PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abner Applegate (ranked 211 p4p, 33 weight class) and Speva Koso (ranked 393 p4p, 55 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Applegate
vs
Koso

182 cm
35
178 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

176 cm
36
170 lbs
21 - 10 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abner Applegate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Speva Koso!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koso moves out of range of the body kick from Applegate.
Koso shapes to counter with a head kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Koso checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Applegate gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Koso looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Koso's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Koso misses with the head strike.
Koso misses with a hook from the clinch.
Koso tries to work over Applegate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Applegate lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Applegate blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Koso fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Applegate.
Applegate misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Koso can't find room to land a body shot as Applegate controls the action.
Applegate makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koso digs a right hand underneath Applegate's ribcage. Applegate let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Applegate cracks Koso with a nice body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Applegate pushes Koso back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Applegate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Applegate is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Applegate can't find room to land a body shot as Koso controls the action.
Koso scores with a nice hook to the head.
Koso lands a right hand that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Applegate.

Koso has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Applegate uses from the top position.
Applegate won't allow Koso to sweep him here.
Applegate slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koso manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Applegate manages to get himself to full guard.

Koso slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Koso's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Koso trying to control but Applegate is working from the bottom.
Koso sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Applegate's guard.

Koso is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Applegate to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Koso wants to control from the top but Applegate keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso looking to pass the guard.
Koso stopping the sweep attempt from Applegate.
Applegate is working hard here to advance position.
Applegate controls Koso momentarily but Koso frees himself.
Koso is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koso looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Koso on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
We've been told by Applegate's head coaches at Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Applegate takes a jab right on the kisser.
Applegate checks a leg kick nicely.
No joy there for Applegate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Applegate scores with a jab.
Koso misses with a body shot.
Applegate is looking to clinch but Koso is avoiding it.
Applegate 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.
Applegate tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Applegate. Koso does a little dance to reset his feet.
Applegate has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Koso.
Applegate needs to keep his hands up - Koso had a free shot at his head there.
Applegate connects with a body shot.
Applegate throws a low kick but Koso avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Speva Koso will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Koso lands a nice looking body shot.
Applegate dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koso throws a leg kick but Applegate checks it.
No joy there for Koso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Applegate misses with a body shot.
Koso throws a hook but Applegate avoids it easily.

Applegate clinches up with Koso and pushes him back against the cage.
Koso scores with a hook to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Applegate throws an elbow but misses.
Applegate working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Koso gets control of Applegate's arms and successfully pulls guard. Koso will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Koso working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Applegate doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Applegate manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Koso wants to control but Applegate passes easily into half guard.
Koso slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koso has an active guard here but Applegate has managed to pass into half guard.
Koso trying to hold on to Applegate's head to control him but Applegate postures up.
Applegate trying to control the pace.
Koso tries to get to full guard but Applegate has control of the leg.
Koso trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Koso tries to get to full guard but Applegate has control of the leg.
Applegate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Koso does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Koso tries to get to full guard but Applegate has control of the leg.

Koso actively working from the bottom here.
Koso wants to get back to full guard.

Koso looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Koso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koso avoids the body shot from Applegate.
Applegate throws a series of strikes that have Koso backpedaling.
Applegate doesn't manage to clinch there - Koso circles away.
A cross from Applegate lands.
Koso slips a jab and a cross from Applegate.
Applegate lands a nice hook to Koso's body. Koso takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Applegate wants to clinch.
Koso just misses with a punch to the body.
Applegate tries to clinch but Koso moves out of range.
Applegate is looking to wear down Koso with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate connects with a solid leg kick.
Koso takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Applegate scores with a jab. Koso acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koso checks a leg kick.
Applegate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Applegate blocks a head kick by Koso.
That kick from Koso tenderised Applegate's leg. Applegate is trying to keep his angry face on.

Applegate has managed to clinch.
Koso lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Applegate backwards.
Abner Applegate has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Koso misses with a hook to the ribs.
Applegate swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Koso breaks the clinch.
Applegate scores with a body shot.
Applegate staying out of range there.
Applegate misses the shot to the body.
A big right from Koso misses.
Applegate thuds his right hand into Koso's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abner Applegate dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Koso.
Koso scores with a hook to the body. Applegate takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Koso lands with a good body shot.
Applegate throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Applegate.
Applegate slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Koso misses with a straight right.
It looked like Applegate wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Koso feints a jab promting Applegate to slip. Koso then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Applegate slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Applegate throws a lazy right hand but Koso sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Applegate takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Koso throws a hook but Applegate blocks it.
Abner Applegate is winning the standup battle so far.
Applegate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koso misses with a kick to the body.
Koso throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Applegate throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Applegate has managed to clinch.
Koso lands with a right to the head.
Koso is looking to break free of the clinch but Applegate has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koso jumps guard and drags Applegate to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Koso controls Applegate momentarily but Applegate frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koso is on top in guard.

Applegate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Applegate is keeping the position for now.
Applegate keeping moving, preventing Koso from controlling successfully.
Koso is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Koso works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Applegate works his way to full guard. Good work.
Koso trying to control the position from guard on top but Applegate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speva Koso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koso controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Applegate trying to control the position here.
Applegate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso is looking to pass into half guard but Applegate pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Applegate is in guard.

Applegate stopping the sweep attempt from Koso.
Koso wants to control the position but Applegate says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Koso wants to improve his position but Applegate is controlling well.
Koso wants to control but Applegate is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Koso is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Applegate is staying active.

Koso actively working from the bottom here.
Koso wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Applegate is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Koso looking for submissions off his back.

Koso is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Applegate pulls his head out easily.
Koso wants to get back to full guard but Applegate has passed into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koso wants to control but Applegate postures up.
Koso is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Speva Koso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Speva Koso!