PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cole Kong (ranked 6847 p4p, 439 weight class) and Dean Moxley (ranked 6952 p4p, 442 weight class). Moxley has chosen Highway to Hell as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kong
vs
Moxley

196 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cole Kong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dean Moxley!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jonathan Paton and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moxley misses with a few strikes there.

Moxley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kong's half guard.
Moxley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kong keeps working.

Kong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kong tries to roll over but Moxley keeps him under control.

Moxley seems to be looking for submissions.
Moxley seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Moxley is keen to just control but Kong is a slippery customer.
Kong is trying to control but Moxley passes into side control!

Moxley stands up and beckons Kong to his feet.

Moxley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong is trying to improve his position.
Moxley sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kong is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kong is looking to reverse the position.
Kong manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kong lands a nice short elbow.
Kong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Moxley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Moxley should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kong scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kong is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kong slips a nice elbow through Moxley's hands, connecting with Moxley's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kong lands a nice short elbow.
Moxley is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kong's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kong's back!
Kong covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Moxley throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Moxley connects with a big shot to the side of Kong's head.
Moxley looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moxley misses with an elbow to the head.
Moxley has the hooks in. Kong is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Moxley gets his hands free as Kong looks to control.
Moxley lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kong wants to control his opponent's hands but Moxley gets his hands free.
Moxley keeps control of the position as Kong tries to break free.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Moxley avoiding Kong 's attempts to control his hands.
Kong looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Moxley doesn't have the hooks in and Kong manages to turn into his guard.
Kong working some strikes from top position.
Kong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kong postures up and lands a big shot to Moxley's brow.
Moxley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kong trying to control the position from guard on top but Moxley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kong lands a couple of elbows.
Kong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kong trying to control but Moxley is working from the bottom.
Kong landing some decent shots from guard.

Moxley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kong defends it easily.
Kong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Moxley on the ground.
Kong landing some decent shots from guard.

Moxley is looking for a triangle but Kong pushes his legs off easily.
Kong stands up over Moxley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kong trying to control but Moxley is working from the bottom.
Moxley looking to control.
Kong distracts Moxley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moxley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kong is in close to Moxley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moxley's head.
Kong distracts Moxley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Moxley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kong distracts Moxley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kong postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kong works over Moxley with some ground and pound from guard.
Moxley keeping moving, preventing Kong from controlling successfully.
Kong scoring with some ground and pound.
Kong trying to control but Moxley is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dean Moxley will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kong avoids the head kick by Moxley.

Kong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moxley is trying to defend but Kong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kong is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kong lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kong lands with a punch from half guard.
Kong is trying to control. Moxley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Moxley taking some punishment here, with Kong in his half guard.
Kong drops an elbow to the side of Moxley's head.

Kong is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Moxley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kong lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moxley keeping moving, preventing Kong from controlling successfully.
Kong postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kong with a nice head shot there.
Kong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moxley's head.
Moxley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Moxley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
It looks like Moxley is going to stand back up.
Kong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kong actively working from the bottom here.

Kong with the active half guard here but Moxley passes nicely into side control.
Kong struggling a bit here.
Kong tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Moxley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Kong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kong tries to improve position but can't.
Kong wants to control but Moxley postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kong is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Moxley working the ground and pound.

Moxley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Moxley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Moxley is breathing heavily.
Moxley postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kong wants to control but Moxley postures up.
Kong on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kong tries to get out of the position.
Kong tries to bench press Moxley off him but Moxley keeps the position.
Kong is trying to work for a sweep but Moxley has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong tries to hold on but Moxley pushes him away.
Kong is looking to improve his position but Moxley isn't that keen on the idea.
Kong is bucking up trying to escape but Moxley cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kong tries to lock up and control but Moxley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Moxley lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kong hang on?
BOOM! Moxley connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kong is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kong slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Kong is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Moxley pulls his head out easily.
Moxley throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Moxley is working away from the top position though.

Moxley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Moxley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kong closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Moxley did well to prevent Kong getting side control.
Moxley wants to control but Kong is keeping busy.
Moxley is staying active underneath Kong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kong lands with a punch from half guard.
Kong wants to take a breather but Moxley is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moxley has hold of Kong's hands but Kong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kong connects with a nice short shot to Moxley's temple.
Kong trying to control the action but Moxley is working from the bottom.
Moxley is trying to maintain the position but Kong is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Moxley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kong scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Moxley won't allow Kong to pass to mount.
Moxley misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kong winds up and cracks Moxley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kong is looking to advance position but Moxley won't allow it.
Kong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Moxley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Moxley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Moxley gets full guard.
Moxley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Moxley throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Moxley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kong lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kong scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kong with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kong with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kong working some strikes from top position.

Moxley working for a triangle but Kong defends it easily.
Kong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kong distracts Moxley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kong connects with a couple of short punches.
Kong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kong scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kong lands a couple of elbows.
Kong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moxley's head.
Kong lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kong postures up and lands a big shot to Moxley's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moxley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kong won't allow Moxley to sweep him here.
Kong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kong's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kong lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cole Kong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kong cracks Moxley with a solid left hand.
Kong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Moxley's head.
Kong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kong with a nice head shot there.
Kong scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kong landing with the ground and pound.
Kong postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kong connects with a couple of short punches.
Kong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Moxley's head.
Kong stands up over Moxley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Moxley keeping moving, preventing Kong from controlling successfully.
Moxley has momentary wrist control but Kong slips an elbow through the middle.
Kong cracks Moxley with a solid left hand.
Kong working some strikes from top position.
Kong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moxley's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kong 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.
Kong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Kong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Moxley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dean Moxley!
A pretty intense looking Dean Moxley took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.