PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fish (ranked 3594 p4p, 3878 weight class) and Gazali Koekemoer (ranked 406 p4p, 424 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Fish
vs
Koekemoer

185 cm
21
196
3 - 6 - 0

181 cm
24
184
3 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Fish!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gazali Koekemoer!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fish lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Fish lands a really nice looking cross but Koekemoer seems unphased.
Fish connects with a jab.
Koekemoer walks into a left hand.
Koekemoer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koekemoer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Good exchange - Fish coming out on top.
Koekemoer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koekemoer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
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.
Koekemoer jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koekemoer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fish lands with a right hand.
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!
Fish lands with an overhand left.
Fish punishes Koekemoer's body with a nice straight punch.
A punch lands to the side of Koekemoer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fish throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fish scores with a hook.
Koekemoer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fish was well out of range. Poor timing from Koekemoer.
A telegraphed right hand from Fish misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koekemoer bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fish's head backwards.

It looks like Jim Fish has been cut.
Koekemoer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Koekemoer throws an overhand right that lands on Fish's shoulder, as Fish tries to avoid the shot.
Koekemoer tries a head kick but it misses.
Koekemoer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fish.
Koekemoer moves away from the strike by Fish.
Fish will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fish is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Koekemoer moves out of range of the leg kick from Fish.
Fish throws a lazy right hand but Koekemoer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Fish scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Koekemoer is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Fish asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Koekemoer throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koekemoer misses with a straight right.
Fish lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Fish.
Fish misses with a body punch
and Koekemoer counters with a head kick. That will keep Fish thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fish pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Koekemoer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fish.
Fish misses with a straight left.
Fish fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koekemoer is out of range.
Koekemoer finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Fish throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fish loads up on a big right hand but Koekemoer slips the punch.
Fish throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Koekemoer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Koekemoer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Fish checks it well.
Fish looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Fish blocks a head kick by Koekemoer.
Fish throws a poor cross that misses
and Koekemoer makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Fish really felt that one!
Fish throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koekemoer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fish lands a slapping body shot.
No luck for Fish with that takedown attempt.
Koekemoer looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Fish misses.
Koekemoer looks for the body kick but Fish saw that one coming.
Fish takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Fish throws a jab but it's blocked by Koekemoer.
Fish throws a leg kick but Koekemoer sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fish throws a looping overhand right but Koekemoer ducks down to avoid it.
Fish comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fish fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Koekemoer avoids it really well and circles away.
Koekemoer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Koekemoer throws a head kick that half lands.
Fish misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd cheers as Fish lands an impressive looking overhand right. Koekemoer doesn't seem phased though.
A low kick lands for Fish.
Fish throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Koekemoer counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koekemoer gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fish.
A telegraphed right hand from Fish misses the target.
Gazali Koekemoer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fish throws a leg kick but Koekemoer checks it.
A little jabbing left from Koekemoer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fish throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Koekemoer counters with a two punch combo.
Fish scores with a jab. Koekemoer acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A swing and a miss from Fish.
Koekemoer connects with a nice looking jab.
A low kick lands for Koekemoer.
Jim Fish seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice shot by Fish.

Fish closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Koekemoer to the mat! Koekemoer manages to get full guard.
Fish looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koekemoer wants to stand up but Fish is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fish accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Fish dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Fish's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A shot to the body from Fish misses
and Koekemoer counters with a good low kick that Fish was not able to check.
Fish keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fish cracks Koekemoer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Koekemoer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fish misses with a hook.
Jim Fish is winning the standup battle so far.
Koekemoer misses with a looping right.
Fish misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Koekemoer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Koekemoer stuffs the takedown.
Koekemoer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Koekemoer ducks under a wild hook from Fish.
Fish scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fish scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fish lands with a nice body punch.
Koekemoer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fish throws a hook to the side of Koekemoer's head but Koekemoer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice cross by Fish.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koekemoer misses with a body shot.
Koekemoer throws a front kick that sends Fish stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fish misses with a hook to the body
and Koekemoer counters with an outside leg kick.
Koekemoer throws a half hearted mid kick.
A head kick from Koekemoer lands but Fish takes it in his stride.
Koekemoer ducks under a wild hook from Fish.
Fish throws a shot from downtown. Koekemoer moves away and avoids it.
Fish throws a jab when Koekemoer was well out of range.
Fish takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Fish jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fish is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koekemoer can do to turn this around?
Fish is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koekemoer.
Koekemoer is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Koekemoer moves away from the strike by Fish.
Fish throws a jab but it's blocked by Koekemoer.
Koekemoer looks to score with a jab to the body but Fish is just out of range.
Koekemoer slips a straight right by Fish.
Koekemoer feints a counter leg kick.
Fish will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Koekemoer! But no joy.
Fish throws a right hand that Koekemoer ducks under and follows up with a left that Koekemoer also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer swings for the body but Fish moves out of range.
Fish throws a right hand that misses
and Koekemoer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fish dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fish throws a jab when Koekemoer was well out of range.
Koekemoer thinks about the counter body kick.
Fish misses with a hook.
Koekemoer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fish throws a looping overhand right but Koekemoer ducks down to avoid it.
Fish moves out of range as Koekemoer throws a body kick.
Fish loads up on a big right hand but Koekemoer slips the punch.
A jab lands there for Fish.
Koekemoer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fish fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koekemoer manages to avoid it.
Koekemoer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fish.
A jab lands there for Fish.
Donk. Fish catches Koekemoer right on the button with a cross.
Fish scores with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fish.
Fish misses with a low kick.
Koekemoer flicks out a counter leg kick but Fish steps away.
Fish misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koekemoer.
Koekemoer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A swing and a miss from Fish.
Fish jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fish closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koekemoer circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Fish. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fish ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koekemoer moves away.
Koekemoer throws a big counter head kick but Fish avoids it with no problem.
Fish avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fish fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koekemoer manages to avoid it.
Koekemoer looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Fish throws a hook but Koekemoer blocks it.
Fish's corner calls for a 1-2. Fish obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A jab from Fish misses.
Fish throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koekemoer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Koekemoer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer slips under a jab.
Koekemoer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fish throws an overhand right that lands on Koekemoer's shoulder, as Koekemoer tries to avoid the shot.
Koekemoer connects with an inside leg kick.
Fish fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koekemoer manages to avoid it.
Fish throws a hook to the side of Koekemoer's head but Koekemoer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fish throws out a loose jab but Koekemoer uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Koekemoer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koekemoer throws a sloppy head kick and Fish moves out of range easily.
Koekemoer avoids the head kick by Fish.
Fish throws a right hand that Koekemoer ducks under and follows up with a left that Koekemoer also avoids with ease.
Fish moves out of range of the body kick.
A big left from Fish misses.
Fish just misses with a punch to the body.
Koekemoer on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Koekemoer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Koekemoer misses with a looping left.
Koekemoer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A little feinted left hand from Fish on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Fish dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jim Fish's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fish throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Koekemoer on the side of the head.
Fish slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fish gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Koekemoer.
Koekemoer drops his hands momentarily and Fish takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Koekemoer's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fish connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Koekemoer scrambles back to his feet.
Fish scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Koekemoer staying out of range there.
Fish misses with a body kick.
Koekemoer throws a chopping leg kick but Fish manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Koekemoer throws out a leg kick but Fish moves out of range and Koekemoer only half commits.
Fish avoids the head kick by Koekemoer.
Fish throws a big shot that misses.
Koekemoer dodges the punch combination from Fish.
The crowd cheers as Fish lands an impressive looking overhand right. Koekemoer doesn't seem phased though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fish throws out a powerful jab.
Koekemoer tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fish is able to avoid easily.
Koekemoer looks to land a body kick but Fish moved away.
Fish is looking to counter punch.
Koekemoer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fish.
Koekemoer lands a slapping body shot.
Fish lands a nice looking body shot.
Fish misses with a wild combination.
Koekemoer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fish with a body shot.
Fish misses with an uppercut
and Koekemoer counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Koekemoer chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fish has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koekemoer.
Koekemoer takes one to the side of the head.
Koekemoer slips under a jab.
Koekemoer looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fish lands a nice shot that snaps Koekemoer's head back.
A low kick from Fish misses
and Koekemoer counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fish throws a body punch but Koekemoer moves out of range.
Fish misses with an uppercut
and Koekemoer counters with a nice leg kick.
Koekemoer with the inside leg kick.
Fish throws a hook to the side of Koekemoer's head but Koekemoer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fish uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koekemoer.
Koekemoer checks the leg kick.
Koekemoer walks into a jab.
Fish rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Koekemoer finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Fish throws an overhand right that lands on Koekemoer's shoulder, as Koekemoer tries to avoid the shot.
Fish lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A decent looking cross lands there for Fish.
The fighters circling - Fish throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koekemoer throws a big counter head kick but Fish avoids it with no problem.
Koekemoer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fish misses the body punch
and Koekemoer counters with a nice low kick that buckles Fish's knee momentarily.
Fish misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fish throws an overhand right that lands on Koekemoer's shoulder, as Koekemoer tries to avoid the shot.
Fish shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fish is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fish walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fish pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fish throws an off balance right hand
and Koekemoer counters with a good low kick that Fish was not able to check.
Fish throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koekemoer lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Koekemoer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koekemoer scores with a decent looking hook.
Koekemoer throws a chopping leg kick but Fish manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Fish misses with a left hand
letting Koekemoer counter with a right hand.
Fish missing with a left hand there. Koekemoer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koekemoer is trying to counter with his kicks.
Koekemoer wants to slow Fish down by chopping away at his legs.
A little feinted left hand from Fish on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Koekemoer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fish on the side of the head.
Koekemoer misses with an uppercut. Fish saw that one coming.
Gazali Koekemoer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fish throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koekemoer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fish comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fish will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Fish ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Koekemoer lands a brutal head kick. Fish looks out on his feet and Koekemoer throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Gazali Koekemoer!
An out of breath Gazali Koekemoer thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.