PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tirawit Kokin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghe comes to the cage accompanied by The Pride of Wales. Tirawit Kokin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Calzaghe
vs
Kokin

182 cm
24
173 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

[EVO] Koffin Inc. *Laundry Available*

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Calzaghe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tirawit Kokin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kokin moves away from the strike by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kokin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kokin tries to clinch up.
Kokin tries to work over Calzaghe's front leg with a kick but Calzaghe checks it.
Calzaghe misses with a right hand
and Kokin counters with an inside leg kick.
Calzaghe moves out of range of the leg kick from Kokin.
Kokin ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kokin misses with a hook
and Calzaghe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calzaghe misses with a double jab
and Kokin counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Joe Calzaghe has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot.
Calzaghe getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Calzaghe fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Calzaghe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kokin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokin walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Calzaghe. Kokin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Calzaghe missing with a left hand there. Kokin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Kokin gets a clinch.

Calzaghe manages to pull guard.
Calzaghe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kokin's guard.
Calzaghe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kokin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Calzaghe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Calzaghe trying to control but Kokin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Calzaghe throws a big elbow that misses.
Calzaghe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Calzaghe.
Kokin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Calzaghe.
Calzaghe thows a body shot but no joy.
Kokin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Calzaghe's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kokin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Calzaghe in his tracks.
Tirawit Kokin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kokin avoids the body shot from Calzaghe.
Kokin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kokin misses the jab.
Kokin thows a body shot but no joy.
Kokin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Calzaghe moves away.
Calzaghe throws a looping overhand right but Kokin ducks down to avoid it.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kokin.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Kokin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kokin misses with a low kick.

Kokin moves into the clinch successfully.
Kokin misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Calzaghe is leaning against Kokin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Calzaghe throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Calzaghe is working for takedown but Kokin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Calzaghe taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kokin fails to land.
Kokin tries to work over Calzaghe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Calzaghe prevents a body shot from Kokin.
Kokin can't find room to land a body shot as Calzaghe controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kokin.
Kokin swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kokin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
Calzaghe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tirawit Kokin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kokin scores with a spinning back kick!
Kokin misses with a body punch
and Calzaghe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Calzaghe.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kokin.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kokin staying out of range there.
Calzaghe throws a shot from downtown. Kokin moves away and avoids it.

Kokin takes the fight into the clinch.
Calzaghe is trying to stall.
Kokin struggles to land a body shot inside as Calzaghe controls his hands.
Calzaghe trying to stall but Kokin improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kokin has him pressed against the cage.
Kokin blocks a body shot from Calzaghe.
Kokin tries to throw a body punch but Calzaghe avoids it by throwing Kokin back against the cage.
Kokin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Kokin.
Calzaghe looking to stall.
Kokin tries to throw a body punch but Calzaghe avoids it by throwing Kokin back against the cage.
Kokin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kokin pushes Calzaghe back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Calzaghe is rocked!
Kokin can't find room to land a body shot as Calzaghe controls the action.
Oh Calzaghe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kokin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
Kokin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Calzaghe backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Kokin fails to land.
Kokin tries to throw a body punch but Calzaghe avoids it by throwing Kokin back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Kokin.
Kokin can't find room to land a body shot as Calzaghe controls the action.
Kokin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Calzaghe lands a body shot in the clinch.
Calzaghe seems to have got his legs back now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice right hand lands inside from Kokin.
Kokin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Calzaghes head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kokin.
Tirawit Kokin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kokin prevents Calzaghe from breaking the clinch.
Calzaghe prevents a body shot from Kokin.
A short right from Kokin.
Kokin digs a right hand underneath Calzaghe's ribcage. Calzaghe let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kokin lands a shoulder strike.
Calzaghe looking to slow down the pace here.
Kokin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Calzaghe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kokin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Calzaghe presses Kokin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Calzaghe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kokin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Calzaghe or not.
Calzaghe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Calzaghe misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Calzaghe tries a body shot but Kokin blocks it.
Kokin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Calzaghe's elbow.
Calzaghe taking a breather.
A right handed body shot lands from Kokin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kokin's elbow.
Kokin swings wildly with an uppercut but Calzaghe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe looking to slow down the pace here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by Kokin.
Kokin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kokin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kokin misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kokin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kokin lands with a light punch inside.
Calzaghe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kokin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Calzaghe or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tirawit Kokin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Calzaghe's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kokin lands with a slapping head kick.
Kokin throws a big shot that misses.
Kokin tries to close the distance and clinch but Calzaghe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Calzaghe throws out a loose jab but Kokin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Calzaghe gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kokin.
Calzaghe swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kokin.
Calzaghe blocks a head kick by Kokin.
An inside leg kick lands from Kokin.
Calzaghe checks a leg kick nicely.
Calzaghe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kokin.
Kokin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Calzaghe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Calzaghe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kokin.
Calzaghe throws a hook to the side of Kokin's head but Kokin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tirawit Kokin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokin tries a head kick but it misses.
Kokin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Calzaghe misses with a body punch
and Kokin counters with a big head kick but Calzaghe shrugs it off.
Calzaghe scores with a decent looking hook.
Kokin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Calzaghe under the eye.
Calzaghe misses the shot to the body.
Kokin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Calzaghe throws a jab but it's blocked by Kokin.
Calzaghe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kokin drops his hands momentarily and Calzaghe takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Calzaghe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kokin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Calzaghe misses with a looping right.
Calzaghe scores with a hook to the body. Kokin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calzaghe lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kokin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Calzaghe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kokin.
Kokin tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.
Calzaghe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kokin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calzaghe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kokin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Left hook, right uppercut from Calzaghe.
Kokin misses with a head kick.
Calzaghe tries to bum rush Kokin with a series of wild strikes but Kokin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Calzaghe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kokin throws a leg kick which misses Calzaghe's front leg but catches the back leg as Calzaghe tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kokin.
Kokin connects with a solid leg kick.
Kokin tries to clinch up but Calzaghe circles away and keeps his distance.
Kokin loads up on a big right hand but Calzaghe slips the punch.
Calzaghe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kokin scores with a kick to the body.
Calzaghe misses with a straight right.
Kokin walks into a straight right hand from Calzaghe.
Kokin connects with a leg kick. Calzaghe looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kokin scores with a leg kick.
Kokin lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kokin ducks under a wild hook from Calzaghe.
Kokin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Calzaghe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe walks into a stiff left hand from Kokin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Calzaghe looks to land a left hand but Kokin moved out of range nicely.
Kokin throws a nice outside leg kick.
That kick from Kokin tenderised Calzaghe's leg. Calzaghe is trying to keep his angry face on.
A jab from Calzaghe misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kokin. Calzaghe shrugs it off though.
Joe Calzaghe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kokin closes the distance but Calzaghe moves to the side
and Calzaghe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kokin cracks the inside of Calzaghe's front leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kokin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Calzaghe's calf.
Kokin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Calzaghe has time to react.
Kokin misses with a head kick.
Calzaghe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kokin moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tirawit Kokin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kokin 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tirawit Kokin!
Tirawit Kokin thanked the fans post fight for their support.