PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Checo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nakata Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Checo comes to the cage accompanied by Korn - Falling Away From Me. Nakata Ko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Checo
vs
Ko

164 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Checo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nakata Ko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ko shoots in but no luck this time.

Ko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Checo is trying to defend but Ko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Checo gets full guard.
Checo looking for a sweep. Not yet Checo, not yet.
Checo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ko!
Ko tries to lock up and control but Checo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Checo throwing strikes here but Ko is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Checo looking to finish with strikes here!
Ko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ko wants to control but Checo is having none of it.
Ko is working to get back to half guard.
Ko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Checo scoring with strikes but Ko is staying in there.
Checo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Checo get's back to his feet.
Checo fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Checo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Ko closes the distance and clinches.

Checo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Checo misses with a two punch combination.

Ko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Checo is trying to defend but Ko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Checo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Checo is trying to stand.
Ko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ko wants to control but Checo is keeping him busy.
Checo pushes Ko off looking to stand but Ko dives back in and keeps control.
Checo is breathing heavily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ko lands a high kick!
Checo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Checo lands a head kick!
Checo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ko circles away quickly and effectively.

Ko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Checo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Checo pushes Ko away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ko gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ko wants to control but Checo is keeping him busy.
Ko lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Checo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Ko connects with a decent elbow.
Ko is chipping away with strikes.

Ko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ko taking a breather here.

Ko tries for a kimura but Checo is defending well.

Checo throws Ko to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Checo fails to land with a series of punches.

Ko has Checo up against the cage in a clinch.

Checo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ko blocks a head kick by Checo.
Checo looks to land a combination but Ko avoids it well.
Checo looks to land a combination but Ko avoids it well.
Ko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Checo circles away quickly and effectively.
Checo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ko throws a nice inside leg kick.
Checo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Checo throws a hook but Ko avoids it easily.
Checo fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nakata Ko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Checo's head.
Checo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ko is controlling him.
Ko content to stall in guard here.
Checo wants to get back to his feet but Ko passes into half guard.
Checo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ko prevents Checo from standing back up.
Checo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Checo tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ko winds up and cracks Checo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Checo taking some punishment here, with Ko in his half guard.
Ko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ko is nestled in close to Checo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ko winds up and cracks Checo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Checo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ko's back!
Ko breaks Checo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Checo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ko prevents Checo from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Ko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ko trying to control the action but Checo is working from the bottom.

Checo pushes Ko off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Checo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Ko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Checo wants to get back to his feet.
Checo tries to get to full guard but Ko has control of the leg.
Ko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Checo is trying to stand up here but Ko is controlling him well.
Nice strikes from Ko there.
Checo looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Checo manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ivan Checo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Checo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ko working the head and body with strikes.

Checo looking for submissions off his back.

Checo kicks Ko off and gets back to his feet.
Ko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Checo but Checo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Checo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Checo looks to clinch

and Ko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Checo!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ko looking to secure an arm triangle but Checo defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nakata Ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Checo closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Checo won't be happy with that.
Ko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ko cracks Checo with a big elbow.
Checo is looking for a sweep.
Checo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ko stops Checo from getting back to his feet.
Ko working the head and body with strikes.
Ko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Checo keeps working.
Checo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ko prevents Checo from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ko slips a nice elbow through Checo's hands, connecting with Checo's forehead.
Ko content to control rather than advance.
Checo wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko working the head and body with strikes.
Checo tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ko manages to move to mount!
Ko looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Checo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ko lands a big elbow.
Ko landing shots from mount.
Checo tries to reverse the position but Ko maintains control.

Ko looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Checo is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ivan Checo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko lands a big elbow.
Checo is desperately trying to improve his position but Ko has a good base and remains in mount.
Ko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Checo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ko landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ko cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Checo regains half guard.
Checo wants to get back to his feet.
Checo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Checo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ko on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Checo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Checo is looking for a sweep. Ko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ko wants to free his trapped foot but Checo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Checo pushes Ko off and gets back to his feet.
Ko is looking to clinch but Checo is avoiding it.
Checo throws a right hand that Ko ducks under and follows up with a left that Ko also avoids with ease.

Ko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Checo to the mat! Checo manages to get full guard.
Ko thows a big elbow that misses.
Ko wants to pass the guard but Checo is keeping the position.
Ko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Checo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Checo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ko postures up and lands a big shot to Checo's brow.
Checo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ko is controlling him.
Ko preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Checo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ko slips a straight right by Checo.
Checo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ivan Checo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Checo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nakata Ko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Checo throws a sloppy head kick and Ko moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nakata Ko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nakata Ko!