PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Speva Koso (ranked 462 p4p, 72 weight class) and Rip Snorten (ranked 765 p4p, 124 weight class). Snorten has chosen Sound of Silence as his entrance music. 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.

Koso
vs
Snorten

176 cm
34
170 lbs
18 - 8 - 3

180 cm
37
180 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Dark Knight Nutrition

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 18 - 8 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Speva Koso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Rip Snorten!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snorten blocks a jab.
Koso throws a leg kick which misses Snorten's front leg but catches the back leg as Snorten tries to avoid it.
A jab from Snorten misses.
Koso swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Snorten scores with a jab to the head.
Snorten misses the shot to the body.
Koso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Snorten tries to keep at a distance but Koso has taken the fight into the clinch.
Snorten tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've been informed that Snorten 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.
Snorten has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Koso avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Snorten has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Koso regains guard immediately.
Snorten tries to free his leg and advance position but Koso is retaining full guard.
Koso keeping moving, preventing Snorten from controlling successfully.
Koso trying to control the position.

Koso is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Snorten defends well.
Snorten pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koso is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Snorten got a little sloppy there for a moment and Koso has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Snorten has managed to get both his arms back between Koso's legs - danger averted.
Koso is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Snorten avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Koso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Snorten gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koso controls Snorten momentarily but Snorten frees himself.
Snorten must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Koso holds on and takes a little breather.

Koso working for a triangle but Snorten defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snorten trying to control the position from guard on top but Koso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Snorten trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Koso looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Koso working for a triangle but Snorten defends it easily.
Koso looking for a sweep. Not yet Koso, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Snorten landing with the ground and pound.
Koso tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Snorten makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Snorten lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Snorten lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snorten tries to free his leg and advance position but Koso is retaining full guard.

Koso working for a triangle but Snorten defends it easily.
Snorten advances to half guard.
Koso is trying to get back to full guard.
Koso regains full guard. Nicely done.
Snorten with a flurry of punches that miss.

Koso has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Snorten can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Snorten sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Koso's guard.
Snorten scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Snorten trying to control the action but Koso is working from the bottom.
Koso is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Snorten scores with a couple of nice shots.
Snorten tries to pass to full mount but Koso defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snorten prevents Koso from improving his position.
Snorten scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Koso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Snorten is working away from the top position though.
Snorten wants to free his trapped foot but Koso is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Koso wants to get back to full guard.
Snorten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koso keeps working.
Koso trying to hold on to Snorten's head to control him but Snorten postures up.
Koso wants to get back to full guard.
Snorten scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Snorten is thwarting Koso's attempts to control the position.
Snorten lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rip Snorten dominated that round.
That's time! Koso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koso cracks a nice hook into Snorten's ribs.
Koso scores with a spinning back kick!
Koso blocks a jab.
A jab lands there for Koso.
Koso throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Snorten counters with a stiff right hand.
Snorten misses with an uppercut
and Koso counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Snorten throws a leg kick that is checked
and Koso counters with a low kick, right behind Snorten 's knee.
Koso scores with a spinning back kick!
Snorten uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koso.
A nice side step and Snorten releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Koso looks to land a body kick but Snorten moved away.
Snorten scoring well with a low kick there.
Snorten moves out of range of the body kick.
Koso waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Snorten.
Koso tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Snorten changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Snorten misses with a few strikes there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big left from Snorten misses.
Koso lands an overhand right.
Koso moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Snorten throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koso avoids the body shot from Snorten.
A jab from Snorten misses.
Koso slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Koso checks a leg kick nicely.
Snorten takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Snorten misses with a kick to the body.
Koso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Snorten swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Snorten tries to counter with a clinch but Koso shakes him off and moves away.
Snorten throws a jab but it's blocked by Koso.
Snorten looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Snorten misses with a low kick.
Koso feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Snorten shoots in for a takedown but Koso shows good takedown defense.
Snorten takes one to the chin there.
Koso scoring well with a low kick there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Snorten takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Snorten throws a hook but Koso avoids it easily.
Snorten missing with a left hand there. Koso was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Snorten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snorten swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koso takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Snorten misses with a shot to the body
and Koso counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Snorten throws a series of punches but Koso avoids them all with ease.
Nice defenses there by Koso.
Snorten misses with a straight right.
Snorten throws a hook but Koso avoids it easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Snorten.
Snorten misses with a right hand
and Koso makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Snorten takes a jab right on the kisser.
Koso throws a body kick that misses.
Speva Koso is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab by Koso.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Koso. Snorten shrugs it off though.
Snorten ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Koso lands the left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Koso. That snapped Snorten's head back.
Rip Snorten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koso cracks Snorten with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Snorten checks it well.
Jab, jab by Snorten - just one landing.
Koso scores with a hook to the body. Snorten takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Koso moves out of range as Snorten strikes.
Koso's corner calls for a 1-2. Koso obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Snorten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koso manages to avoid it.
Snorten tries for a takedown but Koso sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Snorten throws a leg kick but Koso sees it coming and moves out of range.
Koso shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Koso. That's going to slow Snorten down.
Snorten uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Koso has time to react.
Snorten misses with an uppercut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Koso.
Snorten misses with an uppercut. Koso saw that one coming.
Nice straight punches there by Snorten. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Snorten.
Snorten waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koso.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Snorten tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koso misses with a leg kick
and Snorten counters with a straight right hand.
Koso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Snorten.
Koso looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Koso ducks under a wild hook from Snorten.
Snorten throws a hook but Koso blocks it.
Snorten throws a leg kick
and Koso counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koso cracks Snorten with a good jab.
Koso steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Snorten.
Koso uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Snorten.
Snorten just misses with a punch to the body.
Snorten lands with an overhand left.
Koso thuds his shin into the meat of Snorten's side.
Snorten looks to throw the jab but Koso is out of range.
Snorten misses the jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koso fails in his attempt to clinch.
Snorten throws a lazy right hand but Koso sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Snorten looks to land a left hand but Koso moved out of range nicely.
Snorten throws a hook to the side of Koso's head but Koso sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Speva Koso will probably get the nod.
That's time! Koso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Koso throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Koso moves out of range of the strikes.
Koso avoids the body shot from Snorten.
Koso takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Koso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koso throws a leg kick that is checked

and Snorten counters by clinching up.
Snorten can't find room to land a body shot as Koso controls the action.
Snorten is looking for a takedown.
Snorten's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Snorten blocks a body shot from Koso.
Koso gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Snorten.
A right handed body shot lands from Koso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koso misses with the head strike.
Snorten lands a shoulder strike.
Snorten prevents a body shot from Koso.
Koso struggles to land a body shot inside as Snorten controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koso lands with a left to the head.
I was talking to Koso's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Snorten is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koso pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Speva Koso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rip Snorten.
Snorten wants to take the fight to the mat but Koso manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Snorten blocking some punches.
A body shot lands from Koso.
Koso lands a right hand that snaps the head of Snorten backwards.
Snorten prevents a body shot from Koso.
Koso digs a right hand into Snorten's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Snorten's gas tank.
A short uppercut from Koso.
Koso is pressed up against the cage. Snorten has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Koso down to the mat. Koso avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Koso moves out of range of the body kick from Snorten.
Snorten tries to score a power double leg takedown but Koso sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Snorten somewhat.
Koso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Snorten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koso slips under a jab from Snorten.
A swing and a miss from Snorten.
Snorten throws the left hand but Koso avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Snorten misses.
Snorten loads up on a big right hand but Koso slips the punch.
Snorten throws out a loose jab but Koso uses good head movement to avoid it.
Snorten throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koso sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Snorten will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Snorten moves forwards but Koso connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Snorten walks into a left hand.
Snorten on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A slow jab from Snorten misses its intended target.
Decent striking displayed by Snorten there.
Koso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koso is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Snorten's jab looks to have found its range, popping Koso under the eye.
Snorten misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koso lands a glancing blow to the side of Snorten's head.
Snorten thows a leg kick but Koso checks it
and Snorten takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Koso scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Koso throws a hook but Snorten blocks it.
Koso lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Snorten throws a front kick that sends Koso stumbling back into the cage.
Koso throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koso tries to clinch up but Snorten circles away and keeps his distance.
Snorten misses with a straight left.
Snorten moves out of range as Koso throws a body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Koso.
Koso misses the shot to the body.
Koso lands a front kick.
Snorten misses with a straight right.
Koso 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.
Snorten throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koso fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Snorten has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snorten misses with a low kick.
Snorten lands the left hand.
Snorten throws a body punch but Koso moves out of range.
Snorten scores with a nice right hand.
Koso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Snorten swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Koso lands with an overhand left.
Snorten throws a poor cross that misses
and Koso counters with a body kick.
Snorten needs to keep his hands up - Koso had a free shot at his head there.
Koso checks the leg kick nicely there.
Snorten tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Koso swivels and escapes.
Snorten's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Snorten misses with a jab, cross combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Koso.
The crowd cheers as Koso lands an impressive looking overhand right. Snorten doesn't seem phased though.
Koso scores with a three punch combo!
Koso ducks under a wild hook from Snorten.
A quick step to the side and Koso tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Snorten waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koso.

And that's the end of the fight!
Speva Koso showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Speva Koso!