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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mandlenkosi Thulani (ranked 1323 p4p, 1931 weight class) and Paulo Kogos (ranked 195 p4p, 276 weight class). Mandlenkosi Thulani has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.
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| 206 cm
24
282
8 - 3 - 0 |
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188 cm
24
260
7 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mandlenkosi Thulani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Kogos!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Eddie Farnsworth and Lou da Vinci.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kogos defending well as Thulani loads up on a big left hand.
Thulani walks into a stiff left hand from Kogos.
Kogos lands with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Thulani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thulani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kogos wants a takedown.
Thulani digs a right hand underneath Kogos's ribcage. Kogos let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Thulani lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kogos backwards.
Thulani misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thulani prevents Kogos from breaking the clinch.
Thulani misses with a punch to the body.
Thulani tries a body shot but Kogos blocks it.
We've been informed that Kogos has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kogos escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kogos lands a really nice looking cross but Thulani seems unphased.
Thulani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A little jabbing left from Kogos on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kogos scores with a takedown into Thulani's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thulani working a defensive guard here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thulani working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kogos.
Kogos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kogos trying to control the position from guard on top but Thulani is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kogos stands up over Thulani, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thulani on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thulani tries to get out of the position.
Kogos wants to control from the top but Thulani keeps moving.
Kogos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kogos throws a big elbow that misses.
Kogos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thulani has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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.
Thulani keeping moving, preventing Kogos from controlling successfully.
Kogos looking to pass the guard.
Thulani is trying to control the position but Kogos postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Thulani is looking to stand up but Kogos isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kogos gets a takedown into half guard.
Kogos is looking to advance position but Thulani won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thulani is trying is best to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kogos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kogos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thulani is staying active underneath Kogos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kogos trying to pass the guard but Thulani defending well.
Kogos prevents Thulani from improving his position.
Kogos is trying to control. Thulani wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kogos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kogos lands with a punch from half guard.
Kogos winds up and cracks Thulani with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kogos is thwarting Thulani's attempts to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kogos tries to pass to full mount but Thulani defends it.
Kogos is working for a kimura but Thulani is defending it quite comfortably.
Kogos lands strikes from half guard.
Kogos takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kogos is keen to just control but Thulani is a slippery customer.
Kogos missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kogos tries to pass to full mount but Thulani defends it.
Kogos looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thulani with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Paulo Kogos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Nice defenses there by Thulani.
Good standup being displayed there by Thulani as he connects with a hook.
Kogos stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice defenses there by Kogos.
Kogos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thulani.
Kogos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kogos stuns Thulani with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kogos fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thulani wants to clinch.
Kogos shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thulani manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Thulani tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thulani knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kogos on the ground.
Kogos postures up and lands a big shot to Thulani's brow.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Thulani has control of Kogos's left arm, preventing Kogos from doing any damage.
Thulani wants to sweep here but Kogos controlling him for the moment.
Kogos wants to control from the top but Thulani keeps moving.
Kogos scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kogos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kogos wants to pass the guard but Thulani is keeping the position.
Thulani will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kogos postures up.
Thulani wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's two 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.
Kogos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kogos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thulani keeping moving, preventing Kogos from controlling successfully.
Kogos wants to pass the guard but Thulani is keeping the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thulani is looking to clinch.
Thulani misses with an uppercut
enabling Kogos to counter with a crisp jab.
Thulani wants to clinch.
Kogos lands with a shot to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kogos swinging wildly here.
Thulani swings for the body but Kogos moves out of range.
Kogos slips under a jab from Thulani.
Kogos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kogos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kogos circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice side step and Kogos releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Thulani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kogos.
Kogos throws a right hand that Thulani ducks under and follows up with a left that Thulani also avoids with ease.
Good exchange - Kogos coming out on top.
Kogos connects with a body shot.
Mandlenkosi Thulani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kogos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thulani moves away.
It looked like Thulani was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kogos.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kogos lands a nice shot to the body.
Kogos wants to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thulani blocks a body shot from Kogos.
Kogos tries to work over Thulani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Thulani.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thulani scores with a shot to the side of Kogos's head.
Kogos is trying to break the clinch but Thulani is controlling him.
Kogos has had enough of the clinch but Thulani keeps him there for the moment.
Kogos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kogos tries a body shot but Thulani blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thulani as Kogos tries to tie him up.
A left hand lands to the body for Kogos.
Kogos working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kogos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kogos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kogos can't break the clinch.
Kogos blocks a body shot from Thulani.
Kogos is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thulani gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Paulo Kogos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Thulani throws the left hand but Kogos avoids the punch easily.
Kogos lands with a good body shot.
Mandlenkosi Thulani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kogos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thulani looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kogos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kogos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thulani swivels and escapes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thulani looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thulani throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kogos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kogos swats away the attempt to clinch by Thulani.
Kogos is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Thulani rather than just go for the knockout.
Thulani just misses with a punch to the body.
A left and a right from Kogos both land. Nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thulani tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kogos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thulani throws a jab when Kogos was well out of range.
Kogos connects with a body shot.
Kogos gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thulani.
Kogos takes a swing at Thulani's ribcage but misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kogos punishes Thulani's body with a nice straight punch.
Kogos bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thulani's head.
Thulani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thulani uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kogos.
Thulani wants to clinch up but Kogos keeps it at a distance.
Kogos is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Thulani with a body shot.
Thulani tries to clinch up.
Kogos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thulani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kogos looks to score with a jab to the body but Thulani is just out of range.
Thulani wants to clinch up but Kogos keeps it at a distance.
Kogos gets a takedown into half guard.
Kogos winds up and cracks Thulani with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thulani trying to control here.
Kogos passes to side control.
Mandlenkosi Thulani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Thulani is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kogos cracks Thulani with a big right hand but Thulani just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kogos working away.
Kogos postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kogos working the body and head with strikes.
Thulani is looking for a sweep.
Kogos trying to control the action but Thulani is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kogos tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thulani's legs.
Thulani wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kogos working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kogos working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kogos is looking to take a break and control but Thulani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kogos is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kogos throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kogos landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thulani can't do much from the bottom here.
Thulani gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kogos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kogos moves into full mount! Thulani won't be happy about that!
Paulo Kogos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kogos avoids the attempt from Thulani to control.
Paulo Kogos is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kogos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Kogos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kogos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Kogos!
A determined Paulo Kogos didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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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
41% |
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