PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Korolev (ranked 1509 p4p, 1521 weight class) and Hao Sawamura (ranked 215 p4p, 216 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Korolev might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to HALLOWEEN - John Carpenter. Alexander Korolev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korolev
vs
Sawamura

180 cm
24
199
8 - 5 - 0

197 cm
24
190
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

The Natural Order

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Korolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hao Sawamura!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Sawamura.
Sawamura fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Korolev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Korolev looks for the body kick but Sawamura saw that one coming.
Sawamura avoids a kick to the body.
Sawamura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Korolev was well out of range. Poor timing from Sawamura.
A jab lands there for Sawamura.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Sawamura stuns Korolev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Korolev scores with a jab. Sawamura acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sawamura is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Korolev scores with a spinning back kick!
An inside leg kick lands from Sawamura.
Korolev misses with a wild body shot.
Jab from Sawamura.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice body punch from Sawamura.
Korolev takes one to the side of the head.
Korolev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawamura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sawamura misses with a few strikes there.
Sawamura throws a wild body kick that Korolev sees coming a mile off.
Sawamura is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Korolev rather than just go for the knockout.
Korolev misses the shot to the body.
Sawamura works the jab nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sawamura. Korolev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Korolev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sawamura tests Korolev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Korolev throws a body punch but Sawamura moves out of range.
Sawamura was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sawamura misses with a hook.
Korolev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sawamura.
Sawamura rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Korolev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Korolev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sawamura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korolev wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sawamura looks winded!
Sawamura walks forward, straight into a front kick from Korolev.

Korolev feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Sawamura sprawling to the canvas! Sawamura rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Korolev finish him?!

Sawamura is rocked!

It looks like Hao Sawamura has been cut.
Korolev closes the distance and lands a crisp combination that knocks Sawamura out cold! Sawamura corner are devastated, head in hands behind our commentary position. Poor guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Alexander Korolev!
Alexander Korolev opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.