PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xylon Kofel (ranked 953 p4p, 1363 weight class) and Thorvald Nansen (ranked 126 p4p, 186 weight class). Nansen has chosen Benny Jamz - Torden as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kofel
vs
Nansen

173 cm
21
164
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
21
165
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
REDEMPTION ink

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xylon Kofel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorvald Nansen!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nansen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kofel throws a head kick but Nansen moves out of range.
Kofel avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
An attempted straight right counter from Kofel misses the target.
Nansen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nansen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kofel throwing a counter right hand but Nansen manages to avoid it.
Nansen tries to clinch up but Kofel circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice leg kick from Nansen, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kofel throws a head kick but Nansen moves out of range.
Nansen has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kofel on the wrong end of a nice jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nansen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nansen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Nansen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nansen has knee on belly momentarily but Kofel bucks him off and regains half guard.
Nansen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Nansen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kofel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kofel is trying to stand up here but Nansen is controlling him well.
Kofel's coaches at Blacktalians MMA have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Nansen trying to pass the guard but Kofel defending well.
Kofel tries to get to full guard but Nansen has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nansen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kofel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nansen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nansen moves nicely into side control.
Nansen working the ground and pound from side control.
Kofel dodges the ground and pound from Nansen.
Kofel stops Nansen from passing to mount.

Nansen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kofel struggling a bit here.

Nansen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nansen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kofel keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Kofel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kofel takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Nansen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kofel is letting Nansen control him for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nansen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Nansen throwing strikes but Kofel manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Nansen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kofel controlling from side mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Nansen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kofel avoids the head kick by Nansen.
Nansen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kofel looks to land a right hand but Nansen moved out of range.
Nansen looks to throw the jab but Kofel is out of range.
Nansen lands with a hook. Kofel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nansen avoids the head kick by Kofel.
Kofel avoids the head kick by Nansen.
Nansen misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nansen connects with a single shot there.
Nansen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kofel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kofel throws a counter high kick but Nansen was just alert enough to avoid it.
Nansen digs a good hook to Kofel's body.
Thorvald Nansen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nansen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofel loads up on a big right hand but Nansen slips the punch.
Nansen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Xylon Kofel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nansen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nansen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kofel is able to avoid easily.
Nansen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nansen moves out of range as Kofel strikes.
Nansen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nansen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Kofel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thorvald Nansen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Kofel misses the target.
Nansen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nansen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nansen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Nansen catches Kofel right on the button with a cross.
Kofel throws a looping overhand right but Nansen ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nansen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kofel swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kofel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kofel takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nansen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kofel was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nansen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Kofel.
Nansen lands a nice shot to the body.
A big left from Nansen misses.
Kofel thinks about countering with a head kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Nansen.
Kofel ducks under a wild hook from Nansen.
Nansen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nansen throws a sloppy head kick and Kofel moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Kofel misses its target.
Nansen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kofel throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nansen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nansen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nansen ducks right into an uppercut from Kofel.
Nansen tries to close the distance and clinch but Kofel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A bone on bone clash there as Nansen blocks the leg kick.
Nansen with a hook.
Nansen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kofel is looking to land body kicks.
Nansen misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nansen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kofel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kofel throwing a counter right hand but Nansen manages to avoid it.
Kofel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nansen.
Nansen is looking to clinch but Kofel is avoiding it.
Nansen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Xylon Kofel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thorvald Nansen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kofel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Nansen on the side of the head.
Nansen moves out of range as Kofel strikes.
Kofel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Nansen moves into the clinch.
Kofel is trying to maintain a safe position but Nansen gets an underhook and turns Kofel into the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Nansen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nansen is looking to land body kicks.
Kofel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kofel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nansen.
Kofel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kofel scores with a head kick. Nansen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nansen misses with a looping right.
A little feinted left hand from Kofel on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nansen. Kofel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kofel lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nansen fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Nansen misses the target.
Nansen tries to clinch there but Kofel circles away.

Nansen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kofel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofel manages to get back to half guard.
Nansen moves nicely into side control.
Nansen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nansen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nansen working the ground and pound but Kofel is defending the strikes.
Nansen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Nansen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Xylon Kofel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nansen landing a few strikes.
Nansen lands a few punches from side control.
Nansen happy to just control the position for now.
Kofel tries to bench press Nansen off him but Nansen keeps the position.
Nansen is looking to take a break and control but Kofel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Nansen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nansen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Kofel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nansen advances nicely into full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nansen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Thorvald Nansen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nansen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nansen working for a guillotine from mount but Kofel is in no mood to give up.
Nansen lands a big elbow.

Nansen looking for a guillotine from mount but Kofel is having none of it.
Nansen lands a big elbow.
Thorvald Nansen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nansen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kofel because Nansen loaded up on that one.
Kofel is squirming around, avoiding Nansen's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nansen lands a couple of good shots and Kofel has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Nansen has good solid back control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thorvald Nansen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nansen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thorvald Nansen!
A relieved looking Thorvald Nansen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.