PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Bong (ranked 3262 p4p, 148 weight class) and Ryoichi Koni (ranked 4588 p4p, 188 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bong
vs
Koni

189 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Bong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryoichi Koni!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koni connects with a looping right hand.
Koni misses with a head kick.
Koni throws a shot from downtown. Bong moves away and avoids it.
Koni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Koni is fending him off so far but Bong persists. Nope, Koni circles away and we're back to standing.

Bong closes the distance and pushes Koni back into the cage.
Koni misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koni.
Bong blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Bong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koni looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bong moves into the clinch successfully.
Koni throws a punch but it's blocked by Bong.
A head punch on the inside from Koni fails to land.
Bong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Koni.
Bong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Koni misses with the head strike.

Bong jumps guard and drags Koni to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bong is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Koni has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bong is proving hard to escape from.
Bong looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Koni has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bong is proving hard to escape from.
Bong pulls Koni in close to prevent any damage.
Bong has a closed guard, preventing Koni from standing up.
Bong has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koni has hold of Bong's hands but Bong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bong will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koni trying to control but Bong postures up.
Bong landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bong stalling.
Koni has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bong is working away from the top position though.
Bong wants to pass to mount but Koni is defending the position.
Koni trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Bong manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koni tries to lock up and control but Bong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Koni is looking to get to half guard.
Bong lands a big shot there that rocks Koni but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Koni has left one of his arms exposed and Bong doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Koni screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Bong!