PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carl Kahng (ranked 2018 p4p, 2327 weight class) and Stephen Steve (ranked 257 p4p, 294 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kahng
vs
Steve

180 cm
25
180
3 - 3 - 1

180 cm
26
177
8 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Carl Kahng!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kahng scores with a nice strike.
Kahng jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kahng misses with a looping right.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
Steve walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Nice shot lands for Kahng.
Carl Kahng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Kahng.
Kahng looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Steve misses with an attempted mid kick.
Steve takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kahng throws a lazy right hand but Steve sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steve throws a body punch but Kahng moves out of range.
Kahng takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Steve fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kahng, pushing him back against the cage.
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!
Kahng blocks an uppercut.
Kahng tries to circle away but Steve has him pinned against the cage.
Kahng wants to break free but Steve has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve works on Kahng's body with a couple of short punches.
Steve slows down the pace here.
Kahng tries to break free but Steve pushes him back against the cage.
Steve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steve missing with knees to the body.
Steve working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kahng blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kahng blocking some punches.
Steve is struggling to control the position.
Steve is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kahng is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahng tries to break the clinch but Steve is controlling the position.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steve throws an elbow but misses.
Steve misses with a knee strike.

Kahng manages to break the clinch.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.
Steve tries a knee to the head but Kahng blocks it.
Steve throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steve lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The referee calls for Steve to work.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve throws a punch but it's blocked by Kahng.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kahng blocks it with crossed arms.
Steve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Kahng breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kahng on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Steve. Steve obviously looking to wear him down.
Kahng avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kahng avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Steve takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Steve scores with a shot to the body.
Steve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Kahng counters with a straight right hand.
Kahng is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Steve.
Steve is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Steve scores with a leg kick.
Kahng takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A lazy body kick from Steve
and Kahng counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from Kahng misses.
Steve looks to land a left hand but Kahng moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Kahng misses the target.
Kahng connects with a right hand. Steve shakes it off.
Kahng waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Kahng misses with a left hand
and Steve counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kahng's knee momentarily.

Steve clinches.
Kahng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steve tries to throw a body punch but Kahng avoids it by throwing Steve back against the cage.
Steve gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steve leaning his opponent against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steve.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Steve staying out of range there.
Stephen Steve is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Steve blocks a jab.
Steve smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice shot lands for Kahng.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Kahng.
Kahng thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kahng throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Steve.

Steve drives through and clinches with Kahng against the cage.

Kahng escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Steve clinches with his opponent.
Steve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Steve lands a nice uppercut.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but Kahng blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahng blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kahng blocks it with crossed arms.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
Steve with a knee to the head.
Steve tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kahng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Steve has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Steve.
Kahng blocks an elbow strike from Steve.
Steve misses with some punches.
A short right from Steve.
Kahng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Steve has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve misses with a body punch.
Kahng is trying to break the clinch but Steve is controlling him.
Steve with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A body shot lands from Steve.

Kahng breaks the clinch.
Steve throws a leg kick
and Kahng counters with a right hand to the body.
Kahng moves out of range of the body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kahng throws a lazy right hand but Steve sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Steve.
Kahng throws a sloppy body shot
and Steve counters with a straight right hand.
Kahng lands with a hook. Steve tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Steve throws a right and a left that Kahng avoids nicely.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Kahng circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve moves to clinch but Kahng breaks away
and Kahng counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kahng looks to throw the jab but Steve is out of range.
Steve has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kahng misses with a looping right.
Kahng lands a slapping body shot.
Steve moves out of range as Kahng strikes.
Kahng scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Steve lands a jab to the nose.
Kahng throws out a loose jab but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kahng throws a body shot but no joy.
Kahng jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Steve rushes Kahng and presses him up against the cage.
Kahng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Steve missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Kahng.
Steve lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but Kahng blocks with his arms.
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!

Kahng breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kahng shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Steve eats them both and turns towards Kahng to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A big right from Kahng misses.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Steve is looking to clinch but Kahng is avoiding it.
Kahng tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve was well out of range. Poor timing from Kahng.
Kahng misses with a wild body shot.
Steve replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kahng blocks it well.
Kahng comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Kahng throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Steve will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kahng.
A head kick misses from Steve.
Kahng throws a looping overhand right but Steve ducks down to avoid it.
Steve thuds his shin into the meat of Kahng's side.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch but Kahng swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Steve.
Kahng misses with a straight left.
Kahng misses with a straight left.
Kahng uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Kahng was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kahng misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve throws a hook but Kahng avoids it easily.
Kahng swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kahng throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve.
Kahng has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Steve.
Kahng looks to land a left hand but Steve moved out of range nicely.
Steve slips under a jab from Kahng.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve is looking to score with low kicks.
Steve bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kahng throws a hook but Steve avoids it easily.
Steve is trying to counter with his kicks.
Decent striking displayed by Steve there.
Steve tries a head kick but it misses.
Steve uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kahng.
Steve connects with a crisp jab.
A big right from Kahng misses.
Kahng throws a looping overhand right but Steve ducks down to avoid it.

Steve instigates a clinch.
Steve lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Steve misses with some punches.
Steve throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kahng breaks the clinch.
Kahng throws out a loose jab but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Steve takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kahng missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kahng swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Kahng tries to keep at a distance but Steve has taken the fight into the clinch.
Steve using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kahng has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Steve lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kahng.
Steve misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kahng.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Come on Steve - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahng tries to circle away but Steve has him pinned against the cage.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Steve throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Steve looking to throw knees to the head but Kahng is blocking nicely.
Steve slowing the pace effectively.
Steve utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kahng is trying to push Steve away but Steve has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kahng tries to break free but Steve pushes him back against the cage.
Kahng blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kahng breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steve slips under a jab.
Steve looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Steve throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Carl Kahng has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Steve is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Steve lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Steve.
Steve uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kahng.
Carl Kahng is winning the standup battle so far.
Kahng missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Kahng sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Steve blocks a jab.
Steve throws out a counter right but Kahng avoids it with no problem.
Kahng waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Kahng moves out of range as Steve throws a body kick.
Steve slips a straight right by Kahng.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Kahng circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kahng takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Steve winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Steve!
A very excited looking Stephen Steve made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.