PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Plamen Kostov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Plamen Kostov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Kostov

183 cm
19
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Royce Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Plamen Kostov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a head kick but Kostov moves out of range.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kostov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kostov wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Kostov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kostov scores with a kick to the midsection.

Kostov moves into the clinch.
Kostov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Royce Gracie has been cut.
Kostov blocking some punches.
Gracie can't find room to land a body shot as Kostov controls the action.
Gracie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kostov blocking some punches.
Kostov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gracie.
Gracie misses with a body punch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kostov tries a body shot but Gracie blocks it.

Kostov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kostov throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Kostov wants to clinch up but Gracie keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostov blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Kostov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kostov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Plamen Kostov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kostov circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Gracie.
Kostov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Kostov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Kostov lands a head kick!
Kostov fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands with a cross.
Kostov is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.

Kostov clinches.
Gracie working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kostov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kostov digs a right hand underneath Gracie's ribcage. Gracie let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kostov lands an elbow inside.
Kostov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Kostov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kostov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gracie throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kostov landing knees to the head.
Kostov is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kostov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gracie up against the cage.
Kostov lands with a light punch inside.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.

Kostov breaks the clinch.
Kostov tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Kostov wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kostov won't be happy with that.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kostov is looking for a sweep.
Gracie working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances to full mount.
Kostov tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Gracie moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kostov has worked his arm free - good work by Kostov!
Kostov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kostov throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kostov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kostov is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Plamen Kostov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
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.

Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kostov pinned against the cage. Kostov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Kostov.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kostov stuffs the takedown.
Kostov wants to clinch but Gracie slips to the side

and Gracie counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kostov is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kostov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kostov looking to control.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kostov looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Kostov blocks nicely.
Gracie is looking to pass into half guard but Kostov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kostov is in guard.

Kostov stands and steps away. Gracie gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kostov has managed to clinch.
Gracie prevents a body shot from Kostov.
Kostov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gracie is defending well for now.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Kostov.
Kostov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kostov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kostov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie avoiding damage as Kostov throws knees to the body.
Gracie is trying to force a seperation but Kostov has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostov lands a right hand.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kostov is keeping busy.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Kostov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kostov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gracie takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gracie - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Plamen Kostov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gracie wants to get back to striking at distance but Kostov won't allow it.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.

Kostov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kostov tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kostov tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kostov closes the distance and clinches.
Kostov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Kostov.
Kostov just leaning against Gracie, taking a breather.
Gracie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Kostov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie wants to break free but Kostov has control.
Kostov lands with a right to the head.
Gracie wants to break free but Kostov has control.

Kostov breaks from the clinch.
Gracie takes a swing at Kostov's ribcage but misses.
Kostov scores with a three punch combo!
Kostov wants to clinch
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Kostov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostov is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Kostov doesn't manage to clinch there - Gracie circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kostov swinging wildly here.
Gracie gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kostov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kostov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Plamen Kostov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kostov is looking to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kostov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Kostov clinches up with Gracie and pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kostov.
Kostov lands an elbow that stopped Gracie in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Plamen Kostov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kostov tries to clinch up.
Kostov tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Kostov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kostov tries a head kick but it misses.
Plamen Kostov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kostov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Gracie there.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie is thwarting Kostov's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Kostov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie prevents Kostov from improving his position.

Kostov looking for submissions off his back.
Kostov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Kostov is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kostov is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.
Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Kostov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kostov.
Kostov working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kostov wants to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.

Gracie looking for a guillotine from mount but Kostov is having none of it.
Gracie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kostov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie trying to control but Kostov is having none of it.
Gracie dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gracie with a couple of short strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kostov is trying to stand.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Kostov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kostov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie scoring with punches and elbows.
Royce Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Plamen Kostov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kostov is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royce Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kostov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Plamen Kostov!