PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kwasi Kwong (ranked 104 p4p, 191 weight class) and Valen Dreth (ranked 17 p4p, 28 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kwong
vs
Dreth

180 cm
29
156
26 - 5 - 0

175 cm
37
165
33 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

NARCOS
FF Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kwasi Kwong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valen Dreth!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dreth slips a straight right by Kwong.
Kwong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dreth.
Dreth on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kwong misses with a looping left.
Dreth throws a lazy uppercut
and Dreth takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dreth checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dreth throws a body kick that misses.
Dreth ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dreth attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dreth tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kwong is able to avoid easily.
Dreth misses with a hook
and Kwong counters with a nice body shot.
Dreth throws a low kick but Kwong avoids it.
Kwong takes a swing at Dreth's ribcage but misses.
Dreth looks for the body kick but Kwong saw that one coming.
Kwong seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dreth throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kwong.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dreth misses with a head kick.
Kwong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dreth throws the left hand but Kwong avoids the punch easily.
Kwong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dreth throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dreth lands a glancing blow to the side of Kwong's head.
Valen Dreth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dreth slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kwong throws a hook but Dreth avoids it easily.
Nice shot by Kwong.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Dreth has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kwong cracks Dreth with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kwong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dreth.
Jab, jab by Kwong - just one landing.
Dreth moves away from the strike by Kwong.
Dreth fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kwong checks it well.
Kwasi Kwong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dreth throws a head kick that misses.
Kwong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kwong changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Kwong throws a big shot that misses.
Kwong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dreth was well out of range. Poor timing from Kwong.
Dreth lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dreth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kwong moves away.
Kwong missing with a left hand there. Dreth was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dreth lands with a good body shot.
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!
Kwong missing with a left hand there. Dreth was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Dreth gets tackled into the cage by Kwong. Kwong maintains the clinch.
Dreth has Kwong pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kwong manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwong misses with a punch on the inside.
Dreth takes a shot to the head.
Dreth fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dreth lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kwong backwards.
Dreth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kwasi Kwong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valen Dreth.
Kwong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dreth's elbow.
Kwong blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kwong wants to stall.
Kwong can't find room to land a body shot as Dreth controls the action.
Dreth tries to pull guard but Kwong forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dreth throws a head punch that misses.
Kwong lands a body shot.
Kwong lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kwong lands a hook that snaps the head of Dreth backwards.
Dreth misses with some punches.
Dreth fails to pull guard.
Dreth wants to get back to striking at distance but Kwong won't allow it.
Kwong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dreth's elbow.
Dreth throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kwongs head.
Dreth tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kwong lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dreth is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kwong can't fight it off and eventually Dreth manages to take the fight to the floor. Kwong looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dreth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kwong is keeping the position for now.
Kwong is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dreth wants to control from the top but Kwong keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kwong is on top in guard.

Dreth being controlled here, momentarily.
Dreth wants to improve his position but instead Kwong has moved into half guard.
Kwong trying to control the action but Dreth is working from the bottom.
Dreth tries to get to full guard but Kwong has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kwasi Kwong dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dreth throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Dreth fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kwong.
Dreth throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kwasi Kwong is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Dreth, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dreth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Dreth throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kwong was covering up waiting for the punch and Dreth finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kwong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dreth is looking to work some ground and pound but Kwong has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dreth postures up in Kwong's guard and throws a big left but Kwong blocks it.
Dreth working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kwong's head.
Dreth missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kwong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dreth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dreth throws a strike but Kwong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dreth is on top in guard.

Kwong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dreth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dreth with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kwong has Dreth pulled in close to control his posture.
Dreth postures up in Kwong's guard and throws a big left but Kwong blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth stopping the sweep attempt from Kwong.
Dreth throws a big elbow that misses.
Dreth missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kwong wants to sweep here but Dreth controlling him for the moment.
Dreth wants to control from the top but Kwong keeps moving.
Dreth stopping the sweep attempt from Kwong.
Dreth looking to sit in guard and control but Kwong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Valen Dreth has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dreth controls Kwong momentarily but Kwong frees himself.
Kwong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kwong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dreth is on top in guard.

Dreth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dreth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dreth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.

Dreth is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kwong is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kwong has escaped and now he's on top!

Dreth not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kwong trying to control the position from guard on top but Dreth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dreth wants to sweep here but Kwong controlling him for the moment.
Kwong wants to control from the top but Dreth keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dreth working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valen Dreth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kwong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kwong takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dreth throws a push kick but Kwong slaps the foot to one side.
Kwong misses the jab.
Dreth throws a body punch but Kwong moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Dreth misses with a low kick.
Dreth misses with a low kick.
Kwong misses with a looping left.
Dreth tries to work over Kwong's front leg with a kick but Kwong checks it.
Kwong works the jab nicely.
Dreth is looking to land body kicks.
Kwong was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fighters circling - Dreth throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dreth lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kwong takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kwong lands a slapping body shot.
Dreth slips a straight right by Kwong.
Dreth gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dreth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
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!
Kwong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dreth throws a fast counter high kick but Kwong manages to duck under it in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Kwong.
Kwong throws a combination that misses
and Dreth counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dreth tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Kwong lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dreth circles away quickly and effectively.
Dreth turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kwong takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Dreth steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kwong.
An inside leg kick lands from Dreth.
Kwong looks to land a left hand but Dreth moved out of range nicely.
Kwong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dreth moves away.
Kwong misses with a left hand
and Dreth makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kwong looks to score with a jab to the body but Dreth is just out of range.
Dreth throws a wild body kick that Kwong sees coming a mile off.
An attempted straight right counter from Kwong misses the target.
Kwong misses with a looping right.
Dreth drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kwong defends it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dreth is looking to slow Kwong down with leg kicks.
Dreth with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kwong throws a jab when Dreth was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kwong looks to land a left hand but Dreth moved out of range nicely.
Kwong ducks right into an uppercut from Dreth.
Kwong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dreth.
Kwong misses with a straight left.
Kwong scores with a shot to the body.
Kwong takes a swing at Dreth's ribcage but misses.
Kwong takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dreth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kwong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dreth throws out the jab.
Kwong swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Kwong darts in and clinches Dreth up against the cage.
Kwong lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dreth.
Kwong is stalling here.
Kwong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dreth.
A short uppercut from Dreth.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dreth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kwong takes a shot to the head.
Kwong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Kwong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kwong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dreth throws out the jab.
Dreth dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kwong. That did some damage!
Dreth fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kwong is out of range.
Kwong lands with a hook. Dreth tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kwong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dreth throws a head kick but Kwong moves out of range.
Dreth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kwong.
Kwong wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Dreth gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dreth displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kwong throws out the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Dreth misses the target.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Dreth fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kwong checks it well.
Kwong appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Kwong clinches up with Dreth and pushes him back against the cage.
Kwong is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dreth lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Kwong fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kwong throws a head punch that misses.

Dreth breaks from the clinch.
Dreth explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dreth dips to his left and cracks Kwong with an uppercut!
Kwong misses with a body shot.
Kwong scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kwong throws a body punch but Dreth moves out of range.
Kwong tries to close the distance and clinch but Dreth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dreth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Dreth moves out of range as Kwong strikes.
Nice defenses there by Dreth.
Dreth throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kwong takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kwong moves out of range as Dreth throws a body kick.
Dreth pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kwong is out of range and Dreth settles back down.
Kwong lands a jab.
Kwong takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kwasi Kwong.
I think Kwong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kwasi Kwong!
Kwasi Kwong thanked the fans post fight for their support.