PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Kostov (ranked 191 p4p, 594 weight class) and Benji Torres (ranked 20 p4p, 75 weight class). Kostov comes to the cage accompanied by Гио Пика - Буйно Голова. 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.

Kostov
vs
Torres

185 cm
33
190
21 - 13 - 4

188 cm
33
186
22 - 17 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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NARCOS

Hoarse Pills
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 4, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Kostov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Benji Torres!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kostov lands with a nice body punch.
Kostov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Torres on the side of the head.
Kostov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Torres doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kostov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Torres on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kostov. Torres does a little dance to reset his feet.
Torres now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Torres is looking to clinch but Kostov is avoiding it.
Pavel Kostov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kostov throws a poor cross that misses
and Torres cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kostov has closed the distance and engaged Torres in a clinch.
Torres is working Kostov over against the cage.
Kostov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Torres blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kostov misses with some punches.
Kostov can't find room to land a body shot as Torres controls the action.
Torres working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
I was talking to Kostov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kostov misses with a body punch.
Kostov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Torres lands a shoulder strike.
Torres scores with a shoulder strike.
Kostov misses with a punch to the body.
Torres struggles to land a body shot inside as Kostov controls his hands.
Torres takes a shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kostov.
Torres is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kostov.
Kostov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kostov tries a body shot but Torres blocks it.
Torres misses with a punch to the body.
Kostov misses with a hook to the ribs.

Torres manages to break the clinch.
Kostov ducks under a wild hook from Torres.
Kostov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kostov defending well as Torres loads up on a big left hand.
Kostov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Torres just manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres looks to land a right hand but Kostov moved out of range.
That kick from Kostov tenderised Torres's leg. Torres is trying to keep his angry face on.
Torres tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kostov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It appears Kostov was looking to counter with a kick there.
A shot to the liver by Kostov. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kostov misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Torres on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Torres throws a body shot but no joy.
Torres throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Kostov to counter with a crisp jab.
Kostov throws a leg kick
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
Kostov lands a jab to the head.
Torres closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kostov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Torres manages to avoid it.
Kostov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Torres's corner calls for a 1-2. Torres obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kostov throws a big shot that misses.
Torres throws a hook but Kostov avoids it easily.
Torres bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Torres fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Torres swings widly with a right hand
and Kostov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Torres on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kostov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kostov.
Kostov scores with a hook.

It looks like Benji Torres has been cut.
Kostov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.
Torres misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kostov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Torres cracks Kostov with an open hand slap.
Torres jabs Kostov right on the nose. Kostov blinks but takes it well.
Torres avoids the head kick by Kostov.
Kostov lands a jab to Torres's midsection.
Torres takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Torres ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Torres with a nice cross.
Kostov just misses with a punch to the body.
Torres looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kostov scoring well with a low kick there.
Kostov swings for the body but Torres moves out of range.
Kostov scores with a spinning back kick!
Torres looks to land a right hand but Kostov moved out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kostov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kostov swings for the body but Torres moves out of range.
Kostov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kostov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kostov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torres moves away.
Torres is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The fighters circling - Kostov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Torres throws out a counter right but Kostov avoids it with no problem.
Torres bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kostov's head backwards.
Kostov jabs Torres right on the nose. Torres blinks but takes it well.
Kostov's corner calls for a 1-2. Kostov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kostov cracks Torres with a good jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kostov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Torres.
Kostov fakes the leg kick and cracks Torres in the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Torres throws a jab when Kostov was well out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Kostov misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kostov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kostov scores with a body shot.
Kostov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torres moves away.
Torres tests Kostov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Torres rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kostov counters with a right hand to the body.
Torres throws a jab but it's blocked by Kostov.
Torres misses with a body punch
and Kostov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kostov wants to clinch.
Kostov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres wants to clinch.
Kostov jabs Torres to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Torres avoids the body shot from Kostov.
Torres displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kostov throws out the jab.
Kostov tries to clinch but Torres is having none of it.
Torres throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torres steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kostov.
A jab from Kostov finds it's way through Torres's defenses.
Kostov just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pavel Kostov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kostov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kostov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Torres can do to turn this around?
Torres throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kostov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kostov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Torres throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kostov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kostov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.
Torres lands the left hand.
Kostov throws a head kick that half lands.
Torres loads up on a big right hand but Kostov slips the punch.
Kostov half committed to a counter leg kick.
A big left from Kostov misses.
Kostov tries to clinch there but Torres circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov throws a front kick that sends Torres stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Torres dips to his left and cracks Kostov with an uppercut!
A shot to the liver by Kostov. Beautiful body shot.
Kostov throws a head kick but Torres moves out of range.
Kostov throws a body punch but Torres moves out of range.
Kostov moves away from the strike by Torres.
Torres tries to clinch there but Kostov circles away.
Torres rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kostov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Torres lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kostov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kostov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Torress jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kostov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kostov misses with a looping left.
Benji Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pavel Kostov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kostov thuds his right hand into Torres's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kostov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Torres throws a hook but Kostov blocks it.
An inside leg kick lands from Kostov.
Kostov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kostov gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kostov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kostov connects with a body shot.
No joy there for Kostov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kostov tries to keep at a distance but Torres has taken the fight into the clinch.
Torres misses with a short punch on the inside.
Torres misses with a short punch on the inside.
Torres fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Torres misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kostov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kostov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Torres prevents a body shot from Kostov.
Kostov misses with a body punch.
Torres lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kostov.
A left hand lands to the body for Torres.
Kostov tries a body shot but Torres blocks it.
Kostov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Torres's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kostov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Torres throws a punch but it's blocked by Kostov.
Torres tries to work over Kostov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Torres lands a hook that snaps the head of Kostov backwards.
Torres is working Kostov over against the cage.
Torres lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kostov backwards.
Torres swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Torres misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kostov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Torres swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kostov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kostov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Torres's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kostov under the eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kostov throws a leg kick
and Torres scores with a counter punch that sends Kostov to the canvas! Torres smells blood - he's punishing Kostov with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Kostov has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benji Torres!