PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iain Tower (ranked 388 p4p, 19 weight class) and Japa Koniu (ranked 852 p4p, 25 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tower might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Drake - Started From The Bottom. 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.

Tower
vs
Koniu

210 cm
21
275 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

198 cm
28
235 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KAGED
IniTech Nutrition

RISE Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Iain Tower!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koniu throws a looping overhand right but Tower ducks down to avoid it.
Koniu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Koniu loads up on a big right hand but Tower slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Tower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tower throws a lazy body kick
and Koniu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tower seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Koniu tests Tower's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Koniu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tower counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Japa Koniu has been cut.
Tower looks to land a combination but Koniu avoids it well.
Koniu was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Tower cracks Koniu with an uppercut from hell and Koniu crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Tower's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tower stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koniu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tower passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Koniu 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.
Tower prevents Koniu from escaping the position.
Tower trying to control the action but Koniu is working from the bottom.
Koniu wants to get back to his feet but Tower is dominant here and he's now got Koniu's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koniu is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tower gets his way!
Tower missing with strikes from the back.
Koniu is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Koniu is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Tower off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Tower sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Koniu taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Iain Tower!
Iain Tower retains his super heavyweight title!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Iain Tower waved his t-shirt featuring KAGED's logo in front of the cameras.