PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Koutz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edson Gazzato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kevin Koutz had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Edson Gazzato will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Koutz
vs
Gazzato

168 cm
21
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Koutz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Edson Gazzato!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gazzato shoots in for a takedown but Koutz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gazzato shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Koutz counters with a good low kick that Gazzato was not able to check.
Koutz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gazzato looks gassed!
Koutz throws a head kick that misses.
Koutz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gazzato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koutz circles away.
Kevin Koutz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Gazzato.
Koutz fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Koutz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gazzato has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koutz.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koutz scoring well with a low kick there.
Koutz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gazzato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Koutz.
Koutz throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Edson Gazzato has been cut.

Koutz clinches with his opponent.

Koutz breaks the clinch.
Gazzato with a poor takedown
and Koutz counters with a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Koutz.

Koutz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Koutz lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Koutz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gazzato on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Koutz. Koutz obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koutz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gazzato's head.
Koutz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gazzato.

Koutz rushes Gazzato and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Koutz breaks the clinch.
Koutz fakes the leg kick and cracks Gazzato in the body.

Koutz has closed the distance and engaged Gazzato in a clinch.

Koutz breaks the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Koutz.
Gazzato tries for a takedown but Koutz circles away easily
and Koutz counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutz connects with a solid leg kick.
Gazzato is trying desperately to land a takedown but Koutz is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Gazzato.
Koutz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gazzato's head.
Koutz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gazzato shoots in for a takedown but Koutz shows good takedown defense.
Koutz feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gazzato's calf.
Gazzato takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Koutz chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Koutz moves into the clinch.

Koutz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazzato misses with a takedown

and Koutz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gazzato's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gazzato has control of Koutz's left arm, preventing Koutz from doing any damage.
Gazzato 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.
Koutz postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gazzato keeping moving, preventing Koutz from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Kevin Koutz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Koutz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Koutz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edson Gazzato's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gazzato shoots in but Koutz avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gazzato misses with a takedown
and Koutz counters with a leg kick.
Koutz plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gazzato takes a kick to the side of the head.
Koutz slaps away a takedown attempt from Gazzato, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kevin Koutz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Gazzato.
Koutz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gazzato's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Koutz throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koutz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Koutz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gazzato can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutz throws a sloppy head kick and Gazzato moves out of range easily.
Edson Gazzato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koutz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Koutz throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Koutz leaves Gazzato with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gazzato is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head kick misses from Koutz.
Gazzato looks for a takedown but Koutz sprawls well.
Gazzato takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gazzato will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kevin Koutz is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gazzato gets caught napping as Koutz dives in and scores a takedown. Gazzato manages to retain guard.
Gazzato wants to stand up but Koutz is controlling him.
Koutz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gazzato working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Koutz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Koutz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gazzato looking for a guillotine here but Koutz defends easily.
Koutz thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Koutz gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gazzato looks for a takedown but Koutz sprawls well.
Gazzato shoots for a double leg takedown but Koutz sprawls well. He's pushed Gazzato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazzato tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Koutz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Koutz is pushing Gazzato up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Koutz manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gazzato gets caught flat footed, as Koutz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Koutz would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Koutz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Edson Gazzato's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Koutz shoots in and bounces Gazzato off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gazzato wants to get back to his feet but Koutz is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Gazzato is working an open guard so Koutz takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Gazzato shoots in looking for a takedown but Koutz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gazzato's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gazzato needs to keep his hands up - Koutz had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gazzato has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koutz.
Gazzato has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koutz.
Koutz connects with an inside leg kick.
Gazzato fails with the takedown
and Koutz counters with an inside leg kick.
Koutz connects with a solid leg kick.
Koutz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gazzato.
Kevin Koutz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edson Gazzato.

Koutz rushes Gazzato and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Koutz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Gazzato with that takedown attempt.
Koutz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koutz scores with a leg kick.
Gazzato with a lazy takedown attempt
and Koutz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gazzato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Some wild striking there from Koutz.
Gazzato misses with a takedown
and Koutz counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gazzato misses with a takedown attempt

and Koutz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Gazzato working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Koutz has passed into half guard!
Gazzato trying to control but Koutz postures up.
Gazzato is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Koutz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Koutz's back!
Gazzato has Koutz flattened out and is raining down punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gazzato throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Even with his hooks in, Gazzato manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Kevin Koutz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gazzato throws strikes from the back but Koutz rolls nicely and manages to end up in full guard. Nice work by Koutz.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koutz working a defensive guard here.
Gazzato with a flurry of punches that miss.
Edson Gazzato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koutz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koutz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gazzato working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koutz's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Koutz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koutz 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Koutz!