PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Tug (ranked 4481 p4p, 25031 weight class) and Igor Koskitov (ranked 473 p4p, 677 weight class). Koskitov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Тих бял Дунав. Igor Koskitov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tug
vs
Koskitov

191 cm
26
270
6 - 6 - 0

210 cm
26
265
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Tug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Koskitov!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tug lands a slapping body shot.
Koskitov throws the kick towards the body but Tug avoids it.
Mark Tug seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tug moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tug swinging wildly here.
Koskitov throws a counter combo.
Tug showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koskitov.
Tug tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koskitov was well out of range. Poor timing from Tug.
Tug stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Koskitov.
Koskitov moves out of range of the body kick.
Koskitov is looking for the big counter here.
Tug throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koskitov misses with the combination.
Tug lands a jab-cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tug throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Koskitov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koskitov moves out of range of the body kick.
Tug swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tug tries a head kick but it misses.
Koskitov throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Mark Tug has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskitov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tug misses the jab.
Koskitov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Koskitov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Koskitov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Koskitov slips a jab and a cross from Tug.
Koskitov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tug missing with a left hand there. Koskitov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tug jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Koskitov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tug on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A low kick lands for Koskitov.
Tug fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tug scores with a jab to the head.
Tug looks to score with a jab to the body but Koskitov is just out of range.
Koskitov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sloppy strikes from Tug. Those never looked like landing.
Koskitov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tug.
Tug throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tug is looking to wear down Koskitov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskitov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tug throws out the jab.
Koskitov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tug throws a half hearted mid kick.
Koskitov unleashes a big counter combination but Tug bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Koskitov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Tug's head.
Tug throws a right hand that Koskitov ducks under and follows up with a left that Koskitov also avoids with ease.
Tug is breathing heavily.
Koskitov lands a nice looking body kick.
Koskitov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tug.
Tug looks to land a combination but Koskitov avoids it well.
Koskitov connects with a high kick.
Koskitov throws a nice looking combination but Tug bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koskitov slips under a jab from Tug.
Koskitov fakes the leg kick and cracks Tug in the body.
Tug slips a jab and a cross from Koskitov.
Koskitov swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Koskitov misses.
Tug throws a counter high kick but Koskitov was just alert enough to avoid it.
Koskitov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Mark Tug's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Koskitov.
Koskitov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Koskitov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tug circles away quickly and effectively.
Tug moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tug throws a hook to the side of Koskitov's head but Koskitov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Koskitov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tug did well to prevent Koskitov getting side control.

Tug has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Koskitov is on him like a limpet, forcing Tug back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koskitov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Koskitov has hold of one of Tug's legs. Tug is fighting the takedown attempt but Koskitov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Koskitov is working Tug over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Koskitov trying to control but Tug is working from the bottom.
Koskitov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tug is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tug is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tug is trying to control the position but Koskitov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koskitov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Koskitov connects with a couple of short punches.
Koskitov cracks Tug with a solid left hand.
Koskitov landing with the ground and pound.
Koskitov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Koskitov chips away with some ground and pound.
Koskitov landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Koskitov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Tug is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koskitov is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Koskitov stands and steps away. Tug gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tug throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koskitov lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tug will feel that in the morning.
Tug is working the combinations to good effect here.
Tug looks to score with a jab to the body but Koskitov is just out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Tug will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mark Tug's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Tug on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Koskitov lands with a slapping head kick.
Tug misses with a jab, cross combination.
Koskitov tries to bum rush Tug with a series of wild strikes but Tug uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koskitov ducks under a wild hook from Tug.
Tug loads up on a big right hand but Koskitov slips the punch.
Koskitov lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tug lands a jab to Koskitov's midsection.
A big right from Tug misses.
Koskitov is looking for the big counter here.
A punch combination from Tug misses.
Koskitov fails to land with a series of punches.
Tug appears to be looking for a big counter.
Koskitov throws a right hand that Tug ducks under and follows up with a left that Tug also avoids with ease.
Some wild striking there from Tug.
Koskitov with a hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tug crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Koskitov - the referee stops the clock and Tug gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Koskitov. Tug manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Koskitov gets a takedown into half guard.
Koskitov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskitov prevents Tug from improving his position.
Koskitov content to control rather than advance.
Nice strikes from Koskitov there.
Koskitov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tug. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koskitov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Koskitov.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Koskitov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tug trying to hold on to Koskitov's head to control him but Koskitov postures up.
Koskitov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tug knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Koskitov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tug is just riding it out for now. Koskitov eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tug makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tug.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tug working a defensive guard here.
Tug being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Koskitov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Koskitov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tug swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tug lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koskitov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tug loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tug in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tug trying to control but Koskitov is working from the bottom.
Koskitov has a closed guard, preventing Tug from standing up.
Tug working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tug missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Koskitov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tug is one step ahead there.
Koskitov keeping moving, preventing Tug from controlling successfully.

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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Koskitov has Tug pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Koskitov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Koskitov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Koskitov is working Tug over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tug is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Koskitov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Koskitov lands strikes from half guard.
Koskitov slips a nice elbow through Tug's hands, connecting with Tug's forehead.

Mark Tug's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Tug trying to hold on to Koskitov's head to control him but Koskitov postures up.
Tug has hold of Koskitov's hands but Koskitov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Jeez, Mark Tug's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Mark Tug's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Igor Koskitov!
Post fight, Igor Koskitov took to the microphone: 'I would like thank my sponsor, Articus University. And I want to thank great nation of Bulgaria and fans here tonight. And I like to say I am coming for belt, rest of heavyweight better watch out. '.