PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benjy Button (ranked 2847 p4p, 3147 weight class) and Gazali Koekemoer (ranked 354 p4p, 380 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Button
vs
Koekemoer

184 cm
22
189
4 - 3 - 0

181 cm
24
184
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

AVALON

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjy Button!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gazali Koekemoer!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koekemoer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Button waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koekemoer.
Button avoids the head kick by Koekemoer.

Button moves into the clinch.

Koekemoer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Button moves into the clinch successfully.

Button breaks from the clinch.
Button lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Koekemoer stuffs the takedown attempt from Button. Button gets slowly back to his feet.
Button looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Koekemoer misses with a kick to the body.
Button tries a head kick but it misses.
Koekemoer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Button with a poor takedown
and Koekemoer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Button pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Button tries a head kick but it misses.
Koekemoer's coach down at Besta-Fera Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Koekemoer's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koekemoer leaves Button with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benjy Button. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Button throws a combination. Koekemoer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Koekemoer misses with a head kick.
Koekemoer throws a sloppy head kick
and Button counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A combination from Button does no damage.
Koekemoer misses with a looping left.
Koekemoer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Button tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Koekemoer defends well and Button ends up having to push Koekemoer into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Button's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koekemoer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A big right from Koekemoer misses.
Koekemoer lands with a hook. Button tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer throws a hook but Button blocks it.
Button swinging wildly here.
Koekemoer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koekemoer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Button scores with a three punch combo!

Button lands a left and a right that send Koekemoer crashing to the mat, dazed. Button thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Koekemoer is rocked!

Button drives through and clinches with Koekemoer against the cage.
Koekemoer is still on wobbly legs! Can Button finish him?

Button breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Koekemoer.
Koekemoer get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Koekemoer stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Button runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Benjy Button!
During a confident post fight interview, Benjy Button thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.