PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valen Dreth (ranked 339 p4p, 632 weight class) and Xylon Kofel (ranked 54 p4p, 94 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dreth
vs
Kofel

175 cm
35
165
29 - 15 - 1

173 cm
30
155
16 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Bondi MMA 🏝️
FF Gear

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 29 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valen Dreth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Xylon Kofel!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dreth gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dreth takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A low kick from Dreth is predictable there
and Kofel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dreth misses with an uppercut.
Dreth lands with an uppercut that bounces Kofel off the cage and back into range.
Kofel has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kofel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kofel connects with a nice looking jab.
Kofel misses with a wild body shot.
Dreth throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kofel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kofel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dreth staying out of range there.
Kofel throws a leg kick but Dreth checks it.
Kofel tries a low kick but Dreth avoids it.
Kofel throws a jab when Dreth was well out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dreth takes one on the button.
Good standup being displayed there by Dreth as he connects with a hook.
Kofel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kofel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kofel moves away from the strike by Dreth.
Kofel scores with a decent looking hook.
A leg kick checked by Kofel.
We've been hearing reports that Dreth has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth lands with a straight right. Kofel didn't see that one coming.
Kofel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kofel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dreth.

Dreth feints and as Kofel raises his hands in defense, Dreth changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kofel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kofel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dreth is looking to work some ground and pound but Kofel has wrist control.
Dreth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kofel is keeping the position for now.
Dreth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dreth preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dreth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth throwing strikes from guard but Kofel blocks nicely.
Dreth trying to control the position from guard on top but Kofel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dreth throwing strikes from guard but Kofel blocks nicely.
Dreth wants to control from the top but Kofel keeps moving.
Kofel is pulling down on Dreth's head. It's preventing any offense from Dreth, at least for the moment.
Dreth trying to control but Kofel is working from the bottom.
Kofel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dreth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dreth trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dreth throws a big right hand that misses.
Dreth loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kofel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dreth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kofel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dreth trying to control the position from guard on top but Kofel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dreth checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Dreth drops his hands momentarily and Kofel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kofel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dreth walks into a jab.
Jab by Dreth.
Dreth takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dreth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kofel looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kofel catches Dreth with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Xylon Kofel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dreth throws a body punch but Kofel moves out of range.
Dreth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kofel.

Dreth decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dreth seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dreth thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kofel's head.
Dreth is nestled in close to Kofel, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kofel controlling the position for now.
Kofel is looking to improve his position.
Dreth winds up and cracks Kofel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Valen Dreth will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kofel scores with a jab.
Dreth misses with a hook.
Dreth dips to his left and cracks Kofel with an uppercut!
Kofel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dreth.
Dreth tries to work over Kofel's front leg with a kick but Kofel checks it.
Dreth finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dreth connects with a looping right hand.
Kofel throws a leg kick but Dreth sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kofel checks a low kick from Dreth.
Kofel throws out a loose jab but Dreth uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kofel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kofel looks to throw the jab but Dreth is out of range.
Kofel clobbers Dreth with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dreth misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dreth displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kofel throws out the jab.
Kofel throws a looping overhand right but Dreth ducks down to avoid it.
Dreth's corner calls for a 1-2. Dreth obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kofel catches Dreth with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
No luck for Dreth with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kofel connects with an inside leg kick.
Dreth throws the left hand but Kofel avoids the punch easily.
Dreth ducks under a wild hook from Kofel.
Kofel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dreth.
Kofel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dreth.
Dreth uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kofel.
Dreth lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dreth connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kofel tried to score with a low kick but Dreth checks it.
Kofel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dreth appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kofel tests Dreth's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kofel misses with a hook. Dreth ducked under it nicely.
A jab lands there for Dreth.
Dreth lands a head shot.
Dreth misses with an uppercut. Kofel saw that one coming.
Dreth scores with a nice head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dreth takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A good leg kick by Dreth.
Dreth connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kofel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dreth to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dreth makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kofel managing to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dreth's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kofel pulls Dreth in close to prevent any damage.
Dreth tries to free his leg and advance position but Kofel is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dreth trying to control but Kofel is working from the bottom.
Dreth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dreth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dreth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kofel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dreth throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kofel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dreth accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dreth looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kofel looking for a sweep. Not yet Kofel, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dreth throwing strikes but missing.
Dreth with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dreth throws an elbow that misses. Kofel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dreth's guard. Nice move by Kofel!

Dreth looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kofel has picked Dreth up and slammed him! Dreth can't keep hold of the triangle and Kofel manages to pass to side control!
Dreth tries to improve position but can't.
Dreth is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valen Dreth dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Kofel.
Xylon Kofel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab from Kofel finds it's way through Dreth's defenses.
Dreth avoids the body shot from Kofel.
Dreth was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Dreth looks to land a left hand but Kofel moved out of range nicely.
Valen Dreth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dreth drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kofel scores with a sloppy right hand. Dreth should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Kofel.
Dreth throws a low kick but Kofel avoids it.
Dreth rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kofel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dreth misses with a left hand
and Kofel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kofel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dreth.
Kofel throws a leg kick but Dreth moved away.
An attempted straight right counter from Dreth misses the target.
Dreth takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Dreth blocks a jab.
Dreth lands with a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dreth ducks under a wild hook from Kofel.
Dreth fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kofel avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dreth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dreth shoots for a takedown but Kofel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dreth lunges at Kofel with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kofel's hand.
Dreth tries to land a leg kick but Kofel saw it coming and moves away.
Kofel looks to score with a jab to the body but Dreth is just out of range.
Kofel misses with a looping left.
Dreth lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dreth chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kofel can pounce on him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dreth.
Dreth throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kofel walks into a straight right hand from Dreth.
Kofel slips a jab from Dreth.
Dreth backing away here, and Kofel unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kofel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kofel misses with a hook. Dreth ducked under it nicely.

Dreth shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kofel is trying to defend but Dreth finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kofel is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dreth passes to full mount!
Dreth landing punches.
Kofel tries to hold on but Dreth pushes him away.
Kofel in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Dreth throws a strike there. Kofel manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Dreth throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dreth working Kofel over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kofel tries to get to full guard but Dreth has control of the leg.
Kofel is refusing to be controlled, as Dreth sits in half guard.
Valen Dreth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dreth not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dreth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kofel defending well though.

Dreth seems to be working for a kimura but Kofel defends the submission attempt.
Dreth throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dreth throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dreth trying to control the action but Kofel is working from the bottom.
Kofel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dreth is looking to pass Kofel's guard but actually Kofel recovers to full guard.
Dreth postures up in Kofel's guard and throws a big left but Kofel blocks it.

Kofel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dreth throws an elbow that misses. Kofel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dreth's guard. Nice move by Kofel!

Kofel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valen Dreth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dreth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valen Dreth!
During a confident post fight interview, Valen Dreth thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.