PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Rino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kofi Kingston (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.

Rino
vs
Kingston

178 cm
18
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tim Rino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kofi Kingston!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kingston moves into the clinch.
Kingston blocks an elbow strike.
Rino throws an elbow that misses.
Rino looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Kingston pulls Rino into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kingston throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kingston has a closed guard, preventing Rino from standing up.

Rino gets to his feet - Kingston follows without any prompting.

Kingston moves into the clinch successfully.
Kingston avoids a wild elbow strike from Rino.
Kingston goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rino prevents it.
Kingston takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rino tries a knee to the head but Kingston blocks it.
Rino lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rino creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kingston avoids the elbow strike from Rino, against the cage.

Kingston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rino closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kingston throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rino tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kingston is in Rino's guard.
Rino wants to stand up but Kingston is controlling him.
Kingston has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rino is proving hard to escape from.
Kingston passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kingston postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kingston trying to control the position but Rino is working away.

Kingston tries for a kimura but Rino is defending well.
Kingston wants to control but Rino is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rino explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kingston circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kingston shoots in for a double leg but Rino sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kingston manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rino doesn't manage to clinch there - Kingston circles away.
No luck for Kingston with that takedown attempt.
Tim Rino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kofi Kingston.
Kingston looks winded!
Rino tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.
Rino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Kingston as he connects with a hook.
Rino tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.
Rino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kingston manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rino clinches with his opponent.
Rino lands an elbow inside that Kingston shrugs off.
Kingston blocks the elbow strike.

Kingston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rino closes the distance but Kingston moves to the side
and Kingston counters with a head kick.

Kingston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rino pushes off an throws an elbow but Kingston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kingston tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rino smiles and moves away.
Rino tries to clinch but Kingston moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kofi Kingston will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kingston closes the distance and pushes Rino back into the cage.
Rino is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kingston is defending well for now.
Rino misses with a knee to the head.
Rino misses with an elbow strike.

Kingston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kingston tries for a takedown but Rino sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rino stuffs the takedown attempt from Kingston. Kingston gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rino looks to clinch

and Kingston counters by moving into the clinch.
Rino pushes off an throws an elbow but Kingston leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rino throws an elbow that misses.
Kingston jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rino walks away with a smile on his face. Kingston gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tim Rino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kofi Kingston.
Kingston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rino.
Rino fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tim Rino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rino tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.
Kingston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kingston is breathing heavily.
Kingston looks to score with a jab to the body but Rino is just out of range.
Rino misses with a takedown
and Kingston counters with a one-two to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kingston is defended easily by Rino.
Rino tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rino closes the distance and clinches up with Kingston, looking for a takedown. Rino pushes Kingston against the cage but Kingston circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kingston shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rino sprawls well. Rino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kingston gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kingston is defended easily by Rino.
Rino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rino tries to clinch up but Kingston circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rino tries to clinch there but Kingston circles away.
Kingston will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rino fails with a takedown attempt.
Rino moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kingston stuffs the takedown.
Rino tries to clinch but Kingston moves away
and Kingston counters with a body kick.
Rino is looking to clinch.
Rino could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A head kick misses from Kingston.
Kingston looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rino misses with a head kick.
Kingston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rino wants to clinch.
Rino tries to close the distance and clinch but Kingston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rino tries to clinch there but Kingston circles away.
Rino tries to clinch but Kingston moves away

and Kingston counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rino misses with a knee to the head.
Kingston is trying to break free.
Rino throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Rino dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kingston.
Kingston circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kingston closes the distance and clinches.
Kingston tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rino just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kingston breaks from the clinch.
Rino moves in looking to clinch but Kingston pushes him off.
Kingston circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kingston counters with a nice body kick.

Rino darts in and clinches Kingston up against the cage.
Kingston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bit of stalling here from Kingston.
Rino throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rino with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kingston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rino moves in looking to clinch but Kingston pushes him off.
Kingston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kingston avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rino tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kingston swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kingston lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rino fails to land with a series of punches.

Kingston forces Rino back against the cage and clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rino throws an elbow but misses.
Rino tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rino tries a knee to the head but Kingston blocks it.
Rino throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kingston breaks the clinch.
Kingston tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kingston tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rino sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kingston somewhat.
Kingston fails with a takedown attempt.
Tim Rino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kofi Kingston.
Rino wants to clinch.
Tim Rino is winning the standup battle so far.
Rino fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kingston shoots in looking for a takedown but Rino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kingston's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rino is looking to clinch but Kingston is avoiding it.
Rino tries to clinch but Kingston moves out of range.
Kingston shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rino sprawls well. Rino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kingston gets slowly back to his feet.
Rino closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kingston circles away.
Rino tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kingston swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kingston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rino, pushing him back against the cage.

Kingston's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kingston shoots in for a takedown but Rino shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rino tries to clinch up.

Kingston tries to keep at a distance but Rino has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rino throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Kingston fails to land.

Kingston lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Rino pushes Kingston off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kingston swats away the attempt to clinch by Rino.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rino clinches up against the cage.
Rino tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tim Rino.
I think Rino has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kofi Kingston!