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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sala Barbo (ranked 596 p4p, 76 weight class) and Speva Koso (ranked 1239 p4p, 149 weight class). Barbo comes into the arena with Nissim blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 172 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 2 - 1 |
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176 cm
27
160 lbs
6 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Sala Barbo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Speva Koso!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koso throws a sloppy head kick and Barbo moves out of range easily.
Barbo throws a leg kick but Koso checks it.
Koso appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Koso misses with a takedown attempt
and Barbo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Koso shoots in and drives through. Barbo sprawls well.
Koso has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Barbo.
Koso misses with a kick to the body.
Barbo dodges the punch combination from Koso.
Koso takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Koso looks for a takedown but Barbo sprawls well.
A counter left hand to the body from Barbo misses its target.
Sala Barbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Speva Koso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso moves into range and clinches up with Barbo.
Barbo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koso struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbo controls his hands.
Koso lands a nice shot to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koso scores with a shoulder strike.
Koso lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Barbo tries to work over Koso's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barbo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barbo scores with a shot to the side of Koso's head.
Koso fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Koso looking to stall.
Barbo cracks Koso with a nice body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barbo.
Koso swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barbo works on Koso's body with a couple of short punches.
I was talking to Barbo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Barbo lands a right hand.
Koso presses Barbo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Koso has Barbo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barbo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Koso gets through Barbo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Koso scores with a hook to the body.
Barbo lands with a left to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koso scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barbo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koso tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koso blocking some punches.
Barbo lands a nice shot to the body.
Barbo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koso's elbow.
Koso blocks a body shot from Barbo.
Koso tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Koso prevents a body shot from Barbo.
Koso struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbo controls his hands.
Koso misses with a punch on the inside.
Koso throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbo.
Koso tries to pull guard but Barbo won't allow it.
Barbo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barbo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barbo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barbo blocks an uppercut.
Barbo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barbo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barbo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Koso doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barbo blocks a body shot from Koso.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso struggles to land a body shot inside as Barbo controls his hands.
Koso misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koso lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barbo backwards.
Koso can't find room to land a body shot as Barbo controls the action.
Koso blocks an uppercut.
Koso goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koso tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koso swings wildly with an uppercut but Barbo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from Barbo.
Barbo misses with a punch on the inside.
Barbo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Koso just leaning against Barbo, taking a breather.
Barbo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barbo misses with a punch to the body.
Barbo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koso throws a punch but it's blocked by Barbo.
Good body shot from Koso.
Koso misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barbo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barbo tries to throw a body punch but Koso avoids it by throwing Barbo back against the cage.
Koso misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koso has a couple of punches blocked by Barbo.
Barbo tries to throw a body punch but Koso avoids it by throwing Barbo back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Barbo as the two fighters clinch.
Barbo manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koso throws out a leg kick but Barbo moves out of range and Koso only half commits.
Koso is looking to clinch but Barbo is avoiding it.
Koso slips a jab from Barbo.
Koso misses with a leg kick.
Koso rushes Barbo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Koso tries to pull guard but Barbo holds him up against the cage and eventually Koso drops back down to his feet.
Barbo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barbo blocks an uppercut.
Koso tries to pull guard but Barbo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Barbo lands an uppercut.
Koso misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koso jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barbo walks away with a smile on his face. Koso gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sala Barbo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koso is looking to slow Barbo down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Sala Barbo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Koso connects with a body shot that sends Barbo's belly button to the back.
A slapping leg kick lands for Koso.
Koso shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barbo defends it nicely.
Barbo misses with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Koso.
Barbo jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Koso doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barbo looks to score with a jab to the body but Koso is just out of range.
Koso lands a right hook to the body.
Koso tries to clinch but Barbo is having none of it.
Barbo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Koso digs a good body shot into Barbo's ribs.
Barbo throws a body kick that misses.
Koso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koso moves out of range of the strikes.
Barbo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Barbo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koso looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Barbo!
Barbo struggling a bit here.
Koso in the domination position with Barbo hanging on.
Koso tries to move to mount but Barbo blocks the move with his legs.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbo tries to improve position but can't.
Koso is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barbo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Barbo is trying to get back to half guard.
Barbo has one of Koso's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Koso trying to control the action but Barbo is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso controls the position from side control.
Barbo is looking to reverse the position.
Barbo stops Koso from passing to mount.
Barbo is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Barbo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Koso tries to advance to mount but Barbo denies him.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koso working away.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Koso tries for a kimura but Barbo is defending well.
Koso tries to move to mount but Barbo blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koso trying to control the action but Barbo is working from the bottom.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Koso shoots for a double leg takedown but Barbo sprawls well. He's pushed Koso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Speva Koso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barbo chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Koso can pounce on him.
Koso misses with a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Barbo forces Koso back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Speva Koso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Koso tries to close the distance and clinch but Barbo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Koso is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Barbo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Koso finds it's way round the side to connect with Barbo's head.
Barbo stuffs the takedown.
Barbo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Koso fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Barbo was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Koso.
Koso throws a hook to the side of Barbo's head but Barbo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Koso tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barbo manages to avoid it.
Barbo misses with a right hand
and Koso counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbo misses with a two punch combination.
Barbo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koso.
Barbo takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Koso there.
Barbo takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Barbo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barbo avoids the body shot from Koso.
Koso misses with a hook to the body
and Barbo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Koso throws a leg kick but Barbo moved away.
Jab from Barbo.
Barbo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kosos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Koso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Barbo misses the target.
Koso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barbo was well out of range. Poor timing from Koso.
Sala Barbo is winning the standup battle so far.
Barbo misses with a hook. Koso ducked under it nicely.
Koso tries to land a leg kick but Barbo saw it coming and moves away.
Koso will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Barbo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barbo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koso misses with a series of wild punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barbo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Koso. Koso obviously looking to wear him down.
Koso tries to land a leg kick but Barbo saw it coming and moves away.
Barbo takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Koso throws a combination that misses
and Barbo counters with a nice uppercut.
Koso listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Koso darts in and clinches Barbo up against the cage.
Koso lands a body punch in the clinch.
Koso misses with a shot to the kidneys.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbo misses with a body punch.
Barbo can't find room to land a body shot as Koso controls the action.
Barbo has Koso pushed against the cage.
Koso lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barbo throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Koso.
Barbo tries to work over Koso's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Barbo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sala Barbo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barbo takes a shot to the head.
Koso tries to work over Barbo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koso throws a head punch that misses.
Barbo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koso backwards.
Barbo lands a nice shot to the body.
Barbo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barbo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koso blocks a body shot from Barbo.
Barbo missing with knees to the body.
Koso lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barbo backwards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koso lands a body punch.
Koso tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barbo smiles and moves away.
Sala Barbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Speva Koso.
Barbo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Barbo.
Koso is looking to chop away at Barbo's legs.
Barbo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Koso fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barbo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Koso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barbo is looking to counter with head kicks.
Barbo throws a lazy uppercut
and Koso counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barbo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koso.
Barbo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koso.
Barbo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Koso fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Speva Koso just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Koso misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barbo.
Koso throws the left hand but Barbo avoids the punch easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barbo.
Barbo checks a low kick from Koso.
Koso throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barbo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Koso takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Koso misses with a leg kick.
Barbo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Koso connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barbo's hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Barbo.
Barbo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A cross from Barbo lands.
Barbo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koso.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Barbo misses with a looping right.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barbo.
Barbo lands an overhand right.
Barbo misses with a double jab.
A solid body kick from Koso.
Koso is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barbo rather than just go for the knockout.
Koso throws a leg kick that misses.
The fighters circling - Koso throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A big left from Barbo misses.
Koso tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Barbo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koso works Barbo's body with a nice hook.
Koso throws a head kick that misses.
Koso jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Barbo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Koso has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Koso and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbo walks into a jab.
Koso misses with a low kick as Barbo jumps back.
Barbo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barbo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koso misses with a right hand
and Barbo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barbo scores with a nice body kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barbo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Barbo lands with an overhand left.
Barbo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Koso misses with a head kick.
Barbo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Koso shoots in and gets a takedown into Barbo's guard.
Koso trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Barbo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso wants to sweep here but Barbo controlling him for the moment.
Barbo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Koso 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.
Koso keeping moving, preventing Barbo from controlling successfully.
Koso wants to sweep here but Barbo controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Koso trying to keep a closed guard but Barbo is proving a slippery customer.
Koso is looking for a triangle but Barbo pushes his legs off easily.
Barbo tries to free his leg and advance position but Koso is retaining full guard.
Koso 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.
Koso bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barbo's guard.
Barbo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Barbo working a defensive guard here.
Koso trying to control but Barbo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Sala Barbo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Koso takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Koso throws a body punch but Barbo moves out of range.
Barbo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Barbo throws a head kick that misses
and Koso counters with a stiff right hand.
Barbo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A low kick from Barbo is predictable there
and Koso counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barbo's knee momentarily.
Barbo blocks a leg kick.
Barbo tries a low kick but Koso avoids it.
Barbo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso misses with a jab, cross combination.
As Koso backs away, Barbo returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Koso thuds his right hand into Barbo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Koso swings widly with a right hand
and Barbo counters with a nice body shot.
Barbo misses with a lunging right hand
and Koso counters with a stiff right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Koso lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barbo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barbo misses with a hook
and Koso counters with a straight right hand.
Koso slips under a jab.
Koso throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barbo.
Barbo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Koso looks to clinch
and Barbo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barbo moves out of range of the leg kick from Koso.
A punch lands to the side of Barbo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Koso cracks Barbo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Barbo moves out of range of the body kick.
Koso thumps Barbo with a low kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barbo throws a hook but Koso blocks it.
Koso misses with a wild body shot.
Koso throws a leg kick
and Barbo counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koso tries to clinch
and Barbo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barbo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A good leg kick by Barbo.
Koso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koso tries a low kick but Barbo avoids it.
Barbo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Barbo misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Koso.
Good work by Barbo as he checks the leg kick.
A jab from Barbo misses.
Barbo ducks under a wild hook from Koso.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Koso misses.
Barbo scores with a jab. Koso acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Koso throws a series of punches but Barbo avoids them all with ease.
Barbo misses with a low kick.
Koso clinches.
Barbo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barbo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barbo has a couple of punches blocked by Koso.
Barbo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Barbo tries to throw a body punch but Koso avoids it by throwing Barbo back against the cage.
Koso is trying to pull guard but Barbo has him pressed against the cage.
Koso tries a body shot but Barbo blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barbo as Koso tries to tie him up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koso stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Koso blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Barbo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barbo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Koso working aggressively here.
Barbo manages to break the clinch.
Barbo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Koso moves out of range of the body kick from Barbo.
Koso uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barbo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jab from Koso.
Koso misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sala Barbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Speva Koso.
Barbo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Koso checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Speva Koso.
I think Koso 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 47:48
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 47:48
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Speva Koso!
Speva Koso is the new lightweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
55% |
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