PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Blaze Cunningham (ranked 2135 p4p, 2682 weight class) and Dong Hyun Ma (ranked 226 p4p, 285 weight class). Cunningham comes to the cage accompanied by Empire State Of Mind. Dong Hyun Ma acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Cunningham
vs
Ma

183 cm
27
167
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
160
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Blaze Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dong Hyun Ma!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunningham connects with a high kick.
Cunningham digs a good body shot into Ma's ribs.
Cunningham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ma swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cunningham counters with a three punch combo that has Ma backing up. Ma nods at Cunningham to acknowledge the strikes.

Ma is rocked!
Sloppy strikes from Cunningham. Those never looked like landing.
Ma throws a fast counter high kick but Cunningham manages to duck under it in time.
We've been hearing reports that Cunningham has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ma avoids the head kick by Cunningham.
Cunningham throws a series of punches but Ma avoids them all with ease.
Cunningham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Ma on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ma fails with a takedown attempt.
Cunningham misses with a combination
and Ma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham misses with a two punch combination.
Cunningham throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cunningham pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cunningham throws a lazy right hand but Ma sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A head kick by Cunningham misses

so Ma counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ma trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
Cunningham is pulling down on Ma's head to control his posture.
Ma is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cunningham is looking for a triangle but Ma pushes his legs off easily.

Cunningham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cunningham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cunningham is really struggling to control Ma but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ma trying to control but Cunningham is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Ma. That snapped Cunningham's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cunningham misses with a two punch combination.
Ma fails with a takedown attempt.
Ma drops his hands momentarily and Cunningham takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cunningham throws a solid leg kick but Ma takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Cunningham.
Cunningham moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ma takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cunningham lands with a right hand.
Ma is still on wobbly legs! Can Cunningham finish him?
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cunningham.
Blaze Cunningham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ma misses with a takedown
and Cunningham counters with a series of strikes that really hurt Ma! The ref looks into his eyes and sees nobody home - he's called the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Blaze Cunningham!
A relieved looking Blaze Cunningham thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.