PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Kokucka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jason Kokucka has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kokucka
vs
Balboa

175 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Kokucka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kokucka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Balboa to the mat! Balboa manages to get full guard.
Balboa looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Kokucka trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.
Kokucka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kokucka thows a big elbow that misses.

Kokucka 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.
Kokucka cracks Balboa with a solid left hand.
Kokucka looking to pass the guard.
Kokucka landing some decent shots from guard.
Kokucka might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kokucka sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Balboa's guard.
Kokucka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balboa trying to control from the bottom.

Kokucka is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Balboa has managed to free his arm - good work.
Balboa is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kokucka wants to work for an arm triangle but Balboa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Balboa trying to hold on to Kokucka's head to control him but Kokucka postures up.
Balboa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kokucka kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kokucka trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa with a poor takedown

and Kokucka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kokucka successfully pulls guard.
Balboa is fighting to break Kokucka's control of his arms but Kokucka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Balboa trying to control but Kokucka is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Balboa is fighting to break Kokucka's control of his arms but Kokucka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Balboa trying to control but Kokucka is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kokucka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.

Kokucka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kokucka scoring with punches and elbows.
Balboa can't do much from the bottom here.

Kokucka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.
Balboa wants to control but Kokucka postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kokucka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balboa has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four 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.
Kokucka working away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Balboa is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Balboa gets caught flat footed, as Kokucka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Balboa looking to control.
Kokucka forces his way into half guard.
Kokucka is keen to just control but Balboa is a slippery customer.
Balboa wants to control but Kokucka is keeping busy.

Balboa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kokucka pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Kokucka 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.

Kokucka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Balboa controls Kokucka momentarily but Kokucka frees himself.
Kokucka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kokucka postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kokucka thows a big elbow that misses.
Kokucka tries to free his leg and advance position but Balboa is retaining full guard.

Kokucka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Balboa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Balboa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa misses with a takedown

and Kokucka counters with a nice double leg into side control. Balboa won't be happy with that.
Balboa wants to control but Kokucka postures up.
Kokucka looks up at the clock and then as Balboa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kokucka smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa prevents Kokucka from moving into mount.
Kokucka sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Balboa is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Balboa struggling a bit here.

Kokucka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Balboa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Kokucka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balboa has escaped the position, nice work there.
An elbow from Kokucka crashes against the mat.

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

Balboa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kokucka was covering up waiting for the punch and Balboa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Balboa looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Kokucka keeps moving.

Balboa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kokucka dives on top into guard.
Balboa controls Kokucka momentarily but Kokucka frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokucka lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kokucka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kokucka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kokucka wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.

Kokucka drops back looking for a leg! Balboa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Balboa manages to kick Kokucka off! Kokucka jumps back into Balboa's guard.
Kokucka trying to control but Balboa is working from the bottom.

Balboa working for a triangle but Kokucka defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kokucka changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Balboa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa struggling a bit here.
Balboa is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kokucka is staying active.
Kokucka throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kokucka working away.

Kokucka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balboa has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kokucka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kokucka gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Kokucka dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Balboa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kokucka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kokucka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kokucka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kokucka throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kokucka wants to pass to mount but Balboa is defending the position.
Balboa wants to control but Kokucka is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kokucka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Balboa is looking for a sweep. Kokucka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kokucka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

Kokucka shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Balboa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kokucka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kokucka tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Balboa tries to buck Kokucka off but Kokucka is having none of it.

Kokucka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Balboa has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Balboa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kokucka lands a few punches from side control.
Kokucka trying to control the action but Balboa is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kokucka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Balboa, who protects the arm well.

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

Kokucka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kokucka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kokucka with a nice head shot there.

Kokucka 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.
Kokucka wants to stand but Balboa has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Balboa looking for a guillotine here but Kokucka defends easily.
Kokucka has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Balboa is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokucka advances to half guard.

Kokucka is working for a kimura but Balboa is defending it quite comfortably.
Balboa trying to hold on to Kokucka's head to control him but Kokucka postures up.
Kokucka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balboa keeps working.
Balboa is looking to control Kokucka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balboa avoid being mounted?
Kokucka is looking to take a break and control but Balboa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa misses with a takedown

and Kokucka counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is looking to control Kokucka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balboa avoid being mounted?
Balboa won't allow Kokucka to pass to mount.
Balboa trying to control here.

Balboa is defending against the submission attempts here by Kokucka.

Balboa actively working from the bottom here.
Balboa trying to control here.

Balboa actively working from the bottom here.
Ricardo Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Kokucka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Balboa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Kokucka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kokucka has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Kokucka!