PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Koffi Tesfay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hirohito Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tesfay's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Koffi olomide - Loi. Koffi Tesfay has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tesfay
vs
Sato

186 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Koffi Tesfay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hirohito Sato!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sato throws a lazy head kick
and Tesfay counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tesfay throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sato looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tesfay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tesfay looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tesfay goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sato throws a body kick that misses.
Tesfay connects with a solid leg kick.
Tesfay seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tesfay.
Sato steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tesfay.
Sato tries to clinch up but Tesfay circles away and keeps his distance.
Tesfay swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tesfay. That's going to slow Sato down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sato.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Sato throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sato looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tesfay swings for the body but Sato moves out of range.
Sato throws a head kick but Tesfay moves out of range.
Tesfay throws a nice inside leg kick.
Koffi Tesfay seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato tries to close the distance and clinch but Tesfay swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tesfay tries to score with a low kick but Sato moves his leg out of the way.
Sato tries a head kick but it misses.
Tesfay bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sato misses with an uppercut.
Tesfay looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Tesfay misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sato is looking to clinch but Tesfay is avoiding it.
Tesfay misses with a wild body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tesfay. That's going to slow Sato down.
Tesfay scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tesfay avoids the head kick by Sato.
Sato misses with a kick to the body.
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!
Sato avoids the head kick by Tesfay.
Tesfay throws a low kick but Sato moves out of range easily.
Sato misses with a takedown attempt - Tesfay sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sato takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tesfay.
Tesfay blocks a jab.
Tesfay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tesfay cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
Tesfay wants to land a leg kick but Sato is out of range.
Sato throws a lazy body kick
and Tesfay counters with a thumping low kick.
Tesfay throws a leg kick but Sato sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tesfay throws a leg kick but Sato moved away.
Sato's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tesfay throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tesfay throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sato checks a low kick from Tesfay.
Tesfay is looking to wear down Sato with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sato throws a head kick but Tesfay moves out of range.
Tesfay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tesfay connects with a leg kick. Sato looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tesfay moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Tesfay attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tesfay throws a head kick but Sato moves out of range.
Tesfay cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tesfay counters with a good low kick that Sato was not able to check.
Sato moves out of range as Tesfay throws a body kick.
An inside leg kick from Tesfay misses.
Sato throws an off balance right hand
and Tesfay counters with a nice uppercut.
Tesfay punishes Sato's body with a nice straight punch.
Sato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tesfay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sato fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato checks a leg kick.
Sato wants to counter with a clinch but Tesfay pushes him away.
Tesfay fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sato checks it well.
Tesfay throws out a leg kick but Sato moves out of range and Tesfay only half commits.
Sato throws a big counter head kick but Tesfay avoids it with no problem.
Tesfay connects with a leg kick. Sato looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tesfay checks the leg kick.
Sato checks a leg kick nicely.
Tesfay connects with a solid leg kick.
Sato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Koffi Tesfay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body kick from Tesfay.
Koffi Tesfay is winning the standup battle so far.
Sato sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sato keeps Tesfay at a distance using the push kick.
Sato looks to clinch
and Tesfay counters with a thumping low kick.
Tesfay attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hirohito Sato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tesfay fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sato has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tesfay is looking to slow Sato down with leg kicks.
Sato dodges the punch combination from Tesfay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tesfay checks a low kick from Sato.
Tesfay throws a head kick that Sato semi-blocks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sato misses the shot to the body.
Tesfay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tesfay connects with an inside leg kick.
Tesfay throws a leg kick

and Sato holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sato landing knees to the body.
Sato misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sato struggles to land a body shot inside as Tesfay controls his hands.
Tesfay lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sato or not.
Tesfay scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato with a knee to the head.
Tesfay softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sato lands a knee to the body.
Sato taking a breather.
Tesfay takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Koffi Tesfay has been cut.

Tesfay's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tesfay.
Sato tries a head kick but it misses.
Sato is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tesfay throws a leg kick but Sato checks it.
Tesfay sets himself, and Sato steps forward looking for the clinch! Tesfay avoids it this time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tesfay. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tesfay misses with a leg kick.
Tesfay attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tesfay fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sato just manages to avoid it.
Sato blocks a low kick nicely.
Tesfay lands a nice shot to the body.
Sato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tesfay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tesfay fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sato has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tesfay tries to score with a low kick but Sato moves his leg out of the way.
Sato tries to counter with a clinch but Tesfay shakes him off and moves away.
Tesfay throws a right hand that Sato ducks under and follows up with a left that Sato also avoids with ease.
Sato wants to counter with a clinch but Tesfay pushes him away.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Tesfay lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koffi Tesfay dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Koffi Tesfay's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sato blocks a leg kick.
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Tesfay was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sato.
Tesfay thumps Sato with a low kick.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Tesfay lands with a nice body punch.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sato throws a head kick but Tesfay moves out of range.
Sato closes the distance but Tesfay moves to the side
and Tesfay counters with a big head kick but Sato shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tesfay lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tesfay misses with a leg kick.
Tesfay misses with a wild body shot.
Tesfay sets himself, and Sato steps forward looking for the clinch! Tesfay avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sato keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sato wants to clinch
and Tesfay counters with a right hand to the body.
Tesfay attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Tesfay lands but Sato takes it in his stride.
Tesfay throws a leg kick but Sato checks it.
Sato tries to counter by closing the distance.
Tesfay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sato was well out of range. Poor timing from Tesfay.
Sato connects with a looping right hand.
Sato tries to clinch
and Tesfay makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Good exchange - Tesfay coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato avoids the body shot from Tesfay.
Sato throws a head kick but Tesfay moves out of range.
Sato is looking to clinch but Tesfay is avoiding it.
Tesfay throws out a leg kick but Sato moves out of range and Tesfay only half commits.
Tesfay cracks a nice hook into Sato's ribs.
Good leg kick by Tesfay there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tesfay scores with a hook to the body. Sato takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tesfay connects with a leg kick. Sato looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tesfay.
Tesfay with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tesfay manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sato tries a head kick but it misses.
Tesfay attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Sato's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Tesfay connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sato throws a head kick but Tesfay moves out of range.
Tesfay appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sato avoids the body shot from Tesfay.
Sato just misses with a punch to the body.
Hirohito Sato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sato moves out of range of the leg kick from Tesfay.
Tesfay scores with a hook.
Sato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tesfay.
Tesfay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sato moves away.
Tesfay throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tesfay on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sato darts in trying to clinch
and Tesfay makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sato really felt that one!
Sato jabs at Tesfay's body.
Tesfay throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato throws a counter combo.
Tesfay connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tesfay looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Sato. Those never looked like landing.
Sato has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tesfay.
Tesfay moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tesfay. Sato does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koffi Tesfay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tesfay, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koffi Tesfay!
Koffi Tesfay spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.