PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Vieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nichi Hong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hong has chosen Hong Entrance Song as his entrance music. 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.

Vieri
vs
Hong

180 cm
27
170 lbs
20 - 2 - 0

175 cm
26
160 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sparta Fightware
Heisenberg

Fury Nutrition Inc.
KO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Vieri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nichi Hong!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vieri tries to clinch there but Hong circles away.
Hong throws a lazy uppercut
and Vieri counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hong has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vieri.
Vieri fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hong is out of range.
Vieri moves out of range as Hong strikes.
Vieri listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Vieri swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vieri ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vieri was well out of range. Poor timing from Hong.
Vieri is looking to slow Hong down with leg kicks.
Vieri digs a good body shot into Hong's ribs.

Vieri gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hong wants to get back to full guard.
Hong wants to control but Vieri is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong is looking to improve his position.
Hong wants to control but Vieri is keeping busy.
Vieri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vieri lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vieri passes to side control.
Vieri looks up at the clock and then as Hong takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Vieri smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Vieri postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Vieri trying to control the position but Hong is working away.
Hong defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieri trying to control the position but Hong is working away.
Vieri scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vieri working away.
Hong dodges the ground and pound from Vieri.
Hong is looking for a sweep.
Hong regains half guard.
Nice strikes from Vieri there.
Hong trying to control but Vieri postures up.
Vieri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hong's head.
Vieri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hong is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Vieri jumps into side control!
Hong tries to bench press Vieri off him but Vieri keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong is working to avoid the ground and pound but Vieri connects with a decent elbow.
Vieri is chipping away with strikes.
Vieri fails to land a wild elbow strike.
You can see the frustration on Hong's face as Vieri controls the position.
Vieri is looking to take a break and control but Hong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hong tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vieri wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hong is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vieri off and has taken his back!
Vieri staying busy and making it hard for Hong to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vieri is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri is working hard here to advance position.
I would not like to be Vieri right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vieri prevents Hong from getting a body triangle.
Vieri tries to roll but Hong sticks to his back.
Hong trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Hong biding his time, controlling Vieri.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hong's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Vieri dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hong takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hong needs to keep his hands up - Vieri had a free shot at his head there.
Vieri closes the distance and clinches up with Hong, looking for a takedown. Vieri pushes Hong against the cage but Hong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A lazy left from Hong finds it's target.
Hong checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hong misses with a looping right.
Hong ducks under a wild hook from Vieri.
Vieri shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vieri.
Hong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hong lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hong tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vieri was well out of range. Poor timing from Hong.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hong looks to throw the jab but Vieri is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieri throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nichi Hong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vieri lands a head shot.
Vieri slips a jab from Hong.
Vieri takes a swing at Hong's ribcage but misses.
Vieri looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Vieri walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hong checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vieri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hong throws out the jab.
Vieri misses with an uppercut. Hong saw that one coming.
Vieri tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hong misses with a wild body shot.
Vieri checks a leg kick.
Vieri misses with a low kick.
Hong throws a body punch but Vieri moves out of range.
Hong lands a nice shot to the body.
Vieri tried to score with a low kick but Hong checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieri avoids a kick to the body.
Hong misses with a looping left.
Vieri throws a right and a left that Hong avoids nicely.
Vieri wants to clinch
and Hong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vieri's knee momentarily.
Erkki Vieri is winning the standup battle so far.
Hong keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Vieri lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hong at a distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vieri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vieri blocks a head kick by Hong.
Hong attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vieri scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hong clobbers Vieri with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Vieri takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vieri manages to avoid it.
Vieri misses with a body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hong.
Hong throws a lazy right hand but Vieri sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hong misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hong misses with a kick to the body.
Hong has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vieri.
Vieri lands with a good body shot.
Hong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vieri takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hong looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fighters circling - Vieri throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vieri dives in for a single leg takedown but Hong sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vieri is pushing Hong up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hong tries a knee to the head but Vieri blocks it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vieri displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hong up against the cage.
Vieri can't find room to land a body shot as Hong controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vieri blocks it with crossed arms.
Hong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vieri pushes Hong back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hong misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nichi Hong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vieri wants to slow Hong down by chopping away at his legs.
Hong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vieri.
Hong moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hong scores with a punch to the head.
Hong tries a head kick but it misses.
Vieri looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Vieri misses with a body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Hong. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hong.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vieri.
Vieri throws a leg kick but Hong sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hong jabs Vieri to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hong throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hong lands with a thumping leg kick.
Vieri misses with a wild body shot.
Hong throws a lazy right hand but Vieri sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hong looks to land a left hand but Vieri moved out of range nicely.
Vieri fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hong on the side of the head.
Hong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vieri.
Hong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Vieri looking to score a takedown here. Hong is defending well but Vieri drives through and ends up in Hong's guard.
Hong keeping full guard, as Vieri tries to pass.
Vieri is looking to work some ground and pound but Hong has wrist control.
Hong looking to control.
Hong has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vieri looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hong has control of Vieri's left arm, preventing Vieri from doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nichi Hong was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A slow jab from Hong misses its intended target.
Vieri misses with a double jab.
Vieri checks the leg kick.
Vieri doesn't manage to clinch there - Hong circles away.
Vieri doesn't manage to clinch there - Hong circles away.
Hong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vieri.
Hong lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Vieri shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hong napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hong defending against the ground and pound.
Hong regains half guard.
Vieri trying to mount his opponent but Hong defends it.
Vieri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hong's head.
Vieri takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hong wants to sweep but no luck.
Vieri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vieri is one step ahead there.
Vieri with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Hong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hong 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.
Vieri throwing strikes from guard but Hong blocks nicely.
Hong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vieri's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hong stopping the sweep attempt from Vieri.
Vieri keeping moving, preventing Hong from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vieri tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Erkki Vieri did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hong scores with a hook.
Hong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vieri.
Hong on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vieri. Vieri obviously looking to wear him down.
Hong throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Vieri motions for Hong to come forward. Vieri throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vieri fails to land with a series of punches.
Hong lands a jab to the head.
Hong jabs Vieri to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A head kick from Hong lands but Vieri takes it in his stride.
Vieri misses with a low kick.
Vieri is looking to chop away at Hong's legs.
Vieri moves out of range as Hong strikes.
A big left from Hong misses.
Vieri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hong is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hong misses with a hook. Vieri ducked under it nicely.
Vieri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hong manages to avoid it.
Vieri attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vieri ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hong moves away.
A lazy left from Hong finds it's target.
A punch combination from Vieri misses.
Vieri takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hong tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vieri is able to avoid easily.
A swing and a miss from Hong.
Vieri is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hong loads up on a big right hand but Vieri slips the punch.
Hong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hong lands a glancing blow to the side of Vieri's head.
Vieri throws a chopping leg kick but Hong manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hong throws a chopping leg kick but Vieri manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vieri wants to clinch.
Hong swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vieri keeps Hong at a distance using the push kick.
Hong throws a big shot that misses.
Hong moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vieri gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vieri works the jab nicely.
Vieri moves in looking to clinch but Hong pushes him off.
Vieri slips under a jab from Hong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Hong blocks the low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hong checks a leg kick.
Hong throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hong throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vieri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vieri ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A slow jab from Hong misses its intended target.
Hong throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hong throws a jab when Vieri was well out of range.
Vieri dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hong. That did some damage!
Hong swings for the body but Vieri moves out of range.
Vieri drops his hands momentarily and Hong takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Vieri checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hong thows a body shot but no joy.
Vieri changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vieri just misses with a punch to the body.
Vieri with a jab.
Hong avoids the body shot from Vieri.
Hong throws a looping overhand right but Vieri ducks down to avoid it.
Hong connects with a body shot.
Hong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hong thows a body shot but no joy.
Vieri tries to clinch up but Hong circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice defenses there by Vieri.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vieri connects with a body shot.
A jab from Vieri does it's job there.
Hong throws a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nichi Hong dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hong is looking to slow Vieri down with leg kicks.
Hong fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hong attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Vieri jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vieri moves out of range of the strikes.
Vieri thumps Hong with a low kick.
Hong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
That kick from Vieri tenderised Hong's leg. Hong is trying to keep his angry face on.
Vieri scores with a three punch combo!
Vieri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vieri avoids the body shot from Hong.

Vieri clinches with his opponent.
Vieri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vieri changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hong fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hong manages to avoid it.
Vieri missing with a left hand there. Hong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vieri keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Vieri throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Vieri gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hong.
Vieri throws a leg kick but Hong sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vieri throws a combination. Hong tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vieri connects with an inside leg kick.
Hong throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hong takes a swing at Vieri's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieri dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hong misses with a body shot.
Hong takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vieri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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!
Hong comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Vieri there.
Hong throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hong missing with a left hand there. Vieri was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hong throws a leg kick but Vieri sees it coming and moves out of range.
Vieri closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Vieri misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hong.
Vieri slips under a jab.
Vieri ducks under a wild hook from Hong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieri ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Vieri goes for a double leg but Hong avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hong continues to drive forward.
Hong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vieri.
Vieri lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vieri misses with some punches.
Vieri has a couple of punches blocked by Hong.
Hong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vieri pushes Hong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hong blocking some punches.
Vieri misses with a body punch.
Hong prevents a body shot from Vieri.
Hong tries to break free but Vieri pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Hong on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri can't find room to land a body shot as Hong controls the action.
Vieri working aggressively here.
Vieri lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vieri misses with a body punch.
Vieri can't find room to land a body shot as Hong controls the action.
Hong working aggressively here.
Hong blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hong blocks an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Hong fails to land.
Vieri scores with a shoulder strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vieri trying to stall but Hong improves his position.
Hong crunches a lovely knee into Vieri's ribcage.
Hong misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erkki Vieri showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vieri 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 48:48
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 47:48
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Erkki Vieri retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!