PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tapu Koko (ranked 151 p4p, 541 weight class) and Monty Don (ranked 25 p4p, 83 weight class). Koko comes to the cage accompanied by Aotearoa. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Koko
vs
Don

187 cm
27
213
13 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
220
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapu Koko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Monty Don!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koko clinches up against the cage.
Koko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Koko slowing the pace effectively.
Stalling in the clinch from Koko.
Koko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Don backwards.
Don blocks an uppercut.
Don looking to stall.
Good body shot from Koko.
Koko throws a punch but it's blocked by Don.
Don wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Koko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Koko lands a body shot.
Don can't find room to land a body shot as Koko controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Koko.
Koko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Koko tries a body shot but Don blocks it.
Don has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Koko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Don trying to control the position but instead, Koko has worked for underhooks and has pushed Don into the cage.
Don is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koko pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Don is trying to stall.
Koko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Don up against the cage.
Koko misses with a body punch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Koko.
Koko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Don blocks a body shot from Koko.
Koko lands a body shot.
Koko is pushing Don up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Don can't get the takedown.
Tapu Koko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monty Don.
Koko presses Don against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Don is trying to drag Koko to the mat but Koko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Don has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Koko digs a right hand underneath Don's ribcage. Don let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Don looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Koko.
Koko gets through Don's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Koko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Don tries to land a knee to the head but Koko blocks with his arms.
Koko lands a shot to the body.
A shot in the inside from Koko.
Koko throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Koko scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Koko.
Koko pushes Don back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Koko digs a right hand underneath Don's ribcage. Don let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koko has Don pressed against the cage.
Koko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koko's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Koko avoiding damage as Don throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Koko - that landed with a thud.
Koko lands a shoulder strike.
Koko works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Koko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Koko lands a body punch.
Koko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Koko digs a right hand underneath Don's ribcage. Don let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Koko lands a shot to the body.
Koko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Koko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Koko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Koko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Good body shot from Koko.
Koko lands with a left to the head.
Nice body punch from Koko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Koko lands a body punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koko presses Don against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Koko lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Koko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Koko.
Koko pushes Don back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Koko lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Don.
The referee calls for Koko to work.
Koko tries to work over Don's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koko tries to work over Don's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Don backwards.
Koko struggles to land a body shot inside as Don controls his hands.
Koko scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Koko.
Don is looking for a takedown.
Koko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Don up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapu Koko dominated that round.
That's time! Koko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koko clinches up with Don and pushes him back against the cage.
Don wants a takedown but no success here.
Koko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Koko cracks Don with a nice body shot.
Koko controlling the action here for a moment.
Koko lands a hook that snaps the head of Don backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koko prevents a body shot from Don.
A short right from Koko on the inside.
Don is breathing heavily.
Koko lands with a light punch inside.
Tapu Koko has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Koko scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Koko.
Koko struggles to land a body shot inside as Don controls his hands.
Koko lands a hook that snaps the head of Don backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Don breaks from the clinch.
Koko tries to clinch but Don is having none of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Don! But no joy.

Koko darts in and clinches Don up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Koko.
Koko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Don takes a shot to the head.
Koko lands a body punch in the clinch.
Koko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Don backwards.
Koko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Don up against the cage.
Koko lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Don or not.
Don tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Koko scores with a shot to the side of Don's head.
Koko blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koko lands a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Koko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Don can do to turn this around?
Koko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Don backwards.
Koko lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Koko lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Don backwards.
Koko can't find room to land a body shot as Don controls the action.
Koko lands a right hand.
Koko lands an uppercut.

Don is rocked!
Koko is leaning against Don and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Koko.

Koko drops Don onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Don is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Don is still on wobbly legs! Can Koko finish him?
Koko unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Don! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Koko is unloading with more strikes now! Don drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tapu Koko!
Tapu Koko opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.