PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Kostov (ranked 326 p4p, 417 weight class) and Kane Thoupos (ranked 39 p4p, 50 weight class). Thoupos is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 151 Rum - JID. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kostov
vs
Thoupos

185 cm
32
190
19 - 12 - 3

177 cm
27
196
17 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

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 19 - 12 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Kostov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kane Thoupos!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kostov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Good exchange - Kostov coming out on top.
Thoupos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kostov finds it's way round the side to connect with Thoupos's head.
Thoupos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kostov.
Thoupos defending well as Kostov loads up on a big left hand.
Thoupos looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kostov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Kostov.
Thoupos changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kostov.
Kostov backing away here, and Thoupos unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Thoupos throws a leg kick but Kostov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thoupos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thoupos raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Thoupos defending well as Kostov loads up on a big left hand.
Thoupos takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thoupos.
Thoupos throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kostov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kostov throws a looping overhand right but Thoupos ducks down to avoid it.
Kostov misses with a hook
and Thoupos counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Pavel Kostov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thoupos cracks Kostov with a good jab.
Thoupos misses with a right hand
and Thoupos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thoupos throws a big shot that misses.
Nice shot by Kostov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostov dips to his left and cracks Thoupos with an uppercut!
Thoupos misses with a body shot.
Kostov closes the distance but Thoupos moves to the side
and Thoupos counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kostov is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos just misses with a punch to the body.
Kostov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thoupos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kostov feints and then cracks Thoupos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thoupos down.
Thoupos fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kostov.
Kostov jabs at Thoupos's body.
Kostov slips a straight right by Thoupos.
A lazy left from Kostov finds it's target.
Kostov jabs Thoupos right on the nose. Thoupos blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands with a nice body kick.
Kostov throws a body kick that misses.
Kostov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kostov takes a step back to recover.
Kostov takes a swing at Thoupos's ribcage but misses.
Thoupos pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kostov is out of range and Thoupos settles back down.
It looks like Kostov has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Kostov misses with a body shot.
Kostov moves forwards but Thoupos connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kostov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kostov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kostov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kostov keeps Thoupos at a distance using the push kick.
Kostov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thoupos can do to turn this around?
Kostov lands with an overhand left.
Kostov wants to slow Thoupos down by chopping away at his legs.
Thoupos misses with an uppercut
and Kostov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kostov lands a jab to Thoupos's midsection.
Kostov thows a body kick. Thoupos tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thoupos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kostov can pounce on him.
Kostov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice body kick there by Kostov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos misses with a right hand
and Kostov counters with a straight right hand.
Pavel Kostov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kostov moves away from the strike by Thoupos.
Thoupos takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kostov lands a jab to the head.
Kostov avoids the body shot from Thoupos.
Thoupos misses with a left hand
and Kostov counters with a nice uppercut.
Thoupos scores with a nice body kick.
Thoupos throws a shot from downtown. Kostov moves away and avoids it.
Kostov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kostov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov tries to close the distance and clinch but Thoupos swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kostov cracks Thoupos with a good jab.
Thoupos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kostov manages to avoid it.
Kostov tried to counter with a leg kick but Thoupos avoided it.
Thoupos slips under a jab from Kostov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thoupos lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kostov scores with a jab to the body.
Thoupos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thoupos chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kostov can pounce on him.
Kostov misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kostov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big left from Thoupos misses.
A big left from Kostov misses.
Kostov throws a hook to the side of Thoupos's head but Thoupos sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thoupos connects with the punch.
Kostov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thoupos scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kostov.
Thoupos throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thoupos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thoupos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kostov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thoupos. Thoupos circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thoupos connects with an inside leg kick.
Kostov throws a low kick but Thoupos avoids it.
Kostov throws a front kick that sends Thoupos stumbling back into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kostov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Kostov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pavel Kostov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kostov staying out of range there.
Kostov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kostov scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheers as Kostov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thoupos doesn't seem phased though.
Kostov throws the left hand but Thoupos avoids the punch easily.
Thoupos looks like he wants to counter punch here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kostov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Thoupos on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kostov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thoupos.
Thoupos misses with an uppercut. Kostov saw that one coming.
It looked like Kostov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Thoupos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Kostov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kostov.
Kostov scores with a decent looking hook.
Kostov lands a jab.
Kostov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thoupos.
Kostov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thoupos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kostov moves away.
Kostov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kostov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Thoupos throws a leg kick that misses.
Kane Thoupos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jab from Kostov.
Kostov cracks Thoupos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kostov connects with a solid leg kick.
Kostov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thoupos takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos misses with a low kick.
Kostov tries to counter by clinching up but Thoupos breaks away and moves out of range.
Kostov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thoupos.
It seemed like Thoupos was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands with a thumping leg kick.

Kostov closes the distance and pushes Thoupos back into the cage.
Thoupos lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kostov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thoupos lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kostov lands with a right to the head.
Thoupos lands with a left to the head.
Kostov lands a left hand.
Kostov has a couple of punches blocked by Thoupos.
Thoupos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thoupos struggles to land a body shot inside as Kostov controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Thoupos.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thoupos lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Thoupos throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thoupos struggles to land a body shot inside as Kostov controls his hands.
Thoupos misses with a punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thoupos scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Thoupos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thoupos shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kostov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thoupos appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Thoupos ducks right into an uppercut from Kostov.
Kostov scores with a jab to the body.
Thoupos throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Kostov to counter with a crisp jab.
Thoupos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thoupos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Kostov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Kostov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kostov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Kostov!
Pavel Kostov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Kane Thoupos was interviewed post fight and said 'What really happened on that Thursday in August High School that led to Chris Woods death? Pftctctxtysfsrhhh the fuck is that! Fly in my mouth, I can’t see… gotta get out of this country motherfucker'.