PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hu Kokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Refn (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.

Kokov
vs
Refn

183 cm
22
180 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

178 cm
32
174 lbs
22 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

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 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hu Kokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Refn moves away from the strike by Kokov.

Refn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kokov, pushing him back against the cage.

Refn is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kokov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Refn to the mat. Refn regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Refn wants to control the position but Kokov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Refn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kokov.
Kokov prevents Refn from improving his position.
Kokov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Refn trying to hold on to Kokov's head to control him but Kokov postures up.
Kokov misses with a head shot. Refn uses the momentum to regain guard.
Refn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've been hearing that Kokov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokov landing with the ground and pound.
Kokov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Refn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kokov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Refn has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kokov has passed into side control.
Refn is looking for a sweep.
Kokov throws an elbow but Refn slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Kokov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kokov tries to score with some ground and pound. Refn controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Refn is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kokov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kokov trying to control the action but Refn is working from the bottom.
Refn struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kokov throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Refn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Refn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kokov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Refn some visible discomfort.
Kokov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Refn is avoiding damage well.
Sloppy strikes there by Kokov.
Refn takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kokov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kokov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Refn struggling a bit here.
Refn is looking to regain half guard here but Kokov keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kokov.
Kokov working the head and body with strikes.
Kokov throws an elbow but Refn slips to the side and avoids it well.
Refn sneaks back into half guard.
Refn has his hands clasped together around Kokov's back. He's all about the action.
Refn is trying to get back to full guard.
Kokov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hu Kokov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Refn misses with a body shot.
Refn tries for a takedown but Kokov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Refn stalks Kokov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kokov's face. Kokov staggers backwards, shaken.
Nicolas Refn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Refn wants to clinch.
A slow jab from Refn misses its intended target.
Refn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Refn tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kokov defends well and Refn ends up having to push Kokov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Kokov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big left from Refn misses.
Refn throws a hook but Kokov avoids it easily.
Refn doesn't manage to clinch there - Kokov circles away.
Refn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kokov as he jumps to the side.
Hu Kokov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicolas Refn.
Kokov misses with an uppercut
and Refn counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Hu Kokov has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kokov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokov scores with a nice strike.
Kokov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kokov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Refn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Refn throws a head punch that misses.
Kokov lands a body punch.
Kokov throws a punch but it's blocked by Refn.
Kokov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kokov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Refn swings wildly with an uppercut but Kokov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kokov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kokov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kokov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Refn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kokov can't find room to land a body shot as Refn controls the action.
Refn is looking to control Kokov's arms but Kokov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Refn has his back to the cage.
Kokov prevents Refn from breaking the clinch.
Kokov stalls.
Kokov has Refn pressed against the cage, preventing Refn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Still in the clinch, Refn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kokov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Refn misses with a punch to the body.
Kokov misses with a punch on the inside.

Refn manages to break the clinch.
Kokov misses with a straight left.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kokov.
Refn looks to land a right hand but Kokov moved out of range.
Kokov misses with a looping right.
Refn tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kokov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Refn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kokov misses with an uppercut. Refn saw that one coming.
Kokov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A big right from Refn misses.
Refn misses with a left hand
and Kokov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kokov moves out of range as Refn strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Refn.
A big right from Refn misses.
Refn tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kokov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kokov moves away from the strike by Refn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn tries to clinch but Kokov moves out of range.
Refn misses with a looping right.
Refn is looking to clinch but Kokov is avoiding it.
Kokov lands an overhand right.
Refn misses with a hook to the body
and Kokov counters with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Refn tries to clinch but Kokov moves away

and Kokov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Refn working a defensive guard here.
Kokov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kokov throwing strikes from guard but Refn blocks nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kokov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Refn looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hu Kokov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hu Kokov's cut.
That's time! Kokov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Refn wants to clinch up but Kokov keeps it at a distance.
Refn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kokov tries to avoid it but Refn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kokov to the ground. Kokov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Refn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kokov.
Kokov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Refn misses with a hook
and Kokov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Refn swings for the body but Kokov moves out of range.
Kokov lands with a nice body punch.
Refn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Refn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Refn dives in for a single leg takedown but Kokov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Refn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A frustrated look appears on Refn's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kokov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Refn can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokov trying to control the position but Refn is working away.
Kokov working away.
Kokov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Kokov is trying to get an arm triangle but Refn is defending well.
Refn tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Refn wants to control but Kokov is having none of it.
Hu Kokov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn is trying desperately to improve position.
Refn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Refn tries to reverse the position but Kokov maintains control.
Kokov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Refn is looking to escape.
Kokov is really struggling to control Refn but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Refn wants to control but Kokov is having none of it.
Refn is in a horrible position here. Kokov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Refn wants to control but Kokov is having none of it.
Kokov working the ground and pound effectively.
Kokov wants to control the pace but Refn is squirming around nicely.
Nicolas Refn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Refn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Refn is working to get back to half guard.
Kokov controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokov wants to control the pace but Refn is squirming around nicely.
Refn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kokov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Refn is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kokov content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hu Kokov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kokov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hu Kokov!
An out of breath Hu Kokov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.