PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Da Hee Tong (ranked 3942 p4p, 430 weight class) and Simon Epstien (ranked 8507 p4p, 637 weight class). Tong comes to the cage accompanied by Spread Eagle Across The Block. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Simon Epstien enters the cage!

Hee Tong
vs
Epstien

185 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
26
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Da Hee Tong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Epstien!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Epstien lands but Tong takes it in his stride.

It looks like Da Hee Tong has been cut.
Tong misses with a body kick.
Tong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tong misses with an attempted mid kick.
Epstien throws a counter combo.
Epstien takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Tong gets the takedown into side control.
Tong landing a few strikes.
Epstien defending against the ground and pound.
Tong looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Epstien is avoiding damage well.
Tong throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epstien tries to buck Tong off but Tong is having none of it.
Tong fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tong tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tong working away.
Epstien managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tong.
Tong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tong working the ground and pound.

It looks like Simon Epstien has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstien is trying to control Tong's posture but Tong avoids it.
Epstien is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Tong is staying active.
Check out the look on Tong's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tong scores with a couple of short elbows.
Epstien is trying to improve his position.
Epstien managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Tong.
Epstien is trying to control Tong's posture but Tong avoids it.
Tong throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tong landing strikes.
Epstien is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tong's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Epstien trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epstien tries to roll over but Tong keeps him under control.
Tong throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Epstien looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Epstien tries to get to full guard but Tong has control of the leg.

Tong is working for a kimura but Epstien is defending it quite comfortably.
Tong trying to control from half guard but Epstien is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tong prevents Epstien from standing back up.
We've been hearing good reports from Tong's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Epstien does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tong thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tong throwing shots but Epstien is blocking nicely.
Epstien is trying to get back to full guard.
Epstien is refusing to be controlled, as Tong sits in half guard.
Epstien wants to control but Tong is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four 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.
Tong stalling away here and it's allowed Epstien to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Epstien wants to stand but Tong is controlling the position.
Tong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Epstien working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tong.
Epstien 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.
Tong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tong's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tong postures up and lands a big shot to Epstien's brow.
Tong wants to control from the top but Epstien keeps moving.
Tong chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Da Hee Tong dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Tong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tong dives in for a single leg takedown but Epstien sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tong lands with a nice body kick.
Tong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Epstien avoids it really well and circles away.
Epstien stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Da Hee Tong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tong looks to land a body kick but Epstien moved away.
Epstien shoots for a takedown but Tong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Epstien sprawls and moves away.
Tong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Epstien as he avoids it easily.

Tong shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tong showed some decent athleticism there.
Epstien moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epstien looking to control.
Tong works over Epstien with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstien preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Epstien escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Da Hee Tong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Epstien is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tong is controlling him.
Tong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Epstien controls Tong momentarily but Tong frees himself.
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Epstien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tong with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tong throws a big right hand that misses.
Epstien not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Epstien is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tong sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tong.
Tong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Epstien swivels and escapes.
Epstien dives in and grabs Tong's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tong pushes down on Epstien's head and hops out.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tong.
Despite the aggression on Epstien's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
No joy there for Epstien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tong slaps away a takedown attempt from Epstien, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck for Tong with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tong looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Tong scores with a takedown into Epstien's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Epstien is trying to keep Tong in close.
Tong lands a couple of digs.
Tong is looking to work some ground and pound but Epstien has wrist control.
Tong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Epstien looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tong is one step ahead there.
Tong throwing strikes from guard but Epstien blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tong 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.

Tong got a little sloppy there for a moment and Epstien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tong has managed to get both his arms back between Epstien's legs - danger averted.
Epstien is trying to control the position but Tong postures up.
Epstien throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Tong wants to control from the top but Epstien keeps moving.
Tong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tong throws a big elbow that misses.
Tong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Epstien's head.
Tong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Epstien works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Da Hee Tong dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Epstien looks for a takedown but Tong sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Epstien. No joy for Tong on that attempt.

Tong decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Epstien is trying to maintain the position but Tong is very close to passing his half guard.
Tong seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tong sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tong is thwarting Epstien's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Tong there.
Tong prevents Epstien from improving his position.
Epstien really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tong lands with a punch from half guard.
Epstien has hold of Tong's hands but Tong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tong throwing shots but Epstien is blocking nicely.
Epstien gets back to full guard.
Epstien takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tong throwing strikes from guard but Epstien blocks nicely.
Tong trying to control but Epstien is working from the bottom.
Tong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tong lands a couple of digs.
Epstien looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epstien is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Epstien working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tong.
Tong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Da Hee Tong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tong is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tong's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Epstien moves into the clinch successfully.

Tong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tong leaves Epstien with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tong is defended easily by Epstien.
Epstien keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Epstien is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Da Hee Tong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Epstien swivels and escapes.
Tong fails with a takedown attempt.
A shot to the liver by Tong. Beautiful body shot.
Epstien tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Epstien shoots in for a double leg but Tong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tong feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Epstien's calf.
Tong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Epstien pinned against the cage. Epstien gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Epstien can do to turn this around?
Epstien shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tong but Tong pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Tong scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Epstien wants to control but Tong postures up.
Tong in side control, throwing shots but Epstien defends.
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.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Epstien is looking to reverse the position.
Simon Epstien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Da Hee Tong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Da Hee Tong!
Our winner, Da Hee Tong, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.