PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jin Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Flight of the Valkyries kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Daniel Bryan acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kim
vs
Bryan

185 cm
36
220 lbs
24 - 34 - 2

179 cm
24
203 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 24 - 34 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Jin Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Bryan!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kim throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bryan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bryan 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.
Daniel Bryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kim shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bryan sprawls well. Bryan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kim gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bryan. No joy for Kim on that attempt.
Kim shoots in looking for a takedown. Bryan tries to sprawl out of it but Kim keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bryan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bryan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kim did well to prevent Bryan getting side control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim wants to control but Bryan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bryan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kim is trying to control but can't.
Kim keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Kim wants to control but Bryan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've been hearing good reports from Kim's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Bryan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kim defending well though.

Bryan is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Kim to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan being controlled here momentarily.

Kim is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Bryan throws a big right hand that misses.
Kim pulls Bryan in close to his closed guard and prevents Bryan from doing any damage or advancing position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kim avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bryan with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bryan with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Kim keeps moving.
Bryan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kim haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bryan wants to pass the guard but Kim is keeping the position.
Bryan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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!

Bryan actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That kick from Bryan tenderised Kim's leg. Kim is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bryan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kim shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bryan pinned against the cage. Bryan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bryan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kim gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kim on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kim fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryan looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.
Bryan lands a jab to the nose.
A jab from Bryan misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bryan digs a good hook to Kim's body.
Bryan misses with a straight left.
A good leg kick by Bryan.
Bryan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jin Kim is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kim goes for a double leg but Bryan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bryan continues to drive forward.

Bryan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bryan tries to land a leg kick but Kim saw it coming and moves away.
Bryan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bryan scoring well with a low kick there.
Kim tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bryan defends well and Kim ends up having to push Bryan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bryan struggles to land a body shot inside as Kim controls his hands.
Bryan looking to stall.
Bryan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kim is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Bryan turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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!
Bryan looks up at the clock and then as Kim takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Bryan smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Check out the look on Bryan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Bryan landing strikes.
Bryan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bryan taking a breather here.
Bryan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bryan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to control but Kim is keeping him busy.
Kim manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kim tries to roll over but Bryan keeps him under control.
Kim trying to control but Bryan postures up.
Bryan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan working the head and body with strikes.
Bryan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bryan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bryan is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kim reverses the position - he's now on top in Bryan's guard.

Bryan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kim defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kim got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bryan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kim has managed to get both his arms back between Bryan's legs - danger averted.
Daniel Bryan has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bryan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kim avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Bryan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bryan scores with a decent looking hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kim is defended easily by Bryan.
Bryan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kim paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bryan leaves Kim with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bryan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kim to score with a decent uppercut.
Bryan fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bryan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kim fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jin Kim. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheers as Bryan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kim doesn't seem phased though.
Kim shoots in looking for a takedown but Bryan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kim's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bryan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Bryan coming out on top.
Bryan connects with a nice looking jab.
Kim avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryan throws a right and a left that Kim avoids nicely.
Kim fails with the takedown.
Bryan misses with the combination.
Nice shot lands for Bryan.
Nice cross by Bryan.

Bryan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bryan showed some decent athleticism there.
Kim is pressing down on Bryan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Daniel Bryan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bryan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bryan slips nicely into half guard.
Kim is trying to stand back up but Bryan is controlling him
Bryan trying to control from half guard but Kim is working away.
Kim controlling the position well.
Kim keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is trying to control. Kim wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kim is trying to maintain the position but Bryan is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kim takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick from Bryan lands but Kim takes it in his stride.
Kim swinging wildly here.
Kim takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bryan throws a body kick that misses.
Kim takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bryan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kim shoots in but Bryan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bryan.
Kim shoots in and drives through. Bryan sprawls well.
Good standup being displayed there by Bryan as he connects with a hook.
Bryan lands a slapping body shot.

Bryan scores with a takedown into Kim's guard.
Bryan trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Jin Kim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Bryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bryan 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Bryan!
In his post fight interview, Daniel Bryan gave a big smile as he said 'YES! YES! YES!'.