PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Casey Silk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Kong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kong has chosen Evil Scotsman as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Silk
vs
Kong

173 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Casey Silk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Kong!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kong pinned against the cage. Kong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silk.
Kong shoots for a takedown but Silk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Silk tries to clinch up but Kong circles away and keeps his distance.

Kong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Silk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silk throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kong. What's that going to do exactly?
Silk flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Silk is squirming around, avoiding Kong's attempts to control the action.
Silk is in all sorts of trouble here.
Silk is squirming around, avoiding Kong's attempts to control the action.
Silk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong wants to take Silk's back but he can't do it this time.
Kong trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Silk wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Kong missing with punches from the back.
Silk has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Will Kong go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Kong is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Silk knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Silk for a finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silk breaks Kong's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kong wants to stand but Silk is controlling the position.

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.

Silk has gone for a leg lock! Kong slips out almost immediately though and dives into Silk's guard.
Silk will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Silk throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kong preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Silk has control of Kong's left arm, preventing Kong from doing any damage.
Kong advances to half guard.
Silk taking some punishment here, with Kong in his half guard.
Silk punching from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kong seems content to control.
Silk is trying to stand back up but Kong is controlling him
Silk is breathing heavily.
Kong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Silk wants to improve his position but Kong is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silk is staying active underneath Kong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Silk gets back to full guard.
Kong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kong wants to control from the top but Silk keeps moving.

Kong drops back looking for a leg! Silk is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silk manages to kick Kong off! Kong jumps back into Silk's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silk is on top in guard.

Kong has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Silk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Silk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Silk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silk chips away with some ground and pound.
Kong keeping full guard, as Silk tries to pass.
Silk lands a couple of elbows.
Silk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Silk stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kong moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kong shoots in for a double leg but Silk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Silk is looking to clinch.

Silk scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kong tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Silk wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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 Casey Silk will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Silk lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kong backs up against the cage.
Casey Silk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Silk throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kong shoots in looking for a takedown. Silk tries to sprawl out of it but Kong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Silk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kong moves out of range as Silk throws a body kick.
Silk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Silk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kong counters with a single leg into guard. Silk didn't expect that.
Kong wants to control from the top but Silk keeps moving.
Kong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Silk looking for a sweep. Not yet Silk, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong advances position into side control!
Silk sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Silk has one foot on Kong's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Silk digs a good body shot into Kong's ribs.
Silk falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kong counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silk won't be happy with that.
Kong trying to control the action but Silk is working from the bottom.
Silk gets back to half guard.
Silk gets full guard.

Silk looking for a guillotine here but Kong defends easily.
Silk throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Silk on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Silk tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong prevents Silk from getting back to his feet.
Kong stands and throws Silk's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Silk throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Silk trying his best to control but Kong has mounted him.

Kong is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Silk can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Silk is looking to get to half guard.
Kong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Silk is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Kong gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Silk jabs at Kong's body.
Silk connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kong momentarily.
Silk throws a combination that misses

and Kong counters with a takedown into side control.
Kong wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silk keeps working.
Silk 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.
Kong tries to stand but Silk is controlling his head.
Silk regains half guard.

Silk manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kong has closed the distance and engaged Silk in a clinch.
Silk prevents a takedown attempt there.
Casey Silk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Kong.
Kong gets underhooks to prevent Silk's takedown attempt.
Silk tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Kong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Silk takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Silk shoots in but no luck this time.
Kong throws a head kick that Silk semi-blocks.
A nice combination there by Silk.

Kong closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
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!

Silk is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kong pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silk is looking to improve his position.
Silk tries to kick Kong off but Kong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Kong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Silk's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kong moves into the clinch.
Silk tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kong has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Silk avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silk gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Kong successfully pulls guard.
Silk lands a couple of elbows.
Kong can't keep his opponent in guard - Silk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Silk seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Silk is trying to control the action in half guard but Kong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Silk prevents Kong from improving his position.
Silk prevents Kong from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Silk lands with a punch from half guard.
Kong tries to get to full guard but Silk has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong wants to get back to his feet.
Silk slips a nice elbow through Kong's hands, connecting with Kong's forehead.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silk cracks Kong with a right hand to the side of the head.
Silk closes the distance looking to clinch

so Kong counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Silk tries to strike from the bottom.
Kong prevents Silk from getting back to his feet.

Kong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Silk, up you get!
Kong buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Silk.
Silk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kong shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Silk has his foot on Kong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kong works his way back into a safe position though.
Kong passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Silk wants to get back to his feet.
Kong is looking to take a break and control but Silk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Silk throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Silk is not content to let Kong control the position.

Silk kicks Kong off and gets back to his feet.
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!
Kong takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kong bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Silk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silk trying to control from the bottom.
Silk is trying to stand back up but Kong is controlling him
Silk wants to get back to full guard.
Silk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kong trying to control the position from guard on top but Silk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silk scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.

Silk looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kong passes into side control.
Silk is looking for a sweep.

Kong stands up and beckons Silk to his feet.
Silk fails with the takedown

and Kong counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Casey Silk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silk is trying to get back to full guard.

Silk is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kong pulls his head out easily.
Paul Kong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kong prevents Silk from improving his position.
Kong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Silk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Silk moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kong trying to stand up but can't free himself from Silk's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silk lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kong!
Kong wants to hold on but Silk pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Kong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kong 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Kong!