PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Romeo Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jihn Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jihn Knuckles has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Romeo Long's chin.

Long
vs
Knuckles

220 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Romeo Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jihn Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckles has a takedown stuffed.
Knuckles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Long is looking for a counter combo.
Knuckles misses with the body kick
and Long counters with a left and a right that stings Knuckles.
Knuckles dives in and grabs Long's left leg, looking for a takedown. Long pushes down on Knuckles's head and hops out.
Long shoots in looking for a takedown but Knuckles manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Long's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Long dives in for a single leg takedown but Knuckles sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Knuckles shoots in for a double leg but Long sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Long is looking for a counter combo.
Romeo Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jihn Knuckles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Knuckles or perhaps it was just good defense by Long, which made it look bad.
Nice takedown defense from Long. No joy for Knuckles on that attempt.
Jihn Knuckles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knuckles looks winded!
Long keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Long as Knuckles shoots in.
Nice sprawl there from Long as Knuckles shoots in.
Long looks to land a body kick but Knuckles moved away.
Long throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Long misses with a takedown attempt - Knuckles sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Long shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Knuckles as he jumps to the side.
Knuckles fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Long as he jumps to the side.
Long goes for a double leg but Knuckles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Knuckles continues to drive forward.
Knuckles dives in and grabs Long's left leg, looking for a takedown. Long pushes down on Knuckles's head and hops out.
Long seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Long.
Knuckles steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Long.
Long looks for the body kick but Knuckles saw that one coming.
Knuckles fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long shoots for a double leg takedown but Knuckles sprawls well. He's pushed Long's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Knuckles moves into the clinch successfully.
Long tries for a takedown but Knuckles manages to get underhooks.

Knuckles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knuckles looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Long seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Long tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Knuckles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Long gets a double leg takedown into Knuckles's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Knuckles can do anything to dispel that myth.
Long throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Long accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knuckles holds on and takes a little breather.
Knuckles throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Long stands up out of Knuckles's guard for a moment - Knuckles manages to land a nice upkick.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knuckles has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Long can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Long will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Long with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Long is looking to stand up but Knuckles won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Knuckles moves out of range of the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Long dominated that 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.

Knuckles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Long but Long pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Long tries a head kick but it misses.
Long blocks a leg kick.
Long seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Knuckles looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Long is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Knuckles is controlling him.
Knuckles is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles stays in close to Long's body and controls the position.
Long trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Long is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knuckles can do to turn this around?

Knuckles drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Long manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Knuckles has Long in his guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Knuckles is looking to stand up but Long isn't so interested in that idea.
Long missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Long preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Long throws a big elbow that misses.
Knuckles looking to control.

Knuckles is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Long defends well.
Long postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knuckles wants to stand and escape but Long is having none of it.
Knuckles is striking off his back. Long thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Long is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Knuckles doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Long.

Long is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Knuckles manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Long throwing strikes from guard but Knuckles blocks nicely.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knuckles holds on and takes a little breather.

Knuckles escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Long gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knuckles has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Gracie Barra Hilo. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Long wants to stand but Knuckles is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Knuckles throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Knuckles moves out of range of the body kick from Long.
Long tries to land a front kick but Knuckles steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Knuckles misses with a body kick.

Knuckles closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knuckles throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Knuckles there.
Knuckles tries to pass to full mount but Long defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Romeo Long will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Knuckles shoots in and drives through. Long sprawls well.
Knuckles darts in looking for a takedown but Long gets double underhooks and turns Knuckles into the cage.
Romeo Long is winning the standup battle so far.
Knuckles takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Long stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Long wants it to stay on the feet.
Long seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Romeo Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jihn Knuckles.
Knuckles shoots in but Long avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Long is looking to clinch but Knuckles is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long moves out of range as Knuckles throws a body kick.
Knuckles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Long but Long pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It looked like Long was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long moves in looking to clinch but Knuckles pushes him off.

Long manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Knuckles on his heels. He'll look to pass Knuckles's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckles has momentary wrist control but Long slips an elbow through the middle.
Knuckles avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knuckles looking to control.

Long thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Knuckles controls Long momentarily but Long frees himself.
Long working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knuckles's head.
Knuckles looking for a sweep. Not yet Knuckles, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles working a defensive guard here.
Long has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Long cracks Knuckles with a solid left hand.
Long throws a big right hand that misses.
Long is in close to Knuckles's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Long drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Long jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Long thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Long is fighting to break Knuckles's control of his arms but Knuckles is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Knuckles forces Long back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knuckles gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Knuckles wanted to stand there but Long had control of the position.
Romeo Long overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Long wants to get back to his feet but Knuckles is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Long trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.
Knuckles distracts Long with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long keeping full guard, as Knuckles tries to pass.
Knuckles content to stall in guard here.
Long keeping full guard, as Knuckles tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Knuckles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Knuckles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Long but Long pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romeo Long showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Long, 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romeo Long!