PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jouko Kosti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulus Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulus Herzog has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kosti
vs
Herzog

189 cm
19
197 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

188 cm
19
196 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

BioPharm Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jouko Kosti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paulus Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Herzog scores with a four punch combination!
Kosti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Herzog throws a jab when Kosti was well out of range.
Herzog avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kosti.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kosti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kosti takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kosti tries to clinch but Herzog moves out of range.

Kosti has closed the distance and engaged Herzog in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kosti.
Kosti tries to land knees in the clinch but Herzog avoids the damage to the body.
Herzog lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herzog is trying to push Kosti away but Kosti has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Herzog lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kosti tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kosti tries a body shot but Herzog blocks it.
Herzog has a couple of punches blocked by Kosti.
Kosti lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosti scores a nice knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Kosti.
Herzog can't break the clinch.
Herzog is trying to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling him.
Kosti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Herzog avoids it.
Herzog softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kosti prevents Herzog from breaking the clinch.
Kosti tries to land a knee to the head but Herzog blocks with his arms.
Kosti crunches a lovely knee into Herzog's ribcage.
Kosti tries to land knees in the clinch but Herzog avoids the damage to the body.
Kosti putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Herzog in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Kosti.
Herzog looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kosti connects with a nasty looking knee right to Herzog's face.

It looks like Paulus Herzog has been cut.
Herzog has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kosti's elbow.
Kosti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Herzog blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Herzog tries to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling the position.
Kosti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Herzog misses with a punch on the inside.
Kosti just leaning against Herzog, taking a breather.

Kosti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kosti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Herzog.
Kosti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Herzog misses with a looping right.
Herzog blocks the body kick.
Herzog keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kosti.
Herzog works over Kosti's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog avoids the head kick by Kosti.
Kosti takes one on the button.
Kosti takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kosti moves away from the strike by Herzog.

Kosti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kosti has Herzog pressed against the cage.
Herzog doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kosti as Herzog tries to tie him up.
Kosti lands a good knee to the midsection. Herzog won't want to take too many of those.
Kosti prevents Herzog from breaking the clinch.
Kosti throws a knee to the head but misses.
Herzog is trying to break free.
Herzog struggles to land a body shot inside as Kosti controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosti stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kosti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kosti leaning his opponent against the cage.
Herzog misses with a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kosti - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kosti trying to land knees to the body.
Herzog looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kosti trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herzog lands a body punch in the clinch.
Herzog avoiding damage as Kosti throws knees to the body.
Kosti controlling the action here for a moment.
Herzog is trying to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jouko Kosti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paulus Herzog's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Herzog throws a right hand that misses
and Kosti counters with a nice low kick that buckles Herzog's knee momentarily.
Kosti takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Herzog bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kosti's head backwards.
Kosti explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kosti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Herzog.
Kosti scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kosti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Herzog.
Kosti wants to clinch.
Nice body kick from Kosti.
Kosti tries to land a front kick but Herzog steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Herzog loads up on a big right hand but Kosti slips the punch.
Kosti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kosti throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kosti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Herzog.
Herzog tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kosti was well out of range. Poor timing from Herzog.
Herzog throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosti blocks a jab.
Herzog scores with a body shot.
Herzog throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kosti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Herzog throws out the jab.
Herzog looks to land a left hand but Kosti moved out of range nicely.
Herzog takes a swing at Kosti's ribcage but misses.
Jouko Kosti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kosti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Herzog lands with a good body shot.
Herzog misses the shot to the body.
Herzog works the jab nicely.
Herzog throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kosti tries a head kick but it misses.
Herzog throws the left hand but Kosti avoids the punch easily.
Kosti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Herzog scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kosti doesn't seem bothered though.
Kosti lands a nice looking kick to the body. Herzog takes a step back to recover.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Herzog misses the target.
Kosti ducks under a wild hook from Herzog.
Herzog moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kosti tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kosti moves out of range as Herzog strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kosti, right into the meat.
Kosti lands with a slapping head kick.
Kosti is looking to land body kicks.
Herzog scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kosti scores with a nice body kick.
Herzog swings widly with a right hand
and Kosti counters with a nice body kick.
Kosti ducks under a wild hook from Herzog.
Herzog works Kosti's body with a nice hook.
Kosti tries to close the distance and clinch but Herzog swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kosti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Herzog manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kosti closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kosti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kosti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Herzog with a hook.
Herzog throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kosti.
Kosti is looking to clinch but Herzog is avoiding it.
Kosti tries to clinch but Herzog is having none of it.
Kosti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Herzog.
Herzog circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kosti scores with a head kick.
Kosti is looking to clinch but Herzog is avoiding it.
Herzog misses the jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Herzog throws a good cross that connects.
Herzog circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog tests Kosti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Paulus Herzog seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot lands for Herzog.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herzog avoids a kick to the body.
Kosti throws a head kick that misses.
Herzog misses with the combination.

Herzog gets tackled into the cage by Kosti. Kosti maintains the clinch.
Jouko Kosti has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kosti scores a nice knee to the body.
Kosti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Herzog is defending well for now.
Kosti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kosti is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Herzog is keeping busy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herzog is trying to push Kosti away but Kosti has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Herzog avoiding damage as Kosti throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paulus Herzog will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Paulus Herzog's cut.
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.

Herzog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kosti moves away.
Herzog connects with a nice looking jab.
Herzog darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Herzog lands a jab to Kosti's midsection.
Kosti lands a head kick. Herzog smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kosti looks to land a right hand but Herzog moved out of range.
Kosti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Herzog throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Kosti forces Herzog back against the cage and clinches.
Kosti slowing the pace effectively.
Kosti with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kosti fails to pull guard.
Herzog is looking to control Kosti's arms but Kosti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Herzog has his back to the cage.
Herzog misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kosti missing with knees to the body.
Kosti looking to throw knees to the head but Herzog is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Herzog.
Herzog tries to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling the position.
Herzog blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kosti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kosti gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A slow jab from Herzog misses its intended target.
Herzog lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Herzog ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kosti tries to clinch there but Herzog circles away.
A punch combination from Herzog misses.
Herzog swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kosti dodges the punch combination from Herzog.
Kosti slips a jab from Herzog.
Kosti takes one on the button.
Kosti walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosti is looking to clinch.

Kosti rushes Herzog and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kosti misses with a knee strike.
Herzog makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kosti is trying to maintain a safe position but Herzog gets an underhook and turns Kosti into the cage.
Kosti trying to land knees to the body.
Kosti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Herzog.
Herzog tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Herzog is trying to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling him.
Herzog cracks Kosti with a nice body shot.
Herzog scores with a shot to the side of Kosti's head.
Kosti swings wildly with an uppercut but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kosti taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kosti missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosti is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Herzog has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kosti.
Herzog wants to break the clinch but can't.
Herzog avoiding damage as Kosti throws knees to the body.

Kosti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kosti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Herzog.
Herzog fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Herzog getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Herzog misses with an uppercut. Kosti saw that one coming.
Herzog scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kosti doesn't seem bothered though.
Herzog connects with a looping right hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Herzog.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kosti is looking to clinch but Herzog is avoiding it.
Kosti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kosti clinches with his opponent.
Herzog lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Herzog has had enough of the clinch but Kosti keeps him there for the moment.
Kosti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Herzog.
Herzog tries to break the clinch but Kosti is controlling the position.
A short left from Herzog.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kosti.
Kosti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Herzog is defending well for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kosti using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Herzog has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kosti trying to land knees to the body.
Kosti misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Herzog.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Paulus Herzog.
I think Herzog has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulus Herzog!