PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Kostroff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Cosby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kostroff
vs
Cosby

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Kostroff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bill Cosby!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cosby is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kostroff.

Kostroff gets a takedown into half guard.
Cosby is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kostroff's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kostroff's back!
Kostroff covering up well under a series of strikes from Cosby.
Kostroff can't escape the position.
Cosby looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Cosby scores with punches from the back.

Cosby is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kostroff knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kostroff for a finish.
Cosby trying to control momentarily.
Cosby connects with a big shot to the side of Kostroff's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Will Cosby go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
You can see the frustration on Kostroff's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kostroff trying to control the hands but Cosby won't let him.
Cosby has good solid back control here.
Cosby is not going to allow Kostroff to sit and survive in this position.
Cosby scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kostroff trying to control but not successfully.

Cosby working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kostroff trying to control the position but Cosby manages to sink in the hooks.
Cosby scores with punches and elbows.
Cosby struggling to keep hold of the position.
Cosby is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Cosby is controlling the position but Kostroff somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
It looks like Cosby is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cosby wants to control but Kostroff is keeping him busy.
Cosby lands with a punch from half guard.
Kostroff wants to get back to full guard.
Cosby thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kostroff moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kostroff is breathing heavily.
Cosby stopping the sweep attempt from Kostroff.
Kostroff wants to get back to his feet but Cosby is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Kostroff working for a triangle but Cosby defends it easily.

Cosby stands up and waves to Kostroff to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostroff lands a really nice looking cross but Cosby seems unphased.

Kostroff instigates a clinch.
Cosby goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kostroff prevents it.
Kostroff stalls.

Kostroff manages to break the clinch.
Kostroff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cosby as he jumps to the side.

Kostroff drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kostroff is in close to Cosby's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cosby manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cosby looking to control but Kostroff is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bill Cosby will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kostroff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kostroff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kostroff scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kostroff is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cosby trying to hold on to Kostroff's head to control him but Kostroff postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cosby makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cosby.
Cosby wants to sweep but no luck.
Cosby is looking to stand up but Kostroff isn't so interested in that idea.
Kostroff preventing the sweep.
Cosby wants to stand but Kostroff is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cosby is wriggling around but Kostroff manages to pass to half guard.
Cosby has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kostroff prevents Cosby from standing back up.
Cosby tries to get to full guard but Kostroff has control of the leg.
Cosby is trying to maintain the position but Kostroff is very close to passing his half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cosby stuffs the takedown attempt from Kostroff. Kostroff gets slowly back to his feet.

Kostroff scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cosby tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cosby sneaks back into half guard.
Cosby moves into full guard.
Cosby manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cosby manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kostroff to take his back!
Cosby tries to keep control of the position but Kostroff is staying busy.
You can see the frustration on Kostroff's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kostroff trying to control the hands but Cosby won't let him.
Bill Cosby has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kostroff is trying to break free.
Kostroff just trying to survive but Cosby is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Cosby trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Cosby is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kostroff trying to control the hands but Cosby won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostroff turns into Cosby and is now in his guard.
Kostroff postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kostroff fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cosby with a poor takedown
and Kostroff cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kostroff looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kostroff trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cosby manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kostroff wants to get back to his feet but Cosby is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cosby stands and throws Kostroff's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cosby trying to control the action but Kostroff is working from the bottom.

Cosby decides to stand back up.
Horrible takedown by Cosby or perhaps it was just good defense by Kostroff which made him look bad.
Cosby fails with the takedown

and Kostroff counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cosby's guard now.
Alex Kostroff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Cosby.

Cosby had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kostroff is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cosby Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kostroff's back instead.
Kostroff trying to control the action but Cosby just sinks the hooks in.
Cosby tries to keep control of the position but Kostroff is staying busy.
Kostroff rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kostroff dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kostroff feints and as Cosby raises his hands in defense, Kostroff changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kostroff throws a strike but Cosby rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cosby slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Cosby decides to stand back up.
Kostroff will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Kostroff feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kostroff looking to sit in guard and control but Cosby gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kostroff is wriggling around but Cosby manages to pass to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kostroff has hold of Cosby's hands but Cosby slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cosby trying to pass the guard but Kostroff defending well.
Cosby winds up and cracks Kostroff with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kostroff taking some punishment here, with Cosby in his half guard.
Cosby wants to control but Kostroff is keeping him busy.
Cosby performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cosby is nestled in close to Kostroff, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cosby wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kostroff keeps working.
Kostroff is trying to get back to full guard.
Kostroff on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cosby wants to work for an arm triangle but Kostroff is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kostroff gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kostroff is on top in guard.
Kostroff passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kostroff wants to control but Cosby is keeping him busy.
Kostroff will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kostroff controls the position.
Cosby is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostroff has knee on belly momentarily but Cosby bucks him off and regains half guard.
Cosby moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kostroff throwing strikes from guard but Cosby blocks nicely.
Kostroff won't allow Cosby to get back to his feet.
Cosby will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kostroff stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cosby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kostroff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kostroff preventing the sweep.
Kostroff trying to control but Cosby is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cosby is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cosby is tying to control. Kostroff wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kostroff won't allow Cosby to pass to mount.
Kostroff is trying to get back to full guard.
Cosby is keen to just control but Kostroff is a slippery customer.
Kostroff is pressing down on Cosby's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Kostroff scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Alex Kostroff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kostroff scores with a sloppy right hand. Cosby should have avoided that one.
Kostroff is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kostroff keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostroff paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cosby fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alex Kostroff.
Well Kostroff has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alex Kostroff!