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
26
180 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

188 cm
24
182 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Future Pharmaceuticals (144 for $15)

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 7 - 5 - 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Kos!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kos fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rourke avoids it really well and circles away.
Rourke throws a right hand that Kos ducks under and follows up with a left that Kos also avoids with ease.
Kos misses the jab.

Rourke gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rourke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kos shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rourke manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kos prevents Rourke from getting back to his feet.
Rourke looking for a sweep. Not yet Rourke, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kos thows a big elbow that misses.
Rourke wants to stand and escape but Kos is having none of it.
Kos throws a big right hand that misses.
Kos stopping the sweep attempt from Rourke.

Rourke is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rourke fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke is looking to clinch.

Kos closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rourke to the mat! Rourke manages to get full guard.
Rourke is looking to stand up but Kos isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kos won't allow Rourke to sweep him here.

Rourke has his foot on Kos's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kos works his way back into a safe position though.
Kos throwing strikes but missing.
Rourke is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rourke is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rourke is breathing heavily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rourke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kos tries to score a body lock takedown but Rourke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mickey Rourke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Kos.
Rourke swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Rourke pulls Kos into guard.
Kos prevents Rourke from getting back to his feet.
Kos working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rourke wants to get back to his feet but Kos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Rourke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kos defends well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rourke wants to stand but Kos is controlling the position.
Kos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rourke wants to get back to his feet but Kos is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rourke moves in looking to clinch but Kos pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kos shoots in for a takedown but Rourke shows good takedown defense.
Kos staying out of range there.

Kos shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rourke napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Rourke explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Rourke misses with a looping left.
Rourke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kos as he jumps to the side.
Kos keeps the fight on the outside.
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.
Kos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rourke counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Kos gets caught flat footed, as Rourke shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rourke stops Kos from standing up.
Kos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kos is looking to stand up but Rourke isn't so interested in that idea.
Rourke content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kos wants to get back to his feet but Rourke is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rourke postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rourke throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rourke clinches up with Kos and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Rourke dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Horrible takedown by Rourke or perhaps it was just good defense by Kos which made him look bad.
Rourke scores with a one two! Kos had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Josh Kos has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Rourke or perhaps it was just good defense by Kos which made him look bad.
Mickey Rourke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Kos.
Nice sprawl there from Rourke as Kos shoots in.
Kos swats away the attempt to clinch by Rourke.

Kos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kos working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Rourke kicks off Kos and gets to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rourke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mickey Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke lands a right hand.

Rourke pulls guard effortlessly.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rourke manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rourke.
Kos regains half guard, as Rourke was trying to land strikes.
Rourke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rourke looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rourke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kos defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Rourke there.
Rourke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rourke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kos defending well though.
Rourke with the ground and pound but Kos uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rourke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Rourke is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rourke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rourke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kos was covering up waiting for the punch and Rourke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rourke throwing strikes but missing.
Kos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rourke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rourke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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.
Kos wants to stand up but Rourke is controlling him.

Rourke has gone for a leg lock! Kos slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rourke's 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.
Rourke is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kos is controlling him.
Mickey Rourke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kos stands up over Rourke, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kos landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rourke working for a triangle but Kos defends it easily.
Kos scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Rourke dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Josh Kos's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Kos.
Rourke doesn't manage to clinch there - Kos circles away.
Kos keeps the fight on the outside.
Kos stuffs the takedown.

Rourke rushes Kos and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rourke drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kos gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rourke goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kos prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kos drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rourke gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rourke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rourke gets underhooks to prevent Kos's takedown attempt.
Kos wants a takedown but no success here.

Kos gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rourke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rourke is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rourke lands a shoulder strike.

Rourke gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rourke.
Kos is trying to stand.
Rourke missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rourke trying to pass the guard but Kos defending well.
Kos wants to get back to his feet.
Rourke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Kos is defending well.
Nice strikes from Rourke there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rourke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rourke wants to clinch.

Rourke feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kos is looking to stand up but Rourke isn't so interested in that idea.
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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rourke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rourke postures up in Kos's guard and throws a big left but Kos blocks it.

Rourke is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rourke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rourke thows a big elbow that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kos shoots in looking for a takedown. Rourke tries to sprawl out of it but Kos keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rourke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rourke wants to clinch up but Kos keeps it at a distance.
Rourke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big left from Kos misses.
Mickey Rourke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rourke doesn't manage to clinch there - Kos circles away.
A left lands for Kos.
Rourke tries to clinch up but Kos circles away and keeps his distance.
Kos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rourke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rourke tries to clinch up but Kos circles away and keeps his distance.
Kos keeps the fight on the outside.
Kos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rourke tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kos checks a leg kick.
Rourke is looking to clinch but Kos is avoiding it.

Rourke moves into range and clinches up with Kos.
Josh Kos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rourke throws a punch but it's blocked by Kos.
Rourke throws a head punch that misses.
Rourke is working for takedown but Kos is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kos is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rourke is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kos to the mat. Kos regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Kos is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rourke defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Rourke showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rourke has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey Rourke!