PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Ishmael (ranked 235 p4p, 239 weight class) and Tapu Koko (ranked 39 p4p, 40 weight class). Koko has chosen Aotearoa as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ishmael
vs
Koko

192 cm
27
205
11 - 2 - 0

187 cm
27
213
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Core Combat
HELLS BALLS RECOVERY

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR
Shadow-Battle Clothing

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Ishmael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tapu Koko!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koko slips under a jab.
Koko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ishmael.
Ishmael throws a right hand that misses
and Koko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like John Ishmael has been cut.
Koko throws a shot from downtown. Ishmael moves away and avoids it.
Koko slips under a jab.
Koko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Koko slips a jab from Ishmael.
Ishmael scores with a jab. Koko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like Tapu Koko has been cut.
Koko throws a nice looking combination but Ishmael bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koko blocks a jab.
Ishmael loads up on a big right hand but Koko slips the punch.
Ishmael thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little jabbing left from Koko on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ishmael fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Koko moves out of range of the strikes.
Ishmael throws a right hand that misses
and Koko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koko walks into a stiff left hand from Ishmael.
Ishmael throws a body punch but Koko moves out of range.
Koko throws a big shot that misses.
Ishmael bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Koko's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishmael lands with a right hand.
Koko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Koko throws a jab but it's blocked by Ishmael.
Koko moves out of range as Ishmael strikes.
Koko looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ishmael pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Koko walks into a left hand.
Koko ducks under a wild hook from Ishmael.
Koko slips under a jab.
Ishmael's corner calls for a 1-2. Ishmael obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ishmael is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Ishmael lands a really nice looking cross but Koko seems unphased.
Koko misses with a head kick.
Ishmael missing with a left hand there. Koko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ishmael misses with a hook.
Koko throws a hook but Ishmael avoids it easily.
Ishmael misses with an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ishmael lands a big uppercut and Koko crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Koko looks OK. Ishmael waves Koko back to his feet!

Koko is rocked!
John Ishmael seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishmael swings widly with a right hand
and Ishmael takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ishmael misses with a looping left.
Koko throws out a counter right but Ishmael avoids it with no problem.
Koko moves out of range as Ishmael strikes.
Koko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ishmael throws an off balance right hand

and Koko counters with a crisp right hand that drops Ishmael! Koko lets Ishmael back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Ishmael is rocked!
Ishmael misses with a straight left.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ishmael darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ishmael with a jab.
Koko is still on wobbly legs! Can Ishmael finish him?
Ishmael misses with an uppercut.
Koko throws the left hand but Ishmael avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Koko misses.
Koko seems to have recovered his senses.

Koko drives through and clinches with Ishmael against the cage.
Ishmael prevents a body shot from Koko.
Ishmael can't break the clinch.
Koko tries to throw a body punch but Ishmael avoids it by throwing Koko back against the cage.
Ishmael tries to circle away but Koko has him pinned against the cage.
Ishmael wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Koko has him pressed against the cage.
Ishmael wants to break free but Koko has control.
Koko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Koko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ishmael tries to break the clinch but Koko is controlling the position.
Koko lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koko tries to work over Ishmael's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ishmael blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Ishmael breaks from the clinch.
Ishmael misses with a right hand
and Koko counters with a left and a right... and another left... and another!! That last one turned off the lights! Ishmael has no idea who he is and is as he gazes up at the spotlights. Brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:15 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tapu Koko!
In his post fight interview, Tapu Koko started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.