PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Kongo (ranked 5004 p4p, 5095 weight class) and Mike Styler (ranked 628 p4p, 637 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.

Kongo
vs
Styler

175 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
190
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dave Kongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Styler!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kongo slips a jab and a cross from Styler.
Kongo moves in looking to clinch but Styler pushes him off.
Kongo fails to land the takedown.
Kongo moves out of range of the body kick from Styler.
Kongo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Styler. That one must have hurt.
Nice sprawl there from Styler as Kongo shoots in.
Kongo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Styler avoids it really well and circles away.
Styler throws a big counter head kick but Kongo avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kongo. 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.

Styler rushes Kongo and presses him up against the cage.

Styler drags the fight down to the ground.

Styler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kongo is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kongo trying to control here.
Kongo is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kongo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Styler is working for a kimura but Kongo is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Styler controlling the pace.
Kongo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Styler on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo is trying to control but Styler manages to pass to mount!
Kongo tries to hold on but Styler postures up.
Styler throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kongo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Styler throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kongo because Styler loaded up on that one.
Kongo wants to control but Styler is having none of it.
Kongo is trying to reverse the position but instead Styler has taken his back - oops!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo rolls, trying to escape but Styler keeps control of the position.
Kongo is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Kongo tries to roll but Styler sticks to his back.
Styler thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Kongo tries to break free.
Styler is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Kongo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
What can Kongo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Styler working for a choke but Kongo is defending well.
Kongo is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Styler has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Kongo's body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Styler dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kongo shoots in but no luck this time.
Styler misses with a takedown attempt - Kongo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Styler throws a sloppy head kick and Kongo moves out of range easily.
Kongo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kongo.
Kongo fails with a takedown attempt.
Styler shoots in and drives through. Kongo sprawls well.
Kongo fails with the takedown
and Styler counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kongo. 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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kongo.
Styler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kongo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Styler sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Styler throws out a counter right but Kongo avoids it with no problem.
Kongo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Styler makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kongo misses with a few strikes there.
Styler darts in looking for a takedown but Kongo gets double underhooks and turns Styler into the cage.
Styler fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kongo.
Styler shoots in looking for a takedown but Kongo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Styler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kongo throws a right hand that Styler ducks under and follows up with a left that Styler also avoids with ease.

Styler pushes Kongo up against the cage in a clinch.
Styler gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kongo.

Styler has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kongo is trying to keep an underhook but Styler manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Kongo has one foot on Styler's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kongo goes for a double leg but Styler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Styler continues to drive forward.

Styler manages to break the clinch.
Kongo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kongo fails with the takedown

and Styler moves into the clinch.

Styler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Styler trying to control the position.
Kongo wants to stand and escape but instead Styler has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Kongo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Styler is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styler controlling from the top position.

Kongo is working an open guard so Styler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Styler avoids the head kick by Kongo.
Styler closes the distance and clinches up with Kongo, looking for a takedown. Styler pushes Kongo against the cage but Kongo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Styler pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Kongo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Styler swings for the body but Kongo moves out of range.
Styler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kongo defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kongo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Styler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kongo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Styler is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kongo with a body shot.
Dave Kongo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kongo tries to clinch there but Styler circles away.
Kongo shoots in and drives through. Styler sprawls well.
Kongo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Styler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kongo dives in for a single leg takedown but Styler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kongo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Styler jumps guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Styler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kongo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Styler jumps guard and drags Kongo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Styler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kongo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kongo trying to control but Styler is working from the bottom.
Mike Styler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Styler keeping full guard, as Kongo tries to pass.
Styler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Styler decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kongo, up you get!
Kongo shoots in but Styler avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kongo.
Styler fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kongo avoids it really well and circles away.
Kongo looks for a takedown but Styler sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Kongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styler dives in for a single leg takedown but Kongo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Styler has a takedown stuffed.
Kongo shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kongo or perhaps it was just good defense by Styler, which made it look bad.

Styler clinches with his opponent.
Kongo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kongo tries to break free but Styler pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styler is looking for a takedown.

Styler pulls Kongo into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Styler is on top in guard.

Styler seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kongo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kongo tries to get out of the position.
Kongo wants to sweep but no luck.

Kongo working for submissions but it's allowed Styler to get to half guard.
Styler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Styler seems to be working for a kimura but Kongo defends the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Styler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kongo's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kongo wants to get back to full guard but Styler has passed into side control.
Styler landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Styler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Styler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Styler!