PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between King Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcel Kucharski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcel Kucharski struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.5lbs 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. King Kong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kong
vs
Kucharski

188 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

195 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Arcticus University: London

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, King Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcel Kucharski !
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kong clinches up against the cage.

Kucharski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kucharski pinned against the cage. Kucharski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kucharski throws a fast counter high kick but Kong manages to duck under it in time.
Kucharski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kong throws a big counter combination but Kucharski scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kucharski with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Kong to counter with a crisp jab.
Kucharski avoids the head kick by Kong.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kucharski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kucharski doesn't manage to clinch there - Kong circles away.
Kong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Marcel Kucharski has been cut.
Kucharski wants to land a leg kick but Kong is out of range.
Kong lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kong.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kucharski is fending him off so far but Kong persists. Nope, Kucharski circles away and we're back to standing.
Kong tests Kucharski 's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kucharski is rocked!
Kong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kucharski .
Kong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kucharski backs up against the cage.
Kucharski is still on wobbly legs! Can Kong finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong misses with a body kick.
Kucharski is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Kucharski gets tackled into the cage by Kong. Kong maintains the clinch.
Kong wants to get back to striking at distance but Kucharski won't allow it.
Kucharski seems to have recovered his senses.

Kucharski breaks the clinch.
Kucharski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kong as he jumps to the side.
King Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcel Kucharski .
Kong shoots in looking for a takedown. Kucharski tries to sprawl out of it but Kong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kucharski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kucharski is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kong.
Kucharski tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kong was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kucharski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kong pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Kong both land. Nice combination.

Kong drops Kucharski with a beautiful combination! Kucharski stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kong is looking for the KO!
Kong has been working on his balance at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Kucharski .
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kong closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kucharski keeps control of Kong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kucharski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kong just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kong jumps guard.
Kucharski looking to sit in guard and control but Kong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kong controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kong stopping the sweep attempt from Kucharski .

Kong decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kong has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kucharski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kong cracks Kucharski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kucharski takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kong goes for a double leg but Kucharski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kucharski continues to drive forward.
Kucharski is looking for the big counter here.

Kucharski looking to score a takedown here. Kong is defending well but Kucharski drives through and ends up in Kong's guard.
Kong is breathing heavily.

Kucharski stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kucharski takes the fight into the clinch.

Kucharski breaks the clinch.
A clash of legs there as Kucharski blocks the low kick.
Kong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kong wants it to stay on the feet.
Kong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kucharski .
Kong buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kong.
A nice combination there by Kong.
Kong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kucharski is fending him off so far but Kong persists. Nope, Kucharski circles away and we're back to standing.
Kong shoots in for a double leg but Kucharski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Despite the aggression on Kucharski 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kucharski looks for a takedown but Kong sprawls well.
Kucharski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kong defends it nicely.
Kong is working the combinations to good effect here.
Kucharski goes for a double leg but Kong avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kong continues to drive forward.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kong fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Kong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcel Kucharski 's cut.
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.

Kucharski pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It looked like Kong was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kucharski .
Kucharski shoots in and drives through. Kong sprawls well.
Kong is looking to counter punch.
Kucharski has a takedown stuffed.
Kucharski fails with the takedown.
King Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcel Kucharski .
Kucharski checks a low kick from Kong.
Despite the aggression on Kucharski 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Kong moves into range and clinches up with Kucharski .
We've been informed that Kucharski has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Kucharski breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kucharski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kong defends well and Kucharski ends up having to push Kong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kong jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kucharski is breathing heavily.
Kong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kucharski can do to turn this around?
Kong scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kucharski blocks a head kick by Kong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong lands with a hook. Kucharski tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kong misses with the combination.
Kucharski misses with a takedown
enabling Kong to counter with a crisp jab.
Kucharski fails with a takedown attempt.
Kong looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Kucharski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kucharski wants it to stay on the feet.
Kong throws a head kick but Kucharski moves out of range.
Kucharski is looking for the big counter here.
Kucharski fails with a takedown attempt.
As Kucharski tries to get set, Kong tries to push him back and clinch up but Kucharski manages to avoid the attempt.
Marcel Kucharski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kong scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kucharski tries to clinch there but Kong circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kucharski escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kucharski defends well and Kong ends up having to push Kucharski into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
King Kong is winning the standup battle so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kucharski eats them both and turns towards Kong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice sprawl there from Kong as Kucharski shoots in.

Kong moves into the clinch successfully.

Kucharski ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kucharski no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kong pushes down on Kucharski 's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kucharski 's head.
Kong trying to pass the guard but Kucharski defending well.
Kong controlling the action here.

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 wants to control but Kucharski is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kucharski backs up against the cage.

Kong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kucharski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kong gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kucharski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kucharski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kong counters with a left and a right that stings Kucharski .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Kong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcel Kucharski 's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kong closes the distance and pushes Kucharski back into the cage.
Kucharski prevents Kong from breaking the clinch.
Kong tries to break the clinch but Kucharski is controlling the position.
Kong tries to break the clinch but Kucharski is controlling the position.

Kucharski manages to break the clinch.
Kucharski fails with a takedown attempt.

Kong has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kong is trying to trip Kucharski . He has hold of a leg but Kucharski is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kong persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kong is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kong postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong throwing strikes from guard but Kucharski blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kong throwing strikes but missing.
Kucharski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kong.
Kong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kucharski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kong stands and steps away. Kucharski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two 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.
Kucharski tries to clinch up but Kong circles away and keeps his distance.
Kong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kucharski is out of range.

Kong looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kucharski !
Kucharski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kong creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kucharski sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kucharski wants to control but Kong postures up.

Kong wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kucharski , who protects the arm well.
An elbow from Kong crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski seems a little lost for a moment, as Kong dominates the positioning.
Kucharski parries the strikes from Kong easily there. Kong is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kucharski to escape.
Kong scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kucharski to see if he's OK.
Kong is looking to take a break and control but Kucharski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kucharski tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kong wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kucharski parries the strikes from Kong easily there. Kong is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kucharski to escape.

Kong is trying to get an arm triangle but Kucharski is defending well.
Kucharski is pushing Kong's head away, looking to escape. Kong manages to hold on to the position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kucharski is out of range.
No luck for Kong with that takedown attempt.
Marcel Kucharski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kucharski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kong defends well and Kucharski ends up having to push Kong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kong works over Kucharski 's head and body with a nice combination.
Kucharski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
King Kong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcel Kucharski .
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kong lunges at Kucharski with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kucharski 's hand.
Kucharski tries to clinch up but Kong circles away and keeps his distance.
Kucharski shoots in looking for a takedown. Kong tries to sprawl out of it but Kucharski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kong manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
King Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kong 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26

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