PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kobe Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ho Chi Min (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Bryant
vs
Chi Min

192 cm
23
195 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Underworld Clothing
GREEN!160

GREEN!160

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kobe Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ho Chi Min!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant throws a chopping leg kick but Chi Min manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Chi Min cracks the inside of Bryant's front leg.
Bryant works over Chi Min's head and body with a nice combination.
Chi Min with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bryant to score with a decent uppercut.
Chi Min lands a head kick!
Chi Min stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Chi Min wants it to stay on the feet.
Chi Min blocks a jab.
Bryant lands a nice shot to the body.
Bryant walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Chi Min checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Chi Min changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Bryant misses with a straight left.
Chi Min lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bryant definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A lazy body kick from Bryant
and Chi Min counters with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chi Min tries a head kick but it misses.
As Chi Min tries to get set, Bryant tries to push him back and clinch up but Chi Min manages to avoid the attempt.
Kobe Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chi Min misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Chi Min takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bryant tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Chi Min defends well and Bryant ends up having to push Chi Min into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bryant throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chi Min swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Bryant finds it's way through Chi Min's defenses.
Bryant ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chi Min moves away.
Chi Min misses with a body kick.
Bryant thows a leg kick but Chi Min checks it
and Chi Min counters with a nice kick to the body.

Chi Min clinches up with Bryant and pushes him back against the cage.
Chi Min misses with the head strike.
Chi Min has Bryant pressed against the cage, preventing Bryant from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Chi Min.
Chi Min has Bryant pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Chi Min taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Chi Min misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bryant.
Chi Min throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chi Min keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bryant's efforts to push away.
Bryant blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chi Min tries to land knees in the clinch but Bryant avoids the damage to the body.
Chi Min can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Chi Min misses with a knee to the head.
Bryant avoiding damage as Chi Min throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Chi Min.
Chi Min keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bryant's efforts to push away.
Chi Min swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chi Min swings wildly with an uppercut but Bryant uses good head movement to avoid it.

Bryant escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bryant throws a right and a left that Chi Min avoids nicely.
Chi Min follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Chi Min dodges the punch combination from Bryant.
Chi Min is looking to clinch.
Ho Chi Min is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch lands to the side of Chi Min 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bryant misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chi Min pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It looked like Bryant wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bryant avoids a kick to the body.
Chi Min avoids a punch combination nicely.
Chi Min tries to land a leg kick but Bryant saw it coming and moves away.
Bryant takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bryant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bryant is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bryant misses with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chi Min uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bryant.
A little jabbing left from Chi Min on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bryant throws a nice looking combination but Chi Min bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chi Min connects with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Chi Min there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ho Chi Min will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bryant misses with a leg kick
and Chi Min counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bryant's knee momentarily.
Chi Min chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bryant throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bryant looks to land a right hand but Chi Min moved out of range.
Bryant thuds his right hand into Chi Min's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bryant throws a leg kick
and Chi Min finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bryant ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bryant throws a body punch but Chi Min moves out of range.
Bryant throws an overhand right that lands on Chi Min's shoulder, as Chi Min tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chi Min keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bryant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bryant pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Chi Min, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bryant shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Chi Min is trying to defend but Bryant finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Chi Min is looking to improve his position.
Chi Min felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Bryant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Chi Min trying to control but Bryant postures up.
Chi Min is staying active underneath Bryant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant controlling the action here.

Bryant is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bryant content to control rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bryant throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chi Min avoids the body shot from Bryant.
Chi Min pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Bryant checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bryant uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bryant jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bryant with a hook.
Bryant on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chi Min. Chi Min obviously looking to wear him down.
Bryant throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Chi Min throws a right hand that Bryant ducks under and follows up with a left that Bryant also avoids with ease.
Bryant thows a leg kick but Chi Min checks it
and Chi Min finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bryant misses with an uppercut
and Chi Min counters with a good, hard body kick but Bryant shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant misses with a takedown attempt
and Chi Min counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Chi Min.
Chi Min misses with a wild combination.
Bryant blocks a head kick by Chi Min.
Chi Min avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Bryant as he connects with a hook.
Chi Min connects with an inside leg kick.
Chi Min ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bryant moves away.
Bryant avoids a kick to the body.
Bryant misses with a body shot
and Chi Min counters with a big head kick but Bryant shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kobe Bryant dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bryant looks to land a left hand but Chi Min moved out of range nicely.
Chi Min was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bryant is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bryant stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bryant tries for a takedown but Chi Min circles away easily
and Chi Min counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Bryant is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bryant throws an overhand right that lands on Chi Min's shoulder, as Chi Min tries to avoid the shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Chi Min.
Bryant misses with a double jab
and Chi Min counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chi Min lands a slapping body shot.

Chi Min tries to sprawl but Bryant drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Chi Min is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bryant performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chi Min trying to control but Bryant postures up.
Chi Min is trying to stand up here but Bryant is controlling him well.

Bryant is working for a kimura but Chi Min is defending it quite comfortably.
Bryant trying to mount his opponent but Chi Min defends it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two 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.
Chi Min looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Chi Min.
A cross from Bryant lands.
Bryant throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bryant scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chi Min blocks a jab.
Bryant takes a swing at Chi Min's ribcage but misses.
Chi Min lands with a nice body kick.
Chi Min tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryant paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chi Min tries to land a front kick but Bryant steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Chi Min slips a straight right by Bryant.
Bryant connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Chi Min throws a sloppy head kick and Bryant moves out of range easily.
Kobe Bryant is winning the standup battle so far.
Chi Min connects with an inside leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bryant.
Bryant avoids the head kick by Chi Min.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant connects with a nice looking jab.
Chi Min shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bryant looks for a takedown but Chi Min sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kobe Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bryant drives through with a takedown into Chi Min's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant looking to sit in guard and control but Chi Min gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bryant controls Chi Min momentarily but Chi Min frees himself.
Chi Min trying to control but Bryant is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobe Bryant showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bryant has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kobe Bryant!