PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cesar Kongo (ranked 6751 p4p, 4274 weight class) and Bruna Faria (ranked 710 p4p, 552 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kongo
vs
Faria

180 cm
25
205
4 - 5 - 0

176 cm
25
140
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cesar Kongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruna Faria!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kongo tries to keep at a distance but Faria has taken the fight into the clinch.
Faria looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
A short left from Kongo.
Faria is trying to break free.
Kongo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Faria's defenses.
Kongo is trying to pull guard but Faria has him pressed against the cage.
Faria tries to break the clinch but Kongo is controlling the position.
Faria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Faria tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kongo fails to pull guard.
Faria jumps guard but Kongo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kongo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Kongo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kongo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faria decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kongo closes the distance and clinches.

Kongo decides to pull guard.
Kongo wants to stand and escape but Faria is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faria wants to control from the top but Kongo keeps moving.
Kongo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faria is one step ahead there.
Kongo wants to stand up but Faria is controlling him.
Kongo controlling the position.
Kongo continues to stall.
Kongo wants to sweep here but Faria controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kongo is pulling down on Faria's head. It's preventing any offense from Faria, at least for the moment.
Faria prevents Kongo from getting back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kongo scores with a push kick.
Kongo throws a combination. Faria tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kongo feints a jab promting Faria to slip. Kongo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Faria slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kongo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Faria defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesar Kongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Kongo with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kongo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kongo manages to break the clinch.
Kongo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Kongo clinches with his opponent.
Faria wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kongo has him pressed against the cage.
Kongo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kongo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Faria's face.
Kongo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Faria avoiding damage as Kongo throws knees to the body.
Kongo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Faria up against the cage.
Faria jumps guard but Kongo stands there with Faria around his waist. Faria gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Kongo has clasped his hands together around Faria's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
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!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kongo wants to stand but Faria has his arm trapped.
Kongo happy to just control the position for now.
Kongo tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Kongo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown attempt by Kongo or perhaps it was just good defense by Faria, which made it look bad.
Kongo throws a combination. Faria tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kongo scores with a one two! Faria had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Kongo forces Faria back against the cage and clinches.
Kongo can't break the clinch.
Kongo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Faria is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Faria is trying to drag Kongo to the mat but Kongo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kongo wants to get back to striking at distance but Faria won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kongo breaks from the clinch.
Cesar Kongo is winning the standup battle so far.
Faria takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Faria is breathing heavily.

Kongo clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faria tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kongo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cesar Kongo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruna Faria.
Kongo has Faria pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Faria manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kongo lands a nice elbow.
Kongo lands a knee to the head.
Faria looking for a takedown.
Kongo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kongo lands a damaging elbow.
Kongo stalling.

Kongo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Faria throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Faria doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Kongo closes the distance and clinches.

Kongo pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kongo has his feet on Faria's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Cesar Kongo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kongo moves into range and clinches up with Faria.
Stalling in the clinch from Kongo.
Faria's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Kongo pulls guard.
Kongo wants to stand but Faria is controlling the position.
Faria wants to control from the top but Kongo keeps moving.
Kongo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kongo, not yet.
Faria looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faria is fighting to break Kongo's control of his arms but Kongo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Faria trying to control the position from guard on top but Kongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kongo managing to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Kongo clinches with his opponent.

That's four 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.
Kongo lands a body punch.
Kongo pushes Faria back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Faria prevents Kongo from breaking the clinch.
Kongo tries to pull guard but Faria holds him up against the cage and eventually Kongo drops back down to his feet.

Kongo jumps guard and drags Faria to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kongo holds on and takes a little breather.

Faria gets to his feet. Kongo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kongo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Faria eats them both and turns towards Kongo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kongo misses with a few strikes there.
Nice sprawl there from Faria as Kongo shoots in.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Kongo dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kongo lands with a kick to the ribs.

Faria clinches with his opponent.
Kongo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kongo scores with a shoulder strike.
Kongo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Faria backwards.

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

Kongo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kongo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Faria's defenses.
Faria misses with some punches.
Kongo lands with a light punch inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kongo lands an uppercut.

Kongo jumps guard and drags Faria to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Faria takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo pulls Faria in to control the position.
Kongo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kongo has Faria pulled in close to control his posture.
Kongo wants to stand but Faria is controlling the position.

Faria gets to his feet - Kongo follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kongo moves into range and connects with a jab.

Kongo clinches up with Faria and pushes him back against the cage.

Kongo jumps guard.
Kongo controlling the position.
Cesar Kongo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faria won't allow Kongo to get back to his feet.
Kongo has his hands on Faria's head, controlling the position.

Faria stands and steps away. Kongo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kongo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Faria, pushing him back against the cage.

Kongo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kongo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kongo is working for takedown but Faria is calmly controlling the position for now.
Faria misses with a knee to the head.
Kongo is trying to break free.
Nice body punch from Kongo - that landed with a thud.

Kongo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kongo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kongo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Faria gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesar Kongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kongo tries to land knees in the clinch but Faria avoids the damage to the body.
Kongo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kongo looking to throw knees to the head but Faria is blocking nicely.
Kongo lands a good knee to the midsection. Faria won't want to take too many of those.
Kongo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kongo fails to pull guard.
Kongo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Farias head.
Bruna Faria has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kongo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesar Kongo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kongo 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesar Kongo!