PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gawon Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Madmen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kim
vs
Madmen

175 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gawon Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tony Madmen!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Madmen lands a high kick!

Kim shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kim postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Madmen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kim, into his guard.
Kim preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Madmen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Madmen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Madmen throwing strikes from guard but Kim blocks nicely.
Kim wants to sweep but no luck.
Kim being controlled here, momentarily.
Kim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kim has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Madmen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kim shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kim was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Madmen stops Kim from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Madmen wants to control but Kim is having none of it.
Madmen is looking to get to half guard.
Madmen wants to control but Kim is having none of it.

Kim looking for a guillotine from mount but Madmen is having none of it.
Madmen wants to control but Kim is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madmen has given up his back. Will we see Kim going for some submissions?
Kim is hanging on to Madmen's back as he tries to escape.
Kim missing with strikes from the back.
Madmen wants to control his opponent's hands but Kim gets his hands free.
Madmen turns into Kim and is now in his guard.
Madmen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Madmen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Madmen wants to stand but Kim has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Madmen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kim decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Madmen looks gassed!

Kim is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Madmen defends it well.
Madmen manages to get to full guard.
Kim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Madmen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kim looking to pass the guard.

Kim drops back, looking for a kneebar! Madmen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Madmen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Madmen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Madmen tries to stand but Kim is controlling his head.
Kim is looking to reverse the position.
Kim is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Madmen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kim is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kim wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Kim breaks Madmen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Madmen looking for a guillotine here but Kim defends easily.
Kim pushes down on Madmen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Madmen tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Madmen has his takedown stuffed

and Kim decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Madmen's guard.
Madmen is trying to keep Kim in close.
Gawon Kim overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kim works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kim is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Madmen!
Kim landing strikes from the mount and Madmen is in trouble!
Kim scoring with strikes but Madmen is staying in there.
Kim trying to control but Madmen is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kim pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Madmen tries to lock up and control but Kim gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Madmen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Kim swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Madmen is now in Kim's guard. A big mistake from Kim there, giving up the dominant position!
Kim trying to control the position.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Madmen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kim manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Madmen is squirming around, avoiding Kim's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Madmen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Kim is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Madmen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Madmen!

Madmen stands up from Kim's guard - Madmen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Madmen tries for a takedown but Kim circles away easily

and Kim counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kim prevents Madmen from improving his position.
Kim is pressing down on Madmen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Madmen is holding on for now.
Madmen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kim is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Madmen is defending against the submission attempts here by Kim.
Kim is thwarting Madmen's attempts to control the position.
Kim is looking to advance position but Madmen won't allow it.
Madmen is staying active underneath Kim, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Madmen trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kim misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kim.

Kim stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Madmen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Madmen lands in his opponent's guard.
Madmen wanted to stand there but Kim had control of the position.

Kim working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Madmen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Madmen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Madmen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gawon Kim dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Kim scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Kim stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kim with a poor takedown
and Madmen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Madmen fails with a takedown attempt.
Kim tries for a takedown but Madmen circles away easily

and Madmen counters with a shoot takedown. Kim fights it but they end up in guard.

Madmen gets to his feet. Kim looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
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!
Kim stuffs the takedown.
Madmen looks to clinch

and Kim counters with a takedown into side control.
Kim is looking to take a break and control but Madmen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kim thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Madmen is not content to let Kim control the position.
Madmen wants to control but Kim postures up.

Kim tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kim tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Madmen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kim looks to throw the jab but Madmen is out of range.

Madmen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Madmen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Kim wants to sweep here but Madmen controlling him for the moment.
Madmen is looking to work some ground and pound but Kim has wrist control.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Madmen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Madmen preventing the sweep.
Madmen trying to control but Kim is working from the bottom.
Madmen stops Kim from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kim scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Madmen wants to control but Kim postures up.
Madmen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Kim goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Madmen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kim's guard! Nice work there by Madmen!

Kim escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Madmen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kim had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Madmen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kim Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Madmen's back instead.
Madmen trying to control the hands but Kim breaks the grip.

Kim is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Madmen is defending well though. Kim let's go of the attempt for now.
Madmen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim trying to control the action but Madmen is working from the bottom.

Kim is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Madmen has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gawon Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kim, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight for Gawon Kim!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Gawon Kim!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Gawon Kim!

Gawon Kim wins by unanimous decision!