PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Gagarin (ranked 4892 p4p, 4753 weight class) and Xylon Kofel (ranked 603 p4p, 594 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gagarin
vs
Kofel

185 cm
18
165
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
168
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuri Gagarin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xylon Kofel!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kofel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gagarin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kofel can pounce on him.
The crowd cheers as Gagarin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kofel doesn't seem phased though.
Gagarin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kofel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gagarin's knee momentarily.
Gagarin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gagarin lands a jab-cross combination.
Gagarin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kofel.
Gagarin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kofel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gagarin lands with a cross.
Kofel on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gagarin tests Kofel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gagarin is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gagarin misses with a series of wild punches.
Gagarin lands with a right hand.
Kofel tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gagarin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gagarin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gagarin misses with a double jab
and Kofel counters with a low kick, right behind Gagarin 's knee.
Kofel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kofel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gagarin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A nice combination there by Gagarin.
Gagarin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kofel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gagarin cracks Kofel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Good exchange - Gagarin coming out on top.
Kofel throws a head kick but Gagarin moves out of range.
Gagarin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kofel lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kofel feints and then cracks Gagarin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gagarin down.
Kofel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kofel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gagarin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kofel on the side of the head.
Kofel connects with an inside leg kick.
Gagarin lands with a cross.
Gagarin throws a nice looking combination but Kofel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gagarin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gagarin connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice jab there from Gagarin.
Gagarin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kofel. Kofel obviously looking to wear him down.
Kofel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kofel takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kofel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kofel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Gagarin lunges at Kofel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kofel's hand.
Gagarin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kofel in his tracks.
Nice uppercut there from Gagarin.
Kofel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gagarin's sensitive parts.
Kofel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gagarin's sensitive parts.
Kofel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kofel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Gagarin scores with the left hand. Kofel knows he should have avoided that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kofel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kofel thumps Gagarin with a low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kofel.
Kofel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin lands a nice hook to Kofel's body. Kofel takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gagarin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gagarin jabs Kofel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Gagarin blocks the leg kick.
Gagarin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kofel moves out of range of the strikes.
A cross from Gagarin lands.
Gagarin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kofel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gagarin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kofel.
Kofel feints a counter leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick lands for Kofel.
Kofel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gagarin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kofel has time to react.
Kofel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Gagarin dominated that round.
That's time! Gagarin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kofel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gagarin.
Gagarin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gagarin lands a lovely overhand right.
Kofel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gagarin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kofel can do to turn this around?
Gagarin misses with a hook. Kofel ducked under it nicely.
Kofel has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gagarin checks a low kick from Kofel.
Gagarin throwing a counter right hand but Kofel manages to avoid it.
Gagarin throws an overhand right that lands on Kofel's shoulder, as Kofel tries to avoid the shot.
Kofel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gagarin. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gagarin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gagarin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gagarin sizes up Kofel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kofel throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gagarin tests Kofel's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Kofel is rocked!
Kofel moves out of range as Gagarin strikes.
Kofel is still on wobbly legs! Can Gagarin finish him?
Kofel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kofel seems to have recovered his senses.
Kofel tries to land a leg kick but Gagarin saw it coming and moves away.
Gagarin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gagarin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gagarin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kofel on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gagarin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kofel manages to avoid it.
Kofel moves out of range of the strikes.
Gagarin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kofel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kofel lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gagarin misses with an uppercut
and Kofel counters with an outside leg kick.
Gagarin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kofel scores with a spinning back kick!
Gagarin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kofel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gagarin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kofel counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gagarin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gagarin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gagarin connects with a single shot there.
An inside leg kick lands from Kofel.
Gagarin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gagarin throws a right hand that misses
and Kofel counters with a solid body kick.
Kofel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gagarin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kofel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kofel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gagarin.
Kofel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gagarin's sensitive parts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gagarin. Kofel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gagarin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kofel in his tracks.
Kofel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kofel flicks out a counter leg kick but Gagarin steps away.
Gagarin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kofel.
Kofel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kofel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kofel is looking to slow Gagarin down with leg kicks.
Gagarin misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gagarin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kofel.
Yuri Gagarin is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kofel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kofel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gagarin throws a jab when Kofel was well out of range.
Gagarin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kofel.
Kofel scores with a leg kick.
Kofel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gagarin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kofel. Kofel obviously looking to wear him down.
Gagarin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gagarin thuds a left hand into Kofel's body.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kofel.
Kofel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kofel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gagarin.
Kofel with a nice calf kick.
Gagarin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuri Gagarin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gagarin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A lazy left from Gagarin finds it's target.
Kofel is looking to slow Gagarin down with leg kicks.
Kofel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kofel connects with a solid leg kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jab from Gagarin.
Kofel connects with a leg kick.
Gagarin connects with a nice looking jab.
Gagarin lands a nice shot that snaps Kofel's head back.
Gagarin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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!
Sloppy strikes from Gagarin. Those never looked like landing.
Gagarin lands a lovely overhand right.
Kofel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gagarin.
Gagarin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gagarin misses with a lunging right hand
and Kofel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Gagarin's knee momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofel ducks right into an uppercut from Gagarin.
Kofel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gagarin.
Gagarin throws a right and a left that both miss.
A jab from Gagarin finds it's way through Kofel's defenses.
Gagarin throws a jab when Kofel was well out of range.
Kofel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gagarin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kofel was well out of range. Poor timing from Gagarin.
Kofel scores with a head kick. Gagarin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gagarin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gagarin throws a body shot but no joy.
Gagarin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kofel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kofel ducks under a wild hook from Gagarin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gagarin loads up on a big right hand but Kofel slips the punch.
Gagarin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kofel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gagarin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kofel throws a leg kick which misses Gagarin's front leg but catches the back leg as Gagarin tries to avoid it.
Kofel lands a leg kick that knocks Gagarin off balance momentarily.
Gagarin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yuri Gagarin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gagarin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kofel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gagarin lands a two punch combo.
Kofel slips under a jab.
Kofel swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kofel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin just misses with a punch to the body.
Kofel with the inside leg kick.
Gagarin connects with a crisp jab.
Gagarin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kofel lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kofel connects with a leg kick.
Gagarin throws a right hand that Kofel ducks under and follows up with a left that Kofel also avoids with ease.
Kofel ducks under a wild hook from Gagarin.
Gagarin loads up on a big right hand but Kofel slips the punch.
A little jabbing left from Kofel on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gagarin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice defenses there by Kofel.
Gagarin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kofel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gagarin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kofel.
Kofel appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kofel throws a leg kick which misses Gagarin's front leg but catches the back leg as Gagarin tries to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kofel is looking to slow Gagarin down with leg kicks.
Kofel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kofel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gagarin lands a lovely overhand right.
A big left from Gagarin misses.
Yuri Gagarin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kofel dodges the punch combination from Gagarin.
Kofel was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kofel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kofel with a nice calf kick.
Gagarin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Xylon Kofel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A nice leg kick from Kofel, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Gagarin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gagarin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Gagarin!
After the fight, Yuri Gagarin was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.