PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo DeBaucherie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kruger Kongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruger Kongo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

DeBaucherie
vs
Kongo

186 cm
22
204 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lorenzo DeBaucherie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kruger Kongo!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
DeBaucherie thows a left - swing and a miss!

Kongo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. DeBaucherie was covering up waiting for the punch and Kongo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kongo wants to control from the top but DeBaucherie keeps moving.
DeBaucherie trying to control the position.

DeBaucherie has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kongo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
DeBaucherie throws a series of punches but Kongo moves out of range.
Kongo avoids a punch combination nicely.
DeBaucherie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from DeBaucherie.
DeBaucherie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
DeBaucherie thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeBaucherie throws a nice looking combination but Kongo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
DeBaucherie throws a leg kick that misses.
DeBaucherie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kongo lets loose with a powerful body kick. DeBaucherie will feel that in the morning.
DeBaucherie sizes up Kongo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
DeBaucherie misses with a double jab.
DeBaucherie swinging wilding here.
DeBaucherie stuffs the takedown.

Kongo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kongo trying to control but DeBaucherie is working from the bottom.
DeBaucherie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kongo is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kongo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kongo scoring with some ground and pound.
Kongo trying to control but DeBaucherie is working from the bottom.
Kongo is looking to work some ground and pound but DeBaucherie has wrist control.

DeBaucherie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kongo defends well.

Kongo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
DeBaucherie keeping moving, preventing Kongo from controlling successfully.
Kongo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

DeBaucherie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo trying to control the position from guard on top but DeBaucherie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
DeBaucherie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kongo.
Kongo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
DeBaucherie wants to sweep but no luck.
Kongo trying to control but DeBaucherie is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kongo throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
DeBaucherie fails with the takedown

and Kongo counters with a single leg into guard. DeBaucherie didn't expect that.
Kongo trying to control but DeBaucherie is working from the bottom.
DeBaucherie being controlled here, momentarily.
Kongo trying to control the position from guard on top but DeBaucherie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kongo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
DeBaucherie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kongo wants to control from the top but DeBaucherie keeps moving.
Kongo distracts DeBaucherie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
DeBaucherie 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.

DeBaucherie is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kongo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kongo blocking some punches.

DeBaucherie decides to pull guard.
DeBaucherie is looking to stand up but Kongo isn't so interested in that idea.

DeBaucherie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kruger Kongo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kongo avoids a punch combination nicely.
DeBaucherie misses with a head kick.
DeBaucherie falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kongo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kongo.
DeBaucherie striking off his back but it's not causing Kongo any problems.
DeBaucherie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kongo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed DeBaucherie's guard.
DeBaucherie is not content to let Kongo control the position.
DeBaucherie wants to control but Kongo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kongo is taking a breather. DeBaucherie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

DeBaucherie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kongo pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

DeBaucherie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kongo pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kongo wants to control but DeBaucherie is keeping him busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
DeBaucherie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kongo moves away.
DeBaucherie has his takedown stuffed
and Kongo counters with a big head kick but DeBaucherie shrugs it off.
Kongo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but DeBaucherie circles away quickly and effectively.

Kongo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo working the head and body with strikes.
Kongo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but DeBaucherie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kongo in particular looking to stall.
DeBaucherie misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kongo is trying to control the action in half guard but DeBaucherie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
DeBaucherie tries to get to full guard but Kongo has control of the leg.
DeBaucherie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kongo.
Kongo is looking to take a break and control but DeBaucherie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kongo slips a nice elbow through DeBaucherie's hands, connecting with DeBaucherie's forehead.

DeBaucherie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Kongo there.
Kongo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kongo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kongo lands a nice short elbow.
Kongo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

DeBaucherie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kongo is nestled in close to DeBaucherie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kongo seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kongo lands a nice short elbow.
DeBaucherie trying to hold on to Kongo's head to control him but Kongo postures up.
DeBaucherie tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
DeBaucherie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kruger Kongo has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
DeBaucherie throws a head kick that misses
and Kongo counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeBaucherie throws a lazy head kick
and Kongo counters with a one-two to the body.
Lorenzo DeBaucherie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by DeBaucherie misses

and Kongo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Kongo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
DeBaucherie tries to roll over but Kongo keeps him under control.
DeBaucherie is not content to let Kongo control the position.
Kongo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kruger Kongo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kongo tries a head kick but it misses.
DeBaucherie throws a lazy right hand but Kongo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
DeBaucherie throws a lazy head kick

and Kongo counters with a single leg into guard. DeBaucherie didn't expect that.
Kongo advances to half guard.
Kongo is keen to just control but DeBaucherie is a slippery customer.
Kongo looks to land a strike but DeBaucherie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
DeBaucherie controls Kongo momentarily but Kongo frees himself.
Kongo postures up in DeBaucherie's guard and throws a big left but DeBaucherie blocks it.
Kongo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kongo trying to control the position from guard on top but DeBaucherie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kongo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeBaucherie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DeBaucherie throws a head kick that misses

so Kongo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kongo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kongo landing with the ground and pound.
Kongo slips nicely into half guard.
Kongo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kongo is trying to control. DeBaucherie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kongo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
DeBaucherie wants to get back to full guard.
Kongo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
DeBaucherie is pressing down on Kongo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
DeBaucherie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kongo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kongo shoots in but DeBaucherie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
DeBaucherie throws a lazy head kick

and Kongo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

DeBaucherie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
DeBaucherie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kongo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
DeBaucherie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kongo cracks DeBaucherie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kongo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Kongo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kongo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kongo is looking to take a break and control but DeBaucherie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeBaucherie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
DeBaucherie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kongo is looking for a sweep. DeBaucherie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lorenzo DeBaucherie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
DeBaucherie is trying to control. Kongo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
DeBaucherie misses with the combination.
DeBaucherie throws a sloppy head kick and Kongo moves out of range easily.
DeBaucherie throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kongo counters with a nice double leg into side control. DeBaucherie won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeBaucherie is looking to reverse the position.
Kongo lands an elbow.
DeBaucherie is trying to get back to his feet.
Kongo wants to control but DeBaucherie is keeping him busy.
DeBaucherie takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kongo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Kongo scoring with punches and elbows.
DeBaucherie can't do much from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
DeBaucherie looks to throw the jab but Kongo is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kongo slips a jab and a cross from DeBaucherie.
DeBaucherie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kongo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kruger Kongo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kongo 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

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