PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Kostov (ranked 2180 p4p, 2225 weight class) and Boyko Kersikov (ranked 302 p4p, 307 weight class). Kersikov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sefa - God's Plan kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Pavel Kostov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kostov
vs
Kersikov

185 cm
24
190
5 - 4 - 0

184 cm
24
189
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Kostov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boyko Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov throws a push kick but Kostov slaps the foot to one side.
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
Kostov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kostov misses with a kick to the body
and Kersikov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kersikov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kersikov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kostov connects with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kostov.
Kersikov checks the leg kick.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kersikov thumps Kostov with a low kick.
Kostov misses with a body shot
and Kersikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kostov throws a body punch but Kersikov moves out of range.
Kostov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kostov misses with a straight right.
Kersikov keeps Kostov at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kersikov works Kostov's body with a nice hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Kersikov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kersikov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kostov's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kersikov at a distance.
Kostov lands a nice looking body shot.
Kostov misses the jab.
Kostov throws a low kick but Kersikov moves out of range easily.
Kersikov is looking for the big counter here.
Kersikov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kostov throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kostov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kersikov's sensitive parts.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kostov.
Kersikov scores with a leg kick.
Kostov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kostov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kostov throws a solid leg kick but Kersikov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kostov.
Kostov ducks under a wild hook from Kersikov.
Kersikov lands an overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostov misses with a body shot.

Kostov clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov blocking some punches.
A hook to the body from Kostov.
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kostov controls his hands.
Kersikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kostov lands a nice uppercut.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Kostov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kostov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kostov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kostov throws a jab but it's blocked by Kersikov.
It seemed like Kersikov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Good leg kick by Kersikov.
Kostov swings for the body but Kersikov moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kersikov.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kostov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kersikov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kostov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kersikov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kostov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a low kick but Kostov moves out of range easily.
Kostov takes a swing at Kersikov's ribcage but misses.
Kostov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kostov lands a jab.
Kersikov throws a leg kick but Kostov checks it.
Kostov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kersikov manages to circle out of the way.
Kostov throws a lazy right hand but Kersikov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kersikov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kersikov missing with a left hand there. Kostov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kostov takes one on the button.
Kersikov throws a sloppy body shot
and Kostov counters with a nice body shot.
Kersikov is looking to land body kicks.
Kersikov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kostov momentarily.
Kostov checks a low kick from Kersikov.
Kostov slips under a jab.
Kostov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov moves away.

Kostov takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kersikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kostov backwards.
Kostov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kostov misses with a body punch.
Kostov leaning against his opponent.
Kostov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kersikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kostov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kersikov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kostov tries to throw a body punch but Kersikov avoids it by throwing Kostov back against the cage.
Kostov presses Kersikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kostov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kostov fails to land.
Kostov stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kostov has a couple of punches blocked by Kersikov.
A short left from Kersikov.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kostov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kersikov.
Kostov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kersikov controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Boyko Kersikov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kersikov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kersikov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kostov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kostov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kostov throws a low kick, looking for Kersikov's leg but Kersikov calmly moves out of range.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kostov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kersikov.
A bone on bone clash there as Kostov blocks the leg kick.
Kostov slips a straight right by Kersikov.
Kostov misses with a low kick.
Kersikov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kostov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kostov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kersikov misses with a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Kersikov.
Kostov wants to slow Kersikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Kersikov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kostov is looking to wear down Kersikov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov moves out of range as Kersikov strikes.
A big left from Kersikov misses.
Kostov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kersikov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kostov misses with a looping left.
Kostov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kersikov scoring well with a low kick there.
Kersikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kostov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It looked like Kostov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kersikov.
Kostov cracks Kersikov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kostov throws a big shot that misses.
Kersikov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kostov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kostov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kostov half committed to a counter leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kostov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kersikov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kostov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kersikov tried to score with a low kick but Kostov checks it.
Kostov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Boyko Kersikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kersikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kostov. Kostov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kersikov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kersikov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Kostov closes the distance and pushes Kersikov back into the cage.
Kostov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kostov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kersikov tries a body shot but Kostov blocks it.
Kostov tries to throw a body punch but Kersikov avoids it by throwing Kostov back against the cage.
Pavel Kostov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kersikov blocks an uppercut.

Kostov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Decent striking displayed by Kostov there.
Kostov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kersikov jabs Kostov right on the nose. Kostov blinks but takes it well.
A nice leg kick from Kersikov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kostov misses with a body kick.
Kostov connects with a jab.
Kostov blocks a head kick by Kersikov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Kostov.
Kersikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kostov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kersikov slips a straight right by Kostov.
Nice uppercut lands for Kostov. That snapped Kersikov's head back.
Kersikov misses the jab.
It looked like Kostov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kersikov.
Kersikov throws a front kick aimed at Kostov's knee but Kostov avoids it well.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kersikov.
Kersikov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kostov. That did some damage!
Kersikov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Kostov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kostov thumps Kersikov with a low kick.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kersikov.
Kostov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kersikov lands with a shot to the body.
Kersikov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kostov checks it well.
Kostov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kostov is looking to clinch but Kersikov is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostov throws a jab but it's blocked by Kersikov.
Kostov throws a front kick aimed at Kersikov's knee but Kersikov avoids it well.
Kersikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Kostov.
Kostov blocks the body kick.
Kostov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kersikov misses with a body kick.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Kostov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kostov lands with a kick to the temple. Kersikov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A swing and a miss from Kersikov.
A quick step to the side and Kostov tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kersikov throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Kostov to counter with a crisp jab.
Kostov moves out of range of the body kick.
Kostov connects with a nice looking jab.
Kersikov tries to work over Kostov's front leg with a kick but Kostov checks it.
Kostov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kostov misses with a looping right.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pavel Kostov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kostov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A slow jab from Kostov misses its intended target.
Kostov wants to clinch.
Kersikov fakes the leg kick and cracks Kostov in the body.
Kersikov throws a series of punches but Kostov moves out of range.
Kersikov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kersikov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kostov backs up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov misses with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kersikov.
Kostov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kostov walks into a left hand.
Kostov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A slow jab from Kersikov misses its intended target.
Kersikov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kersikov walks into a stiff left hand from Kostov.
Kersikov throws a leg kick but Kostov checks it.
Kostov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kersikov scores with a decent looking hook.
Kostov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Kersikov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kersikov.
Kersikov misses with a body shot.
Kersikov walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kostov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kersikov throws a nice looking combination but Kostov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kostov defending well as Kersikov loads up on a big left hand.
An attempted straight right counter from Kostov misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kersikov misses with a low kick.
Jab by Kersikov.
Kostov thuds his shin into the meat of Kersikov's side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A good leg kick by Kersikov.
Kersikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kersikov misses with a looping right.
Kersikov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kersikov.
Kostov punishes Kersikov's body with a nice straight punch.
Kostov lands with a shot to the body.
Kersikov throws a right hand that misses
and Kostov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice uppercut lands for Kersikov. That snapped Kostov's head back.
Jab from Kostov.
Kostov slips a jab from Kersikov.
Kostov half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kostov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kersikov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kostov's knee momentarily.
Kersikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kostov.
Kersikov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kostov.
Kostov thuds his right hand into Kersikov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kostov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kersikov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kostov.
A low kick lands for Kersikov.
Kostov blocks a jab.
Kostov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kostov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kersikov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kersikov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kostov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kostov is looking to clinch but Kersikov is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kersikov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kostov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kostov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A counter left hand to the body from Kostov misses its target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kersikov is looking to slow Kostov down with leg kicks.
Kersikov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kostov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Kostov drives through and clinches with Kersikov against the cage.
Kostov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kostov controls his hands.
Kostov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kostov taking a breather.
Kersikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kostov presses Kersikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kersikov tries a body shot but Kostov blocks it.
Kostov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kersikov backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Kostov.
Kostov swings wildly with an uppercut but Kersikov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kersikov misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boyko Kersikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kersikov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!