlling successfully.
Kim wants to stand but Verzosa is controlling the position.
Verzosa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kim's head.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Verzosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa tries to free his leg and advance position but Kim is retaining full guard.
Kim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Verzosa.
Kim trying to control the position.
Verzosa wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Verzosa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Verzosa from controlling successfully.
Verzosa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Kim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Verzosa advances to half guard.
Verzosa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Verzosa scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kim is trying to maintain the position but Verzosa is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim is not content to let Verzosa control the position.
Kim keeping control of the position.
Verzosa wants to free his trapped foot but Kim is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verzosa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remedios Verzosa really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Verzosa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verzosa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kim swivels and escapes.
Kim tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kim feints and then cracks Verzosa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Verzosa down.
Good leg kick by Kim there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Verzosa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Verzosa misses with an uppercut. Kim saw that one coming.
Verzosa shoots in but no luck this time.
Kim throws a leg kick which misses Verzosa's front leg but catches the back leg as Verzosa tries to avoid it.
Kim throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Verzosa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Verzosa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verzosa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verzosa tries to clinch but Kim is having none of it.

Kim drives through and clinches with Verzosa against the cage.
Kim misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verzosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Verzosa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kim.
Verzosa presses Kim against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Verzosa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Verzosa has a couple of punches blocked by Kim.
Verzosa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kim backwards.
Verzosa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kim gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mikey Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Remedios Verzosa.
Kim pushes off an throws an elbow but Verzosa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Verzosa managing to block the knees to the body from Kim.
Kim using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Verzosa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Verzosa slows down the pace here.
Verzosa can't get the takedown.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Verzosa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim crunches a lovely knee into Verzosa's ribcage.
Kim working Verzosa over with knees to the body.
Verzosa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Verzosa digs a right hand underneath Kim's ribcage. Kim let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Verzosa lands a body shot.
Verzosa working aggressively here.
Kim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verzosa is defending well for now.
Verzosa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kim misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Verzosa.
Verzosa trying to control the position but instead, Kim has worked for underhooks and has pushed Verzosa into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Verzosa.
Kim throws an elbow but it misses.
Kim utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Verzosa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Verzosa is pushing Kim up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A hook to the body from Verzosa.
Verzosa blocks an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kim.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Verzosa.
Kim throws an elbow that misses.
Verzosa stalling in the clinch but Kim improves position.
Verzosa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Verzosa.
Kim creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Verzosa's defenses.
Verzosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Verzosa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Verzosa is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim is trying to wear down his opponent with knees 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!
Kim misses with an elbow strike.
Kim tries to land knees in the clinch but Verzosa avoids the damage to the body.
Verzosa avoiding damage as Kim throws knees to the body.
Kim pushes off an throws an elbow but Verzosa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Verzosa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kim blocking some punches.
Verzosa has Kim pushed against the cage.
Verzosa blocks an elbow strike.
Verzosa wants to take the fight to the mat but Kim manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kim blocks an uppercut.
Verzosa struggles to land a body shot inside as Kim controls his hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kim looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kim lands a nice elbow.
Verzosa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kim pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Mikey Kim will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kim takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Verzosa misses with a straight left.
A slow jab from Verzosa misses its intended target.
Verzosa jabs at Kim's body.
Kim throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Verzosa throws the kick towards the body but Kim avoids it.
Verzosa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kim looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Verzosa tries to close the distance and clinch but Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kim lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Verzosa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Verzosa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kim throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Verzosa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kim scores with the left hand. Verzosa knows he should have avoided that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Verzosa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Verzosa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Verzosa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Verzosa shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Verzosa tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Verzosa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Verzosa moves in looking to clinch but Kim pushes him off.
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verzosa.
Verzosa wants to clinch.
Verzosa misses with a shot to the body
and Kim counters with a big head kick but Verzosa shrugs it off.
Verzosa tries for a takedown but Kim circles away easily
and Kim counters with a thumping low kick.
Verzosa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

Kim closes the distance and clinches.
Kim tries to land knees in the clinch but Verzosa avoids the damage to the body.
Verzosa trying to stall but Kim improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa has a couple of punches blocked by Kim.
Kim tries to land knees in the clinch but Verzosa avoids the damage to the body.
Kim lands a good knee to the midsection. Verzosa won't want to take too many of those.
Verzosa blocks the elbow strike.
Verzosa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verzosa blocks the elbow strike.
Verzosa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Verzosa is defending well for now.
Kim blocks a body shot from Verzosa.
Kim misses with an elbow over the top.
Verzosa misses with a punch on the inside.
Verzosa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kim using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kim unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kim missing with knees to the body.
Verzosa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Verzosa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to land knees in the clinch but Verzosa avoids the damage to the body.
Verzosa dodges an elbow strike from Kim.
Verzosa tries to throw a body punch but Kim avoids it by throwing Verzosa back against the cage.

Verzosa has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kim is trying to keep an underhook but Verzosa manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Verzosa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Verzosa throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kim to regain full guard.
Verzosa throws a strike but Kim rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Verzosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Verzosa looking for a guillotine here but Kim defends easily.
Kim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verzosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Remedios Verzosa.
I think Verzosa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Remedios Verzosa!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Remedios Verzosa!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight as a draw!

Remedios Verzosa wins by majority decision!
Remedios Verzosa is the new middleweight champion!
Remedios Verzosa made sure to mention his sponsor, Project Mayhem in his post fight interview.