PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Crisostomo Ibarra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ok ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ibarra
vs
ko

172 cm
21
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

BLKOUT Clothing
BLKOUT Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Crisostomo Ibarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, ok ko!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibarra on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ibarra is defended easily by ko.

Ibarra looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for ko!

Ibarra looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
ko tries to reverse the position but Ibarra maintains control.
ko wants to control but Ibarra is having none of it.

Ibarra looking to secure an arm triangle but ko defends it well.

Ibarra goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now ko is on top in guard.
ko tries to stand but Ibarra is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ko content to stall in guard here.

Ibarra is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and ko defends well.
ko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
ko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ibarra might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ibarra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. ko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. ko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ibarra had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. ko defends it easily.
Ibarra being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ko preventing the sweep.
ko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Ibarra had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. ko defends it easily.
ko wanted to stand there but Ibarra had control of the position.
ko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ibarra. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ibarra is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ibarra throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ibarra is breathing heavily.
Ibarra can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as ko controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ko tries to free his leg and advance position but Ibarra is retaining full guard.
Ibarra being controlled here, momentarily.
ko wants to stand but Ibarra has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
ko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ibarra is keeping the position for now.

Ibarra looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
ko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. ok ko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
ko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ibarra.
Ibarra shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says ko as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crisostomo Ibarra. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ibarra shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as ko sprawls well. ko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ibarra gets slowly back to his feet.
ko lands a high kick!
ko scores with a nice body kick.

ko has managed to clinch.
ko crunches a lovely knee into Ibarra's ribcage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
ko landing knees to the body.
ko scores a nice knee to the body.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
ko is stalling here.
ko working Ibarra over with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
ko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ibarra up against the cage.
Ibarra has a couple of punches blocked by ko.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. ko obliges.
ko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ibarra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
ko connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ok ko 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.

ko gets a clinch.
Ibarra is trying to push ko away but ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
ko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
ko landing knees to the body.
ko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ibarra backwards.
ko has Ibarra pressed against the cage, preventing Ibarra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees to the body from ko.
ko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
ko scores with a knee to the head.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
ko stalls.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for ko.
ko stalls.
ko scores a nice knee to the body.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from ko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibarra is trying to push ko away but ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
ko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
ko misses with a knee to the head.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but ko is controlling him.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
ko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. ko obliges.
Ibarra managing to block the knees to the body from ko.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but ko is controlling the position.
ko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
ko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ibarra avoids it.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
ko keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
ko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ibarra letting ko take a breather here.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but ko is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ibarra swings wildly with an uppercut but ko uses good head movement to avoid it.
ko lands a nice knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from ko.
Ibarra tries to break free but ko pushes him back against the cage.
Ibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
ko lands a knee to the head.
ko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
ko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ibarra avoids it.
Ibarra wants to break free but ko has control.
ko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ibarra is looking to break free of the clinch but ko has double underhooks.
ko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ibarra working aggressively here.
ko trying to control the position but instead, Ibarra has worked for underhooks and has pushed ko into the cage.
Ibarra letting ko take a breather here.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
ko connects with a knee to the head.
ok ko seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
Ibarra takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from ko.
Ibarra tries to circle away but ko has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra tries to break free but ko pushes him back against the cage.
Ibarra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
ko trying to control the position but instead, Ibarra has worked for underhooks and has pushed ko into the cage.
Ibarra misses with a punch on the inside.
ko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Ibarra fails to land.
ko scores with a knee to the head.
Ibarra is looking to break free of the clinch but ko has double underhooks.
ko scores with a knee to the head.
ko keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ibarra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
A knee to the head by ko.
ko keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
ko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.

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.
ko lands a nice knee to the body.
ko scores with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
ko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ibarra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
ko has Ibarra pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Ibarra.
ko has Ibarra pressed against the cage, preventing Ibarra from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
ko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ibarra as ko tries to tie him up.
ko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibarra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibarra misses with a hook from the clinch.
ko lands a knee to the head.
ko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
ko avoiding damage.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
ko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Ibarra lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ok ko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibarra shoots in and drives through. ko sprawls well.

ko takes the fight into the clinch.
ko landing knees to the body.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
ko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
ko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
ko lands a knee to the head.
ko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ibarra lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
ko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ibarra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
ko lands a knee to the body.
Ibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
ko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from ko.
ko scores a nice knee to the body.
ko connects with a knee to the head.
Ibarra misses with some punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
ko landing knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ibarra is trying to push ko away but ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
ko keeps control of Ibarra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but ko is controlling him.
ko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
ko works on Ibarra's body with a couple of short punches.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A knee to the head by ko.
Stalling in the clinch from ko.
ko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ibarra lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but ko is controlling the position.
ko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ibarra lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
ko is stalling here.
The crowd are getting on ko's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Ibarra tries to circle away but ko has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra misses with some punches.
ko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ibarra tries to circle away but ko has him pinned against the cage.
Ibarra trying to stall but ko improves his position.
Ibarra letting ko take a breather here.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
ko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ibarra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
ko is struggling to control the position.
ko putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ibarra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
ko lands a knee to the body.
ko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ibarra avoiding damage as ko throws knees to the body.
Ibarra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
ko with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ibarra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
ko landing knees to the head.
Ibarra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
Ibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
ko stalling the fight.
Ibarra takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ibarra is trying to break the clinch but ko has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. ko obliges.
Ibarra tries to break free but ko pushes him back against the cage.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch but ko keeps him there for the moment.
ko scores a nice knee to the body.
ko scores with a knee to the head.
Crisostomo Ibarra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
ko working Ibarra over with knees to the body.
Ibarra working aggressively here.
Come on ko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A frustrated look appears on Ibarra's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for ko.
ko utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
ko looking to throw knees to the head but Ibarra is blocking nicely.
ko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ibarra is defending well for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. ko obliges.
Ibarra working aggressively here.
Ibarra misses with a shot to the kidneys.
ko with a knee to the head.
Ibarra is trying to push ko away but ko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
ko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ibarra can't break the clinch.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
Ibarra tries to break the clinch but ko is controlling the position.
Ibarra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
ko stalling.
Ibarra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ibarra wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ibarra wants to get back to striking at distance but ko won't allow it.
Ibarra is trying to break free.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
ko lands a good knee to the midsection. Ibarra won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
ko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from ko.
ko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ibarra is defending well for now.
ko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ibarra's face.
Ibarra is trying to force a seperation but ko has the dominant position.
Ibarra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ibarra has had enough of the clinch but ko keeps him there for the moment.
ko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
ko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ibarra's efforts to push away.
ko slows down the pace here.
Ibarra is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
ok ko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ibarra takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ibarra working hard to break the clinch.
Ibarra tries to throw a body punch but ko avoids it by throwing Ibarra back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ko landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from ko.
ko lands a knee to the head.
ko landing knees to the body.
ko landing knees to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
ok 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ok ko!