PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Giordano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giordano has chosen Godfather Theme (hip hop remix) as his entrance music. Ivan Ko has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ko
vs
Giordano

225 cm
26
156 lbs
16 - 9 - 1

178 cm
23
150 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

Seven Sins™

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 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ivan Ko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antonio Giordano!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ko gets caught flat footed, as Giordano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Giordano throws an elbow that misses. Ko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Giordano's guard. Nice move by Ko!

Giordano is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Giordano looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ko passes into half guard.
Ko controlling the action here.

Giordano looking for submissions off his back.

Giordano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordano tries to roll over but Ko keeps him under control.
Giordano won't allow Ko to pass to mount.
Ko is looking to take a break and control but Giordano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Giordano knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Giordano looking for submissions off his back.
Ko trying to mount his opponent but Giordano defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Giordano is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ko pulls his head out easily.
Giordano tries to roll over but Ko keeps him under control.
Ko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Giordano's head.
Giordano is trying to get back to full guard.
Ko is thwarting Giordano's attempts to control the position.
Ko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano is trying to get back to full guard.

Giordano has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Ko escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Ko!
Giordano tries to improve position but can't.
Ko trying to control the action but Giordano is working from the bottom.
Giordano tries to buck Ko off but Ko is having none of it.
Giordano is trying to control Ko's posture but Ko avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Giordano sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ko tries to pass to full mount but Giordano defends it.
Ko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Giordano keeps working.
Ko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Giordano looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Ko pushes past his half guard into mount!
Ko lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Giordano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Giordano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Giordano misses with a straight right.
Nice body punch from Ko.
Sloppy strikes from Giordano. Those never looked like landing.
Ko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Giordano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Giordano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ko misses with an uppercut. Giordano saw that one coming.

Giordano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ko sprawls well initially but Giordano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Giordano is thwarting Ko's attempts to control the position.
Giordano is just content to waste time from the top position. Ko takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Giordano slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Giordano.
Ko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Giordano trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Giordano throws an elbow that misses. Ko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Giordano's guard. Nice move by Ko!
Ko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Giordano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ko defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giordano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ko manages to get himself to full guard.
Giordano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Giordano tries to free his leg and advance position but Ko is retaining full guard.
Giordano trying to control but Ko is working from the bottom.
Giordano looking to sit in guard and control but Ko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko trying to control the position from guard on top but Giordano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Giordano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ko defends it easily.

Giordano working for submissions but it's allowed Ko to get to half guard.
Antonio Giordano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Giordano is looking for a sweep. Ko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko is thwarting Giordano's attempts to control the position.
Ko trying to control from half guard but Giordano is working away.
Ko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ko throws a strike but Giordano avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Giordano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ko is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Giordano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Giordano throws a combination that misses
and Ko counters with a one-two to the body.
Giordano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ko looks to land a combination. Giordano sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Antonio Giordano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giordano misses with a series of wild punches.
Giordano throws a series of punches but Ko moves out of range.
Ko tests Giordano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ko doesn't manage to clinch there - Giordano circles away.
Ko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Giordano misses with a right hand
letting Ko counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ko. Giordano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ko lunges at Giordano with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Giordano's hand.
A jab from Giordano misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Giordano staying out of range there.
Ivan Ko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko scores with a jab to the head.
Ko tries to close the distance and clinch but Giordano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Giordano slips under a jab from Ko.
Giordano misses with a hook. Ko ducked under it nicely.
Ko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ko leaves Giordano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Giordano swings for the body but Ko moves out of range.
Giordano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ko's waist but Ko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Giordano off to one side.
Ko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Giordano lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ko circles away quickly and effectively.
Giordano bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ko's head backwards.
Giordano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ivan Ko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko digs a good body shot into Giordano's ribs.
Ko throws a right and a left that Giordano avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ko lands with a straight right. Giordano didn't see that one coming.
A jab from Ko misses.
Giordano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ko pinned against the cage. Ko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivan Ko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Giordano.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Giordano with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Giordano lands an overhand right.
Giordano throws a right and a left that Ko avoids nicely.
Ko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Giordano.
No joy there for Giordano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Giordano takes a swing at Ko's ribcage but misses.
Ivan Ko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Giordano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ko tries to clinch up but Giordano circles away and keeps his distance.
Ko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Ko tries to bum rush Giordano with a series of wild strikes but Giordano uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ko takes a swing at Giordano's ribcage but misses.

Ko darts in and clinches Giordano up against the cage.
The referee calls for Ko to work.
Ko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Giordano.
Ko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Giordano's elbow.
Ko tries to throw a body punch but Giordano avoids it by throwing Ko back against the cage.
Ko lands a hook that snaps the head of Giordano backwards.
Ko struggles to land a body shot inside as Giordano controls his hands.
Ko throws a punch but it's blocked by Giordano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ko misses with a punch on the inside.
Ko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ko misses with a body punch.
Giordano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ko just stands there and leans against the cage.
Giordano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ko thuds a left hand into Giordano's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Giordano shoots in for a takedown but Ko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Ko as Giordano shoots in.
A looping hook to the body misses from Giordano. Ko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ivan Ko is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Giordano with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Giordano drops his hands momentarily and Ko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ko throws a hook but Giordano blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Ko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Giordano 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antonio Giordano!