PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tapu Koko (ranked 150 p4p, 1221 weight class) and Bill Hilly (ranked 26 p4p, 177 weight class). Koko comes to the cage accompanied by Aotearoa. The crowd seem to be enjoying Hilly's choice of entrance music: Gary Moore - Whiskey in the Jar (Tribute to Phil Lynott) [HQ] [9/10]. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Koko
vs
Hilly

187 cm
27
213
12 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
210
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapu Koko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bill Hilly!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hilly.
Koko wants to clinch.
Hilly tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hilly scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Tapu Koko has been cut.
The fighters circling - Hilly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Koko wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bill Hilly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koko is looking to clinch but Hilly is avoiding it.
Hilly misses with a hook
letting Koko counter with a right hand.
Hilly lands with a hook. Koko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hilly throws an off balance right hand
and Koko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Koko moves in looking to clinch but Hilly pushes him off.
Koko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Koko is looking to counter the offense by Hilly and move into the clinch.
Hilly throws a poor cross that misses
and Koko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Hilly misses.
Hilly keeps the fight on the outside.
Koko slips a jab from Hilly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilly scores with the left hand. Koko knows he should have avoided that one.
Hilly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koko.
Hilly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hilly throws a lazy right hand but Koko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koko tries to clinch there but Hilly circles away.
Koko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hilly throws out the jab.
Hilly throws out a loose jab but Koko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koko walks into a straight right hand from Hilly.
Hilly thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hilly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koko.
Hilly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
It seemed like Hilly was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Koko blocks a jab.
Koko swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A jab from Hilly misses.
Koko tries to clinch there but Hilly circles away.
Hilly misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hilly.
Hilly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilly looks to land a right hand but Koko moved out of range.
Hilly misses with a body shot.
Koko tries to clinch but Hilly is having none of it.
Koko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hilly.
Koko throwing a counter right hand but Hilly manages to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hilly throws a jab when Koko was well out of range.
Koko blocks a jab.
Koko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hilly misses with a straight left.
Koko is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Hilly throws out a loose jab but Koko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hilly manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koko ducks under a wild hook from Hilly.
A swing and a miss from Hilly.
Hilly swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hilly thows a left - swing and a miss!
Koko seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Koko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hilly wants to counter with a clinch but Koko pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hilly.
Sloppy strikes from Hilly. Those never looked like landing.
Koko tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hilly manages to circle out of the way.
Hilly throws a hook but Koko blocks it.
Koko tries to clinch but Hilly is having none of it.
Hilly might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Koko is looking to clinch but Hilly is avoiding it.
Hilly fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Koko doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilly circles away.
Hilly misses the shot to the body.

Koko moves into range and clinches up with Hilly.
A nice left hand lands by Koko.
Hilly wants to get back to striking at distance but Koko won't allow it.
Hilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koko gets through Hilly's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hilly is trying to force a seperation but Koko has the dominant position.
Koko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Koko lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hilly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hilly takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koko scores with a nice hook to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hilly.
Koko misses with a punch on the inside.
Hilly blocks a body shot from Koko.
Koko tries to work over Hilly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Koko on the inside.
Koko slowing the pace effectively.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koko.
Koko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hilly.
Koko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hilly or not.
Koko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hilly's elbow.
Hilly is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Koko is defending well for now.
Koko working aggressively here.
Hilly scores with a shot to the side of Koko's head.
Hilly throws a head punch that misses.
Koko can't find room to land a body shot as Hilly controls the action.
Koko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Koko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Koko for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A head punch on the inside from Koko fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hilly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tapu Koko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koko is looking to clinch but Hilly is avoiding it.
Hilly has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hilly misses with a straight right.
Koko tries to clinch but Hilly is having none of it.
Hilly with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hilly stuns Koko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hilly misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Koko misses the target.
Koko wants to clinch up but Hilly keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hilly connects with a right hand. Koko shakes it off.
Bill Hilly seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Hilly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Hilly misses the target.
Koko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A combination from Hilly does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hilly looks to score with a jab to the body but Koko is just out of range.
Koko moves in looking to clinch but Hilly pushes him off.
Hilly misses with the combination.
Koko wants to clinch up but Hilly keeps it at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by Hilly there.
Koko tries to clinch but Hilly moves out of range.

Koko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hilly softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Koko.
Hilly takes a shot to the head.
Hilly lands with a short shot to the head.
Koko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Koko lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hilly is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilly tries to work over Koko's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Koko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hilly or not.
Koko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Koko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hilly backwards.
Koko tries to work over Hilly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Koko on the inside.
Koko tries a body shot but Hilly blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Koko.
Koko lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Koko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koko lands a nice shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Koko.
Koko lands a body punch in the clinch.
The referee calls for Koko to work.
Koko avoiding damage.
Hilly has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko can't find room to land a body shot as Hilly controls the action.
Koko tries to throw a body punch but Hilly avoids it by throwing Koko back against the cage.
Hilly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koko slows down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hilly throws a head punch that misses.
Hilly misses with the head strike.
Koko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Koko presses Hilly against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Koko.
Tapu Koko has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Koko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Koko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hilly tries to land knees in the clinch but Koko avoids the damage to the body.
Koko throws a punch but it's blocked by Hilly.
Koko tries to throw a body punch but Hilly avoids it by throwing Koko back against the cage.
Koko tries to work over Hilly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koko scores with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koko can't find room to land a body shot as Hilly controls the action.
Koko pushes Hilly back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Koko scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hilly lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Koko.
Koko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Koko just leaning against Hilly, taking a breather.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hilly as Koko tries to tie him up.
Koko digs a right hand into Hilly's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hilly's gas tank.
Koko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hilly swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koko lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hilly backwards.
Koko tries to throw a body punch but Hilly avoids it by throwing Koko back against the cage.
Koko lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hilly's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Koko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapu Koko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tapu Koko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Koko tries to clinch up.
Hilly tries to counter with a clinch but Koko shakes him off and moves away.
Koko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilly swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koko moves out of range as Hilly strikes.
Hilly scores with a nice right hand.
Koko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Koko slips a straight right by Hilly.
Koko moves out of range of the leg kick from Hilly.
Hilly throws a lazy right hand but Koko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hilly cracks Koko with a good jab.
No joy there for Hilly, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Koko wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koko tries to clinch there but Hilly circles away.
Koko tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Koko takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koko moves in looking to clinch but Hilly pushes him off.
Hilly misses with a jab to the body
and Koko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Koko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Koko wants to clinch.
Hilly throws a hook but Koko avoids it easily.
Hilly has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hilly throws a hook but Koko blocks it.
Hilly bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Koko's head.
Koko tries to clinch up.
Hilly throws a combination that misses
enabling Koko to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Bill Hilly has been cut.
Hilly takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koko tries to clinch but Hilly is having none of it.
Koko wants to clinch up but Hilly keeps it at a distance.
Koko ducks under a wild hook from Hilly.
Koko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hilly thuds his right hand into Koko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Koko clinches up against the cage.
Koko lands an uppercut.
Hilly is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Koko taking a breather.
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!
Koko lands a shot to the body.
Koko stalling.
A short uppercut from Hilly.
Hilly gets through Koko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Koko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hilly blocks an uppercut.
Hilly missing with knees to the body.
Koko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Koko tries to work over Hilly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hilly.
Tapu Koko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko trying to control the position but instead, Hilly has worked for underhooks and has pushed Koko into the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Koko.
Koko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hilly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hilly tries a body shot but Koko blocks it.
Koko scores with a hook to the body.
Koko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koko stalling in the clinch but Hilly improves position.
Koko tries to work over Hilly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hilly working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Koko lands a body punch.
Koko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Koko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hillys head.
Koko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hilly.
Koko lands a left hand.
Koko softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Koko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koko can't find room to land a body shot as Hilly controls the action.
Koko has Hilly pushed against the cage.
Koko swings wildly with an uppercut but Hilly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koko lands a shoulder strike.
Hilly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Koko lands an uppercut.
Hilly swings wildly with an uppercut but Koko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hillys head.
Koko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hilly blocks a body shot from Koko.
Koko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Koko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hilly up against the cage.
Hilly swings wildly with an uppercut but Koko uses good head movement to avoid it.

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 Tapu Koko.
I think Koko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight for Tapu Koko!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Tapu Koko!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Tapu Koko!

Tapu Koko wins by unanimous decision!
Tapu Koko took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.