PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darrell Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katuk Bong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Solomon
vs
Bong

219 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darrell Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Katuk Bong!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bong clinches.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Bong has eaten all the pies!
Solomon wants a takedown but no success here.
Solomon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bong just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bong jumps into guard, dragging Solomon to the mat.
Bong not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bong has Solomon pulled in close to control his posture.

Solomon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Solomon has managed to get both his arms back between Bong's legs - danger averted.
Solomon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solomon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bong looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Solomon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Solomon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bong looks for a takedown but Solomon sprawls well.
Solomon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Solomon.
Bong looks for a takedown but Solomon sprawls well.
Solomon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Solomon looks to score with a jab to the body but Bong is just out of range.
Solomon moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Bong as Solomon shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darrell Solomon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bong rushes Solomon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Solomon uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon wants to stand but Bong has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Solomon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Solomon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Solomon is looking to work some ground and pound but Bong has wrist control.
Solomon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Solomon is looking to stand up but Bong won't let him.
Bong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Solomon is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bong dives in for a single leg takedown but Solomon sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Katuk Bong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bong throws a head kick that misses
and Solomon counters with a three punch combo that has Bong backing up. Bong nods at Solomon to acknowledge the strikes.
Bong looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is looking to clinch but Bong is avoiding it.
Solomon closes the distance and clinches up with Bong, looking for a takedown. Solomon pushes Bong against the cage but Bong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bong looks to clinch
and Solomon counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bong thinking.
Bong tries to clinch there but Solomon circles away.
Bong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Solomon circles away.
Solomon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bong's waist but Bong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Solomon off to one side.

Bong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Solomon pulls guard.
Solomon looking for a sweep. Not yet Solomon, not yet.

Solomon looking for a guillotine here but Bong defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bong controls the pace.

Solomon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Solomon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Solomon is working an open guard so Bong takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Katuk Bong will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bong cracks the inside of Solomon's front leg.
Bong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Solomon avoids it really well and circles away.
Solomon leaves Bong with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Bong closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bong has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Bong clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon blocks a body shot from Bong.

Bong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Solomon takes the fight into the clinch.
Bong tries to score a body lock takedown but Solomon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Darrell Solomon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katuk Bong.

Bong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bong tries to close the distance and clinch but Solomon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Solomon drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bong sprawls and moves away.
Bong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bong is breathing heavily.
Bong tries to close the distance and clinch but Solomon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Solomon half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Solomon.

Solomon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bong, pushing him back against the cage.
Bong is working for takedown but Solomon is calmly controlling the position for now.
Solomon is trying to pull guard but Bong has him pressed against the cage.
Bong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bong has Solomon pressed against the cage, preventing Solomon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bong jumps guard but Solomon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bong tries to pull guard but Solomon won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bong manages to break the clinch.
Bong has his takedown stuffed

and Solomon counters by clinching up.
Solomon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bong after a bit of a struggle.
Bong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Solomon wants a takedown.
Bong is looking to take this one to the mat.

Solomon jumps guard.
Bong wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.

Bong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Solomon, up you get!
Darrell Solomon is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by Bong.
Solomon lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bong is defended easily by Solomon.
Solomon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solomon misses with a body shot.
Solomon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bong defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katuk Bong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Bong fails with the takedown.
Solomon tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bong manages to circle out of the way.
Bong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bong shoots in but no luck this time.
Bong fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Solomon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Darrell Solomon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katuk Bong.
Solomon shoots in for a takedown but Bong shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Bong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bong can't get the takedown.
Bong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Solomon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Bong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Solomon uses from the top position.
Bong is trying to keep Solomon in close.
Solomon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Solomon stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Solomon cracks Bong with a good jab.
Solomon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bong's waist but Bong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Solomon off to one side.
Bong swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Solomon shoots in looking for a takedown but Bong manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Solomon's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bong tries to clinch but Solomon is having none of it.
Bong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Solomon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bong moves in looking to clinch but Solomon pushes him off.
Solomon attempts a counter takedown but Bong avoids it well and moves away.
Solomon shoots in but no luck this time.

Bong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Solomon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bong landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Solomon wants a takedown but no success here.

Bong pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon preventing the sweep.

Bong is looking for a triangle but Solomon pushes his legs off easily.
Solomon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bong working for a triangle but Solomon defends it easily.
Solomon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Solomon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bong is trying to keep Solomon in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Bong is looking for a triangle but Solomon pushes his legs off easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Solomon swats away the attempt to clinch by Bong.
Bong is looking to clinch but Solomon is avoiding it.
Bong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Solomon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Solomon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Darrell Solomon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Katuk Bong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Solomon pinned against the cage. Solomon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Katuk Bong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bong winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Katuk Bong!