PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Kostov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Raynal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kostov
vs
Raynal

193 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
25
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Merciless Gladiators

Merciless Gladiators
Diamond Nutrition 160q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Boris Kostov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Raynal!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raynal scores with a hook to the body. Kostov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Raynal connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Boris Kostov has been cut.
Raynal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kostov momentarily.

Kostov forces Raynal back against the cage and clinches.
Raynal is trying to push Kostov away but Kostov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kostov throws a punch but it's blocked by Raynal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kostov.
Kostov throws a head punch that misses.
Raynal is trying to maintain a safe position but Kostov gets an underhook and turns Raynal into the cage.
Raynal has had enough of the clinch but Kostov keeps him there for the moment.

Kostov has Raynal pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kostov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Raynal tumbling to the mat - Kostov dives into Raynal's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kostov throwing strikes but missing.
Raynal looking for a sweep. Not yet Raynal, not yet.
Kostov works over Raynal with some ground and pound from guard.

Kostov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raynal has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kostov has managed to get both his arms back between Raynal's legs - danger averted.
Kostov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov wants to control from the top but Raynal keeps moving.

Raynal is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kostov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Raynal looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raynal is on top in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kostov is on top in guard.

Raynal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Raynal has his foot on Kostov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kostov works his way back into a safe position though.
Raynal has momentary wrist control but Kostov slips an elbow through the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kostov trying to control the position from guard on top but Raynal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Raynal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kostov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kostov wants to control from the top but Raynal keeps moving.
Kostov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kostov trying to control the position but Raynal is working away.
Kostov scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Raynal is looking for a sweep.
Raynal regains half guard.
Kostov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Raynal has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kostov's lack of action.
Kostov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kostov lands a nice short elbow.
Kostov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Raynal tries to get to full guard but Kostov has control of the leg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands with a punch from half guard.
Kostov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Raynal with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kostov connects with a nice short shot to Raynal's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kostov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Raynal tries to hold on but Kostov pushes him away.
Kostov landing shots from mount.
Kostov lands a nice shot to the head.
Kostov landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raynal is working to get back to half guard.
Kostov lands a couple of good shots and Raynal has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Kostov is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Kostov gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Kostov gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Kostov apologises and we restart here on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Kostov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boris Kostov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kostov misses with an uppercut.
Raynal misses with a wild combination.
Raynal thows a body shot but no joy.
Raynal swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Kostov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kostov has Raynal pressed against the cage, preventing Raynal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Still in the clinch, Kostov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kostov misses with a punch to the body.
Raynal trying to stall but Kostov improves his position.
Kostov lands a right hand.
Kostov working aggressively here.
A short right from Kostov on the inside.
Raynal tries to circle away but Kostov has him pinned against the cage.
Kostov pushes Raynal back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Raynal wants to break free but Kostov has control.
Raynal taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov keeps control of Raynal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kostov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kostov fails to land.
Kostov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kostov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kostov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Raynal tries to break the clinch but Kostov is controlling the position.
Kostov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raynal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kostov misses with the head strike.
Kostov misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Kostov.
A short right from Kostov on the inside.

Kostov tightens his grip and picks Raynal up, before dumping him to the ground. Raynal manages to land in guard.
Kostov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raynal keeping moving, preventing Kostov from controlling successfully.

Raynal looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kostov passes into side control.
Raynal manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kostov trying to hold on to Raynal's head to control him but Raynal postures up.
Raynal tries to pass to full mount but Kostov defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov tries to get to full guard but Raynal has control of the leg.

Raynal maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Kostov could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Raynal has cracked it and Kostov is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Raynal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jean Raynal!