PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kengo Ho Park (ranked 5831 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarek Hamdi (ranked 5842 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ho Park
vs
Hamdi

177 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kengo Ho Park!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tarek Hamdi!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamdi misses with a low kick.
Park shoots in for a double leg but Hamdi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hamdi! But no joy.
Hamdi shoots in but no luck this time.
Park fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hamdi avoids it really well and circles away.

Park gets a clinch.
Park tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kengo Ho Park. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hamdi lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Park is looking for a sweep. Hamdi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Park actively working from the bottom here.
Park blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hamdi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Park avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hamdi.

Hamdi seems to be looking for submissions.
Park is looking to control Hamdi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Park avoid being mounted?
Hamdi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hamdi wants to stand up but Park is controlling the position.

Hamdi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Park is looking for a sweep. Hamdi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Hamdi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Park is trying to stand up here but Hamdi is controlling him well.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Park jumps guard but Hamdi stands there with Park around his waist. Park gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hamdi is trying to pull guard but Park has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Hamdi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamdi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Park pulls his leg out and moves away.
Park closes the distance and clinches up with Hamdi, looking for a takedown. Park pushes Hamdi against the cage but Hamdi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Park slaps away a takedown attempt from Hamdi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Park shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hamdi defends it nicely.
Hamdi drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Park defends it well.
Hamdi shoots and misses
and Park counters with a three punch combo that has Hamdi backing up. Hamdi nods at Park to acknowledge the strikes.

Hamdi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Park drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A frustrated look appears on Hamdi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamdi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Park pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Park with that takedown attempt.
Hamdi has a takedown stuffed.
Park appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Park.

Hamdi gets tackled into the cage by Park. Park maintains the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bit of stalling here from Park.

Park breaks the clinch.

Hamdi closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kengo Ho Park will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Park changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hamdi tries to avoid it but Park manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hamdi to the ground. Hamdi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Park darts in and clinches Hamdi up against the cage.
Park tries to score a body lock takedown but Hamdi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hamdi jumps guard and drags Park to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Park looking to pass the guard.
Hamdi is trying to keep Park in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hamdi striking off his back but it's not causing Park any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Park trying to control the position from guard on top but Hamdi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamdi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Park looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Park closes the distance and clinches up with Hamdi, looking for a takedown. Park pushes Hamdi against the cage but Hamdi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kengo Ho Park. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Park fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Park fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Hamdi instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamdi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Park breaks from the clinch.
Kengo Ho Park is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Park shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hamdi as he avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A shot to the liver by Hamdi. Beautiful body shot.
Park shoots in and drives through. Hamdi sprawls well.
Hamdi tries to counter with a clinch but Park shakes him off and moves away.
Park fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hamdi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Hamdi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hamdi tries to pull guard but Park forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hamdi letting Park take a breather here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Park keeps control of Hamdi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hamdi working hard to break the clinch.
Park fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Park is trying to pull guard but Hamdi has him pressed against the cage.
Park tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Park jumps guard.
Hamdi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Park works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hamdi throwing strikes from guard but Park blocks nicely.
Hamdi pushes down on Park's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamdi is pressing down on Park's thigh, looking to free his foot. Park is holding on for now.
Hamdi throwing shots but Park is blocking nicely.
Hamdi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hamdi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Park controls his leg.
Hamdi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hamdi is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarek Hamdi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Park fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hamdi manages to avoid it.
Hamdi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Hamdi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hamdi throwing strikes from guard but Park blocks nicely.
Hamdi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Park is on top in guard.

Park postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Park stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hamdi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hamdi working for a triangle but Park defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamdi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Park pushing down on Hamdi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Park throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hamdi is refusing to be controlled, as Park sits in half guard.
Tarek Hamdi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hamdi is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Park takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hamdi is trying to stand up here but Park is controlling him well.
Park content to control rather than advance.
Hamdi won't allow Park to pass to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Park misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hamdi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hamdi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Park has a takedown stuffed.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hamdi.
Nice sprawl there from Hamdi as Park shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Park lands with a nice body kick.
Park fails with a takedown attempt.
Hamdi is trying to counter with his kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kengo Ho Park. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Park tries to keep at a distance but Hamdi has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park jumps guard but Hamdi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Park missing with knees to the body.

Hamdi jumps guard and drags Park to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Park won't allow Hamdi to get back to his feet.
Park being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hamdi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Park trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kengo Ho Park.
I think Park 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kengo Ho Park!