PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bayani Kunakorn (ranked 5979 p4p, 409 weight class) and Johnny Rosenthal (ranked 2046 p4p, 204 weight class). Johnny Rosenthal is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kunakorn
vs
Rosenthal

176 cm
21
156 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

168 cm
27
154 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bayani Kunakorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johnny Rosenthal!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rosenthal misses the body punch
and Kunakorn counters with a stiff right hand.
Rosenthal throws an overhand right that lands on Kunakorn's shoulder, as Kunakorn tries to avoid the shot.
Rosenthal throws a series of punches but Kunakorn moves out of range.
Rosenthal just misses with a punch to the body.
Rosenthal fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kunakorn is out of range.
Kunakorn connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Johnny Rosenthal has been cut.
Kunakorn digs a good hook to Rosenthal's body.
Rosenthal throws a low kick, looking for Kunakorn's leg but Kunakorn calmly moves out of range.
Kunakorn slips a jab and a cross from Rosenthal.
Kunakorn looks to land a combination but Rosenthal avoids it well.
Rosenthal misses with a right hand
and Kunakorn counters with a straight right hand.

Rosenthal closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rosenthal working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rosenthal looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kunakorn is looking to control Rosenthal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kunakorn avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenthal is controlling the pace.
Rosenthal's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rosenthal tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kunakorn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rosenthal wants to take a breather but Kunakorn is having none of it.
Rosenthal lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rosenthal is keen to just control but Kunakorn is a slippery customer.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Let's hope that Rosenthal has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rosenthal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kunakorn keeps working.
Rosenthal slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rosenthal tries to land a leg kick but Kunakorn saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosenthal throws a body shot but no joy.
Kunakorn lands a slapping body shot.
Kunakorn thumps Rosenthal with a low kick.

Kunakorn darts in and clinches Rosenthal up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kunakorn.
A head punch on the inside from Kunakorn fails to land.
Nice body punch from Kunakorn - that landed with a thud.
Kunakorn working aggressively here.
Kunakorn tries a body shot but Rosenthal blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kunakorn.
Kunakorn working aggressively here.
Kunakorn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rosenthals head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kunakorn.
Kunakorn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rosenthal backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rosenthal blocking some punches.
Kunakorn throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kunakorn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Kunakorn.
Kunakorn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rosenthals head.
Kunakorn lands a shoulder strike.
Kunakorn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rosenthal backwards.
Kunakorn struggles to land a body shot inside as Rosenthal controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kunakorn.
Rosenthal trying to control the position but instead, Kunakorn has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rosenthal into the cage.
Kunakorn lands with a right to the head.
Kunakorn pushes Rosenthal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kunakorn misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bayani Kunakorn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Rosenthal's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kunakorn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice side step and Rosenthal releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kunakorn chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kunakorn.
Rosenthal takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've been told by Kunakorn's head coaches at Master Chai's Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rosenthal shoots in for a takedown but Kunakorn shows good takedown defense.
Kunakorn dodges the punch combination from Rosenthal.
Kunakorn connects with a nice cross there... Rosenthal is looking wobbly and Kunakorn recognises it - he's rushed in and lands two more brutal shots that send Rosenthal to the canvas, out cold! A brutal finish to the fight - Kunakorn jumps onto the cage to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Bayani Kunakorn!
An out of breath Bayani Kunakorn thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.