PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kane Thoupos (ranked 682 p4p, 392 weight class) and Pavel Kostov (ranked 92 p4p, 52 weight class). Thoupos kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 151 Rum - JID. Kostov has chosen Гио Пика - Буйно Голова as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Pavel Kostov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Thoupos
vs
Kostov

177 cm
29
196
19 - 7 - 0

185 cm
34
190
21 - 14 - 4

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

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 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kane Thoupos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 4, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pavel Kostov!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thoupos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thoupos throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Thoupos throws a lazy body kick
and Kostov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thoupos misses with a looping right.
Kostov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kostov misses with a wild body shot.
Thoupos quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kostov scores with a head kick. Thoupos tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Thoupos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kostov.
Thoupos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kostov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thoupos takes a step back to recover.
Pavel Kostov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kostov.
Thoupos throws a lazy uppercut
and Kostov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kostov thuds a left hand into Thoupos's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov thows a left - swing and a miss!
A quick step to the side and Thoupos tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kostov lands a nice shot to the body.
Kostov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thoupos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kostov moves out of range as Thoupos strikes.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thoupos.
Kostov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thoupos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kostov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kostov scores with a nice head shot.
Kostov misses with a straight left.
Kostov thows a body kick. Thoupos tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thoupos has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Xtreme Black House in the buildup to the fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kostov. Thoupos does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov misses with a wild body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Kostov.
Thoupos walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kostov misses with a hook to the body
and Thoupos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kostov tried to score with a low kick but Thoupos checks it.
Thoupos misses with a jab to the body
and Kostov counters with a stiff right hand.
Thoupos blocks the body kick.
Thoupos was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kostov tries a low kick but Thoupos avoids it.
Kostov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kostov with a nice calf kick.
Kostov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thoupos.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kostov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thoupos ducks under a wild hook from Kostov.
Thoupos fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kostov just manages to avoid it.
An inside leg kick from Kostov misses.
A little feinted left hand from Thoupos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kostov takes a swing at Thoupos's ribcage but misses.
Kostov misses with a straight left.
Kostov scores with a push kick.
Kostov connects with a leg kick.
Kostov connects with an inside leg kick.
Kostov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thoupos sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kostov throws a big shot that misses.
As Kostov backs away, Thoupos returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thoupos takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kostov throws a body shot but no joy.
A little feinted left hand from Thoupos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kostov stuns Thoupos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kostov digs a good body shot into Thoupos's ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kostov lands a nice shot to the body.
Kostov 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.
A lazy left from Kostov finds it's target.
Kostov misses with a body kick.
Kostov is looking to land body kicks.
As Kostov backs away, Thoupos returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Thoupos scores with a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kostov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kostov swings for the body but Thoupos moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Thoupos.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thoupos.
Thoupos tried to counter with a leg kick but Kostov avoided it.
Kostov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thoupos. That did some damage!
A low kick lands for Thoupos.
Kostov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kostov loads up on a big right hand but Thoupos slips the punch.
That kick from Kostov tenderised Thoupos's leg. Thoupos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pavel Kostov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thoupos ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kostov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kostov tries to clinch
and Thoupos counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thoupos moves out of range of the leg kick from Kostov.
A little feinted left hand from Thoupos on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kostov connects with a jab.
Thoupos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kostov checks a leg kick.
Thoupos misses with a hook
and Kostov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Donk. Kostov catches Thoupos right on the button with a cross.
Thoupos tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thoupos.
Kostov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Thoupos counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kostov's knee momentarily.
Thoupos ducks under a wild hook from Kostov.
Thoupos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov misses with the body kick
and Thoupos counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kostov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kostov!
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!
Kostov misses the shot to the body.
Thoupos swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kostov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thoupos scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kostov misses with a body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Thoupos misses the target.
A punch lands to the side of Kostov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thoupos slips a straight right by Kostov.
Kostov misses with a straight left.
It looked like Thoupos was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
An inside leg kick lands from Kostov.
Thoupos walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov misses the body punch
and Thoupos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thoupos checks the leg kick.
Thoupos connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kostov momentarily.
Thoupos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kostov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kostov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kostov throws a wild body kick that Thoupos sees coming a mile off.
Thoupos was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kostov avoids the head kick by Thoupos.
Thoupos slips under a jab from Kostov.
Thoupos missing with a left hand there. Kostov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thoupos misses with a kick to the body
and Kostov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thoupos's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thoupos avoids the body shot from Kostov.
Thoupos connects with a leg kick.
Kostov throws an overhand right that lands on Thoupos's shoulder, as Thoupos tries to avoid the shot.
Kostov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thoupos keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kostov.

Thoupos lands a left and a right that send Kostov crashing to the mat, dazed. Thoupos thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Kostov throws a looping overhand right but Thoupos ducks down to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kostov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thoupos throws a counter high kick but Kostov was just alert enough to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kane Thoupos will probably get the nod.
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. And we move into the final round!

Thoupos connects with a single shot there.
Kostov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thoupos appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kostov.
Thoupos throws a head kick that misses
and Thoupos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Thoupos.
Kostov pushes Thoupos away with a front kick.
Kostov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thoupos.
Thoupos looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kostov ducks under a wild hook from Thoupos.
Kostov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thoupos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoupos avoids the body shot from Kostov.
Kostov throws an off balance right hand
and Thoupos counters with a nice leg kick.
Kostov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thoupos stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kostov.
Kostov lands a front kick.
Thoupos scores with a jab.
Kostov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kostov scores with a jab to the body.
Kostov pushes Thoupos away with a front kick.
Thoupos uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kostov.
Thoupos will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thoupos swings widly with a right hand
and Kostov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thoupos takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kostov. Thoupos shrugs it off though.

Kostov has closed the distance and engaged Thoupos in a clinch.
Kostov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thoupos backwards.
Thoupos goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thoupos misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Thoupos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thoupos throws a sloppy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kostov lands a glancing blow to the side of Thoupos's head.
A big right from Kostov misses.
Kostov throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Thoupos to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Thoupos.
Kostov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thoupos keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Kostov. Beautiful body shot.
Thoupos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kostov. Thoupos does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thoupos swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kostov misses with an uppercut
and Thoupos counters with a nice body shot.
Kostov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thoupos connects with a body shot.
Kostov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thoupos looks to land a body kick but Kostov moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov misses the shot to the body.
Thoupos misses with a looping right.
Kostov misses the jab.
Kostov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thoupos moves away.
Thoupos tried to score with a low kick but Kostov checks it.
Kostov throws a front kick that sends Thoupos stumbling back into the cage.
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!
Kostov misses the shot to the body.
Thoupos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kostov.
Thoupos blocks a leg kick.
Thoupos goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Kostov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kostov 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Kostov!
Pavel Kostov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Kane Thoupos had this to say: 'What really happened on that Thursday in August High School that led to Chris Woods death? Pftctctxtysfsrhhh the fuck is that! Fly in my mouth, I can’t see… gotta get out of this country motherfucker'.