PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Kingston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Block (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.

Kingston
vs
Block

162 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Kingston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dick Block!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Block throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kingston tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Block swivels and escapes.
Block changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kingston tries to avoid it but Block manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kingston to the ground. Kingston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Block stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Block wants it to stay on the feet.
Block darts in looking for a takedown but Kingston gets double underhooks and turns Block into the cage.
Block has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kingston is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kingston closes this distance looking for a takedown but Block circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Kingston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kingston, as that shot connected.
Block throws a front kick that sends Kingston stumbling back into the cage.
Kingston shoots and misses
and Block cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kingston dives in for a single leg takedown but Block sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kingston goes for a double leg but Block avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Block continues to drive forward.
The fight stays on the outside here - Block looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kingston tries to counter with a takedown but Block is quick to defend against it.
Block misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston shoots and misses
and Block counters with a nice uppercut.
Kingston on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Block. Block obviously looking to wear him down.
Block feints a jab promting Kingston to slip. Block then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kingston slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Block dives in and grabs Kingston's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kingston pushes down on Block's head and hops out.
Kingston half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kingston.
Kingston leaves Block with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Block.
Kingston shoots in but Block avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Block.

Kingston shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Block is trying to defend but Kingston finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kingston content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kingston wants to stand up but Block is controlling the position.
Block wants to control but Kingston is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kingston wants to pass to mount but Block is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Block avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kingston.
Kingston seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kingston throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kingston content to control rather than advance.
Block is staying active underneath Kingston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kingston gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kingston is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Block will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Block manages to get back to half guard.
Block is looking to improve his position.
Kingston is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kingston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Block's head.
Block punching from the bottom.
Kingston slips a nice elbow through Block's hands, connecting with Block's forehead.
Block desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kingston clinches.
Block being controlled against the cage.
Kingston utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kingston gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Block is trying to break free.
Block misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Block can't get the takedown.
Block looking for a takedown.
Block wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kingston has him pressed against the cage.
Kingston throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kingston lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Block trying to land knees to the body.
Block taking a breather.

Kingston turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kingston manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Block is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kingston's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Kingston is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston wants to pass the guard but Block is defending well.
Kingston seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Block does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Block has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kingston is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kingston in particular looking to stall.
Kingston is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kingston prevents Block from improving his position.
Kingston trying to pass the guard but Block defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Block's head.
Kingston tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Kingston sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Block defending well though.

Block kicks Kingston off and gets back to his feet.

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

Kingston has hold of one of Block's legs. Block is fighting the takedown attempt but Kingston gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kingston is stalling in the full guard.
Kingston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Block works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Block utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kingston stopping the sweep attempt from Block.
Kingston's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kingston throws a big elbow that misses.
Block has Kingston pulled in close to control his posture.
Block keeping moving, preventing Kingston from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Block displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Mike Kingston has been cut.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kingston shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Block as he avoids it easily.

Block shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Block is nestled in close to Kingston, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Kingston will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Kingston's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Block throws a right hand that Kingston ducks under and follows up with a left that Kingston also avoids with ease.
Block closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kingston counters with a shoot takedown. Block fights it but they end up in guard.

Block has his feet on Kingston's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Block.
Block tries to clinch but Kingston is having none of it.
Kingston looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Block fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kingston takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kingston fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kingston closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kingston lands in his opponent's guard.

Block uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kingston drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Block throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kingston stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Block swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kingston throwing strikes from guard but Block blocks nicely.
Kingston wants to control from the top but Block keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Block seems keen to control Kingston's posture.

Kingston drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kingston jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Block is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kingston's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kingston has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Block is proving hard to escape from.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kingston trying to control the position from guard on top but Block is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Block changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Block shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kingston defends it nicely.
Block changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kingston tries to avoid it but Block manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kingston to the ground. Kingston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kingston pushes Block up against the cage in a clinch.

Block works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Kingston uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Block throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kingston was covering up waiting for the punch and Block finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Kingston pushes Block off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Block shoots and misses

and Kingston counters with a takedown into side control.
Mike Kingston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dick Block.
Kingston wants to control but Block is keeping him busy.

Kingston stands up and beckons Block to his feet.
Block closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kingston circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kingston.

Block throws Kingston to one side and escapes!
Kingston fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dick Block.
I think Block 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dick Block!