PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sota Koira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakki Apina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koira
vs
Apina

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sota Koira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hakki Apina!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Apina lands but Koira takes it in his stride.

It looks like Sota Koira has been cut.
Apina throws a low kick but Koira moves out of range easily.
Apina throws a sloppy head kick and Koira moves out of range easily.
Koira avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Apina throws a head kick that misses.
Apina tries a head kick but it misses.
Koira takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Apina tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Koira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Apina throws a half hearted mid kick.
Apina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hakki Apina seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koira jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Koira clinches.
Apina lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Apina just misses with a elbow thrown towards Koira's brow.
Koira looking to stall.
Koira pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Koira swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apina lands a nice uppercut.
Apina throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Apina lands a damaging elbow.
Koira is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Apina is defending well for now.
Apina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koira.
Koira avoiding damage as Apina throws knees to the body.
Koira lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Apina misses with an elbow over the top.
Koira is trying to force a seperation but Apina has the dominant position.
Koira blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koira pushes off an throws an elbow but Apina leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Apina goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koira cracks Apina with a nice body shot.
Apina lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Koira lands an elbow that stopped Apina in his tracks for a moment.
Koira dodges an elbow strike from Apina.
Koira tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koira blocks an elbow strike.
Koira lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Apina.
Apina missing with knees to the body.

Apina's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Apina misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koira.
Koira misses with a series of wild punches.
Apina misses with a kick to the body.
Apina tries a head kick but it misses.
Apina throws a sloppy head kick and Koira moves out of range easily.
Koira works Apina's body with a nice hook.
Apina takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koira lands a really nice looking cross but Apina seems unphased.
Apina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Koira moves into range and clinches up with Apina.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Apina throws an elbow but misses.
Koira blocks the elbow strike.
Koira lands a hook that snaps the head of Apina backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apina takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Hakki Apina has been cut.
Koira misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice right hand lands inside from Koira.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Apina is trying to force a seperation but Koira has the dominant position.
Apina looks gassed!
Apina dodges an elbow strike from Koira.
Apina is trying to break the clinch but Koira has him pressed against the ropes.
Apina has had enough of the clinch but Koira keeps him there for the moment.
Apina takes an elbow to the forehead.
Apina blocks the elbow strike.
Koira wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Apina has him pressed against the ropes.
Koira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Apinas head.
Apina working aggressively here.
Apina blocks the elbow strike.
Koira throws an elbow that misses.
Apina on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Koira avoids a wild elbow strike from Apina.
Apina wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Apina wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Koira lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Apina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apina swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Apina closes the distance looking to clinch
and Koira counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Koira avoids the head kick by Apina.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sota Koira dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Apina misses with a jab to the body
and Koira counters with a nice uppercut.
A lazy body kick from Apina
and Koira counters with a nice body shot.

Apina tries to keep at a distance but Koira has taken the fight into the clinch.
Apina pushes off an throws an elbow but Koira leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Koira creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Apina's defenses.
Apina on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Koira pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Koira clinches up with Apina and pushes him back against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Koira just misses with a elbow thrown towards Apina's brow.
Apina is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Apina missing with knees to the body.
Koira wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Apina pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Koira lands an elbow inside.
Apina lands a nice elbow.
Apina pushes off an throws an elbow but Koira leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Koira misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Apina.
Koira lands a right hand that snaps the head of Apina backwards.
Apina lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Koira tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Apina avoids it.
A frustrated look appears on Apina's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Apina misses with the head strike.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Koira throws an elbow but misses.
Koira blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Apina tries to break the clinch but Koira is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koira looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Koira will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Apina up against the ropes.
Koira on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Apina looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Koira lands an elbow that stopped Apina in his tracks for a moment.
Apina throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Koira missing with knees to the body.
Koira lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Apina backwards.
Apina tries to land knees in the clinch but Koira avoids the damage to the body.
Koira is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Koira leaning against his opponent.
Koira takes an elbow to the forehead.
Apina tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koira avoids it.
Apina is breathing heavily.
Koira throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Apina blocks the elbow strike.
Nice elbow from Apina.

Koira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koira keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Koira cracks Apina with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Koira closes the distance and pushes Apina back into the ropes.

Apina's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koira throws a head kick but Apina moves out of range.
Apina throws a low kick but Koira avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Apina.
Koira scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Apina slips under a jab from Koira.
Koira avoids the head kick by Apina.
Apina needs to keep his hands up - Koira had a free shot at his head there.
Apina is looking to clinch.
Apina checks the leg kick.
Apina on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Koira moves out of range as Apina throws a body kick.
Koira works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Apina throws a half hearted mid kick.
Koira blocks a head kick by Apina.
Koira's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Koira duly obliges.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apina moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Apina throws a head kick that misses
and Koira counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Apina wants to clinch up but Koira keeps it at a distance.
Apina takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Koira lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Apina at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sota Koira dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Apina misses with a head kick.
Apina misses with a body kick.
Koira throws a jab when Apina was well out of range.
Apina pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koira lunges at Apina with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Apina's hand.
Apina takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Koira scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Apina slips a jab from Koira.
Koira avoids the head kick by Apina.
Koira lands a jab to the head.

Koira has taken the fight to the clinch.
Apina throws an elbow but it misses.
Koira misses with an elbow strike.
Koira pushes Apina back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Koira lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Koira.
Apina throws an elbow that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Koira just misses with a elbow thrown towards Apina's brow.

Koira manages to break the clinch.
Koira avoids the head kick by Apina.
Koira is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Apina takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koira takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Koira cracks Apina with a right hand to the side of the head.
Koira scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apina moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Apina on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Koira tries to clinch but Apina moves out of range.
Apina misses the jab.
Apina misses with a head kick.
Koira scores with a nice strike.
Apina lands with a slapping head kick.
Apina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koira is looking to clinch.
Apina gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Koira to counter with a crisp jab.
Koira looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Koira has closed the distance and engaged Apina in a clinch.

Koira breaks the clinch.
Apina moves forwards but Koira connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Apina tries a low kick but Koira avoids it.
Koira lands a right hook to the body.
Apina shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Koira rushes Apina and presses him up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koira lands an elbow inside.
Koira misses with an elbow strike.
Apina tries to circle away but Koira has him pinned against the ropes.
Koira lands a nice uppercut.
Koira pushes off an throws an elbow but Apina leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Koira pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Apina just misses with a elbow thrown towards Koira's brow.
Apina lands an elbow that stopped Koira in his tracks for a moment.
Koira comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Apina stalling in the clinch but Koira improves position.
Apina tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koira avoids it.

Koira breaks the clinch.
Apina takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hakki Apina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Apina pushes Koira up against the ropes in a clinch.
Koira avoids the elbow strike from Apina, against the ropes.

Koira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koira throws a looping overhand right but Apina ducks down to avoid it.

Apina has closed the distance and engaged Koira in a clinch.

Koira breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apina takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Apina throws a leg kick but Koira moved away.
Koira dips to his left and cracks Apina with an uppercut!

Apina moves into range and clinches up with Koira.
Koira missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sota Koira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koira 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Sota Koira!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Sota Koira!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Sota Koira!

Sota Koira wins by unanimous decision!