PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jhogo Ko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Macho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ko comes to the cage accompanied by Indestructible. The crowd seem to be enjoying Macho's choice of entrance music: "Woman From Tokyo". Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ko
vs
Macho

173 cm
27
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

167 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jhogo Ko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Macho!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Macho takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Ko shoots in and bounces Macho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Macho is keeping the position for now.
Ko preventing the sweep.
Macho is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ko trying to control the position from guard on top but Macho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macho can't keep his opponent in guard - Ko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Macho is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ko passes to side control.
Ko remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Macho is looking to regain half guard here but Ko keeps moving and retains side control.
Macho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ko's best efforts.
Ko frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Macho working to try and regain half guard.
Ko looking to control but Macho is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macho is wriggling around trying to escape.
Macho slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Macho is looking for a sweep. Ko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Macho is not content to let Ko control the position.
Macho wants to get back to full guard.
Ko moves into full mount! Macho won't be happy about that!
Ko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Macho is looking to escape.
Ko controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macho is desperately trying to improve his position but Ko has a good base and remains in mount.
Macho is squirming around, avoiding Ko's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ko is trying to take his opponent's back.
Macho working to try and regain half guard.
Macho is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Macho defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ko.

Ko looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Macho is looking to get to half guard.
Macho wants to control but Ko is having none of it.
Macho is trying to escape the mount.
Macho wants to hold on but Ko pushes him away.
Macho is squirming around, avoiding Ko's attempts to control the action.
Macho is looking to get to half guard.
Ko tries to control but Macho wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhogo Ko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Macho lands a right hook to the body.
Macho's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Macho scrambles back to his feet.
Ko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Macho sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ko misses with a body shot

and Macho counters with a single leg into guard. Ko didn't expect that.
Ko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Macho drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ko!
Macho manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ko's best efforts.
Macho is refusing to be controlled, as Ko sits in half guard.
Ko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Ko is looking for a kimura but Macho is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ko to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Macho makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Ko loads up on a big right hand but Macho slips the punch.
Macho ducks right into an uppercut from Ko.
No luck for Ko with that takedown attempt.
Ko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Ko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Macho to the ground. Ko is now in Macho's guard.
Macho really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Macho wants to sweep here but Ko controlling him for the moment.
Ko pushing down on Macho's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Macho tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Macho trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ko is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Macho is looking to escape.
Ko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ko trying to control but Macho is having none of it.
Macho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Macho has given up his back here.

Ko is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Macho has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ko trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ko is hanging on to Macho's back as he tries to escape.
Macho rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ko is trying to control. Macho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jhogo Ko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ko prevents Macho from standing back up.
Macho is looking for a sweep. Ko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Ko is controlling the pace.
Ko moves nicely into side control.
Macho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Macho is not content to let Ko control the position.
Ko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Macho is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ko remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jhogo Ko dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Macho misses with a straight left.
Macho scores with a jab. Ko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Macho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ko avoids it really well and circles away.
Macho takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ko lands with a hook. Macho tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ko misses with a wild body shot.
Macho dodges the punch combination from Ko.
Macho tries to clinch up
and Ko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macho drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Macho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Macho throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Macho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jhogo Ko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Macho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ko looks to land a right hand but Macho moved out of range.
Macho misses with a double jab
and Ko counters with a left to the body.
Ko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Macho manages to avoid it.
Ko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Donk. Ko catches Macho right on the button with a cross.
Ko ducks under a wild hook from Macho.
Macho thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Macho throws a hook but Ko avoids it easily.
Macho looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Macho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Macho enables Ko to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Macho manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Paul Macho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Macho throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Macho wants to sweep but no luck.
Macho has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ko has passed into side control.

Ko is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Macho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Macho tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Macho being controlled for a moment.
Macho tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ko working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Macho is looking for a sweep.
Ko wants to control but Macho is keeping him busy.
Macho is letting Ko control him for a moment.
Macho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jhogo Ko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A lull in the action here as Ko stalls from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Macho tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ko just content to control the position.
Macho tries to bench press Ko off him but Ko keeps the position.
Ko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Macho will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jhogo Ko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ko 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jhogo Ko!