PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Kos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Rourke
vs
Kos

186 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
182 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mickey Rourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Kos!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kos connects with a jab.
Kos fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rourke on the side of the head.
Kos closes the distance and clinches up with Rourke, looking for a takedown. Kos pushes Rourke against the cage but Rourke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rourke misses with a takedown

and Kos counters by clinching up.
Rourke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rourke misses with a takedown attempt
and Kos counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kos wants to clinch.
Kos gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Rourke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rourke drops back looking for a leg! Kos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kos manages to kick Rourke off! Rourke jumps back into Kos's guard.
Rourke is breathing heavily.
Kos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rourke.
Kos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke cracks Kos with a solid left hand.
Rourke throws a big right hand that misses.

Kos kicks Rourke off and gets to his feet.

Kos has managed to clinch.
Rourke has Kos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Kos is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rourke can't fight it off and eventually Kos manages to take the fight to the floor. Rourke looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kos avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kos postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kos with a nice head shot there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rourke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rourke working for a triangle but Kos defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kos scoring with some ground and pound.

Rourke throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kos uses it to pass to side control.
Kos gets to mount! Rourke was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rourke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rourke tries to reverse the position but Kos maintains control.
Rourke in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rourke taking shots to the head.
Kos dominating with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rourke slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rourke is looking for a sweep. Kos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke is refusing to be controlled, as Kos sits in half guard.

Rourke looking for submissions off his back.
Kos slips a nice elbow through Rourke's hands, connecting with Rourke's forehead.
Rourke is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from Kos.
Rourke tries to roll over but Kos keeps him under control.
Kos lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kos slips a nice elbow through Rourke's hands, connecting with Rourke's forehead.
Kos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rourke makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rourke.

Rourke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rourke 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.
Kos lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rourke 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.

Rourke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kos doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kos manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kos postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kos tries to clinch there but Rourke circles away.
Rourke shoots and misses
and Kos counters with a stiff right hand.
Rourke circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rourke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rourke tries for a takedown but Kos circles away easily
and Kos counters with a nice uppercut.
Rourke shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rourke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rourke is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kos rushes Rourke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kos lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rourke backwards.
Rourke has a couple of punches blocked by Kos.
Kos looking to stall.
Rourke wants a takedown but no success here.
Rourke misses with the head strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourke gets underhooks to prevent Kos's takedown attempt.
Rourke stops a takedown attempt from Kos.
Rourke wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kos can't get the takedown.
Rourke can't get the takedown.
Kos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rourke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rourke is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kos pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kos wants a takedown but no success here.
Rourke goes for a takedown attempt but Kos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Kos has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kos gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rourke.
Kos has Rourke pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rourke manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rourke has Kos pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rourke pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kos tumbling to the mat - Rourke dives into Kos's guard.

Rourke drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kos dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rourke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kos is working Rourke over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Rourke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kos working some strikes from top position.
Rourke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kos is one step ahead there.

Rourke working for a triangle but Kos defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kos wants to control from the top but Rourke keeps moving.
Mickey Rourke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rourke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kos manages to get himself to full guard.
Rourke working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kos's head.

Rourke drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rourke has Kos in his guard.

Rourke looking for a guillotine here but Kos defends easily.
Rourke wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kos trying to control the position from guard on top but Rourke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rourke wants to sweep but no luck.
Kos postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kos wants to stand but Rourke has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rourke has momentary wrist control but Kos slips an elbow through the middle.

Rourke looking for a guillotine here but Kos defends easily.
Kos lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rourke is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! 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.

Kos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rourke is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kos scores with a couple of nice shots.

Rourke is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kos pulls his head out easily.
Kos lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kos throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kos winds up and cracks Rourke with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kos prevents Rourke from improving his position.
Rourke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kos wants to control but Rourke is keeping him busy.
Rourke is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rourke swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rourke gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kos got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rourke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kos has managed to get both his arms back between Rourke's legs - danger averted.
Kos preventing the sweep.
Kos connects with a couple of short punches.
Kos scoring with some ground and pound.

Rourke is looking for a triangle here but Kos uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kos scores with punches from side control.
Kos is chipping away with strikes.
Rourke is trying to improve his position.
Rourke manages to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Kos there.
Rourke tries to roll over but Kos keeps him under control.
Rourke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kos is working Rourke over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kos lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rourke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kos looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rourke is pressing down on Kos's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kos is holding on for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kos can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rourke passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kos!

Rourke looking to secure an arm triangle but Kos defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke throwing strikes here but Kos is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rourke thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Rourke looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Mickey Rourke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rourke goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kos is on top in guard.

Rourke has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kos is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rourke.
Josh Kos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rourke throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Kos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Kos!