PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liu Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liu Kang has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kang
vs
Koscheck

170 cm
20
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

184 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liu Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago Koscheck!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koscheck scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kang being controlled for a moment.
Kang is looking to reverse the position.
Koscheck passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kang!
Kang might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kang tries to reverse the position but Koscheck maintains control.
Koscheck has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kang's face.
Koscheck controlling from mount.
Kang tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Koscheck controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang is desperately trying to improve his position but Koscheck has a good base and remains in mount.
Koscheck controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Despite being in the dominant position, Thiago Koscheck just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Koscheck shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Koscheck was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kang is looking to improve his position but Koscheck isn't that keen on the idea.
Koscheck controlling from mount.
Kang is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kang is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck controlling the position easily from mount.
Kang is looking to get to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Koscheck.
Koscheck controlling the pace for now.
I looks like Koscheck might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kang is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kang is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Koscheck dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kang fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Koscheck sprawls well initially but Kang persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kang working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Koscheck's thigh. Koscheck counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kang preventing the sweep.
Kang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koscheck is keeping the position for now.
Koscheck wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kang wants to stand but Koscheck is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kang being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck wants to sweep here but Kang controlling him for the moment.
Kang stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koscheck swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kang wanted to stand there but Koscheck had control of the position.
Koscheck tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kang tries to close the distance and clinch but Koscheck swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Koscheck shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kang's guard.
Koscheck sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Koscheck avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Koscheck postures up.
Kang being controlled here, momentarily.

Kang working for submissions but it's allowed Koscheck to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Kang is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Koscheck pulls his head out easily.
Kang wants to improve his position but Koscheck is controlling well.
Koscheck not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kang is looking to get back to is feet but Koscheck passes into side control.
Koscheck is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Thiago Koscheck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kang gets back to half guard.
Kang works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kang working a defensive guard here.
Kang keeping full guard, as Koscheck tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Koscheck 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!

Koscheck scores with a takedown into Kang's guard.
Koscheck looking to sit in guard and control but Kang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kang postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Koscheck is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kang, into his guard.
Koscheck controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kang looking for a guillotine here but Koscheck defends easily.
Koscheck must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck 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.

Kang has his foot on Koscheck's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koscheck works his way back into a safe position though.

Kang had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Koscheck is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kang Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Koscheck's back instead.
Kang not allowing Koscheck to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Thiago Koscheck just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koscheck misses with a takedown attempt

and Kang counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Koscheck controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Kang is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Koscheck works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koscheck escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koscheck not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koscheck wants to sweep here but Kang controlling him for the moment.

Kang is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koscheck is on top in guard.

That's four 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.

Kang is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kang being controlled here, momentarily.

Kang has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koscheck can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kang has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koscheck can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Liu Kang.
Well Koscheck has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Thiago Koscheck!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Thiago Koscheck!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Thiago Koscheck!

Thiago Koscheck wins by unanimous decision!