PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Upton Kong (ranked 5961 p4p, 5313 weight class) and Ike Svensson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Upton Kong has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kong
vs
Svensson

200 cm
25
280
0 - 1 - 0

220 cm
18
268
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Upton Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ike Svensson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kong doesn't manage to clinch there - Svensson circles away.
Kong looks to score with a jab to the body but Svensson is just out of range.
Svensson missing with a left hand there. Kong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Svensson throws a jab when Kong was well out of range.

Svensson has managed to clinch.
Svensson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kong digs a right hand underneath Svensson's ribcage. Svensson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short uppercut from Kong.
Svensson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kong lands an elbow just above Svensson 's eye.

It looks like Ike Svensson has been cut.
Kong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Svensson blocks it with crossed arms.
Svensson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kong working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kong obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Svensson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kong - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Svensson throws a head punch that misses.
Svensson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kong breaks the clinch.
Svensson throws a body punch but Kong moves out of range.

Kong clinches up with Svensson and pushes him back against the cage.
Kong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Svensson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kong scores with a shot to the side of Svensson's head.
Svensson looks winded!
Svensson throws a head punch that misses.
Kong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Svensson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kong.
Kong tries a knee to the head but Svensson blocks it.
Kong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Svensson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kong scores with a shot to the side of Svensson's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kong landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kong breaks from the clinch.
Kong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Kong has closed the distance and engaged Svensson in a clinch.
Kong digs a right hand underneath Svensson's ribcage. Svensson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kong lands a knee to the body.
Kong digs a right hand underneath Svensson's ribcage. Svensson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kong lands a body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kong obliges.
Kong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Svensson takes a knee to the side of the body.

Kong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Some wild striking there from Kong.

Kong gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong lands a nice elbow.
Kong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kong obliges.
Kong lands an elbow inside that Svensson shrugs off.
Kong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kong putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Svensson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Svensson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kong is working Svensson over against the cage.
Kong is pushing Svensson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Kong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kong uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kong using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kong displaying some good clinch control by pressing Svensson up against the cage.
Kong landing knees to the body.
Kong landing knees to the head.
Kong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kong stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kong lands a damaging elbow.
Svensson working aggressively here.
Kong lands an elbow just above Svensson 's eye.
Still in the clinch, Kong scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kong lands with a short shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Upton Kong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ike Svensson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kong gets a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Kong.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kong breaks from the clinch.

Kong tries to keep at a distance but Svensson has taken the fight into the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Svensson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Svensson throws a head punch that misses.
Kong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Svensson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Svensson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Svensson tries to work over Kong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Svensson misses with a punch to the body.
Svensson is breathing heavily.

Kong manages to break the clinch.
Kong connects with a body shot.
Kong lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Svensson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kong rushes Svensson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee calls for Kong to work.
Kong blocking some punches.
Svensson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kong scores a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kong.
Kong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kong landing knees to the body.
Kong connects with a knee to the head.
Kong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kong landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Upton Kong has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kong lands a nice shot to the body.
Kong presses Svensson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong looking to throw knees to the head but Svensson is blocking nicely.
Svensson takes a knee to the side of the body.
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 presses Svensson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kong lands a right hand.
Kong pushes Svensson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice elbow from Kong.

That has opened up Ike Svensson's cut even more.
Svensson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Upton Kong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kong throws a head kick that misses.

Kong pushes Svensson up against the cage in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Kong.
Kong scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Svensson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kong scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kong obliges.
Svensson throws a head punch that misses.
Kong throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kong connects with a knee to the head.
Kong lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Nice elbow from Kong.
Kong lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Kong.
Kong lands an elbow inside that Svensson shrugs off.
Kong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kong manages to break the clinch.

Kong clinches up with Svensson and pushes him back against the cage.
Kong unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Kong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ike Svensson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kong drops Svensson with a beautiful combination! Svensson stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kong is looking for the KO!

Svensson is rocked!
A nice leg kick lands there from Kong.
Svensson is still on wobbly legs! Can Kong finish him?
Svensson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kong can pounce on him.

Kong darts in and clinches Svensson up against the cage.
Kong scores a nice knee to the body.
Svensson seems to have recovered his senses.

Kong breaks the clinch.

Kong closes the distance and pushes Svensson back into the cage.
Kong digs a right hand into Svensson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Svensson's gas tank.
Kong scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kong is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Svensson swings wildly with an uppercut but Kong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Upton Kong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ike Svensson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kong moves in looking to clinch but Svensson pushes him off.
Svensson avoids the head kick by Kong.
Kong tries to clinch but Svensson is having none of it.

Kong darts in and clinches Svensson up against the cage.
Svensson misses with some punches.
Kong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Svensson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Svensson misses with the head strike.
Svensson misses with a punch on the inside.
Kong digs a right hand into Svensson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Svensson's gas tank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Svensson fails to land.
Svensson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kong manages to break the clinch.
Kong moves in looking to clinch but Svensson pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Svensson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Svensson takes the fight into the clinch.
Kong connects with a knee to the head.
Svensson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kong blocks an uppercut.
Svensson tries to throw a body punch but Kong avoids it by throwing Svensson back against the cage.
Svensson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kong.
Kong putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Svensson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kong is leaning against Svensson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kong is leaning against Svensson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A body shot lands from Kong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong has Svensson pushed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Kong.
Kong tries to land a knee to the head but Svensson blocks with his arms.

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

Kong clinches.
Kong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Svensson can do to turn this around?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kong lands a right hand that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.
Kong lands a body punch.
A left hand lands to the body for Kong.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kong.
Svensson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kong scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kong landing knees to the body.
Kong manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kong with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Svensson.
Kong pushes Svensson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Svensson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A left hand lands to the body for Kong.
Kong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Svensson's face.
Kong lands a good knee to the midsection. Svensson won't want to take too many of those.
Ike Svensson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kong obliges.
Kong slows down the pace here.
Kong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Svensson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong works on Svensson's body with a couple of short punches.
Kong prevents a body shot from Svensson.
Svensson throws a head punch that misses.
Kong landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The cut above Ike Svensson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kong lands an elbow inside that Svensson shrugs off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kong with a knee to the head.

Kong breaks from the clinch.
Upton Kong is winning the standup battle so far.
Kong scores with a jab. Svensson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Kong instigates a clinch.
Kong has Svensson pushed against the cage.
Svensson misses with a punch to the body.
Kong scores with a shoulder strike.
Upton Kong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kong manages to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Upton Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

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