PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Korsakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kong Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Korsakov
vs
Long

225 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Korsakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kong Long!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long fails with an attempt to clinch.
Long is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Long gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Long breaks from the clinch.
Long tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Korsakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Korsakov slips a straight right by Long.
Long dodges the punch combination from Korsakov.
Long misses with a double jab

and Korsakov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Korsakov.
Korsakov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Long avoids it.
Long is trying to drag Korsakov to the mat but Korsakov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Korsakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Long has double underhooks.
Korsakov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Long - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Korsakov tries for a takedown but Long manages to get underhooks.
The referee calls for Long to work.

Long breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korsakov thumps Long with a low kick.
Korsakov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Long.
Long misses with a combination

and Korsakov counters with a shoot takedown. Long fights it but they end up in guard.

Korsakov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Horrible takedown by Korsakov or perhaps it was just good defense by Long which made him look bad.
Long throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Korsakov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Korsakov.
Long looks gassed!
Korsakov tries for a takedown but Long manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Korsakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Long working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Long tries to bum rush Korsakov with a series of wild strikes but Korsakov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Korsakov closes the distance but Long moves to the side

and Long holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Korsakov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Korsakov tries to break free but Long pushes him back against the cage.
Korsakov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korsakov can't break the clinch.

Long breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Long moves into the clinch.
Korsakov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Korsakov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Korsakov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Long gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Long breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Long throws a left and a right that both miss

and Korsakov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Long's guard now.
Korsakov is standing up over Long. Long looks to escape but Korsakov dives into side control.
Korsakov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Long wants to get back to his feet.
Korsakov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Long is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Korsakov is controlling him well.
Long is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Korsakov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Korsakov cracks a nice hook into Long's ribs.

Korsakov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Long tries to kick Korsakov off but Korsakov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Korsakov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Korsakov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Korsakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Long counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Korsakov is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Korsakov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Korsakov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Long is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Korsakov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korsakov lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Korsakov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Korsakov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Long counters with a left and a right that stings Korsakov.
Korsakov wants to clinch

and Long counters with a single leg into guard. Korsakov didn't expect that.
Robert Korsakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Korsakov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Long defends well.
Korsakov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Long is one step ahead there.
Korsakov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long preventing the sweep.
Korsakov wants to control but Long passes easily into half guard.
Long wants to stand but Korsakov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Long escapes and gets back to his feet.
Long moves in looking to clinch but Korsakov pushes him off.
Long fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Long takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Korsakov wants to clinch up but Long keeps it at a distance.
Korsakov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Long decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Korsakov's guard.
Korsakov controls Long momentarily but Long frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long wants to stand but Korsakov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Korsakov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Long gets to his feet. Korsakov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Korsakov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Long misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Long looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Long thows a left - swing and a miss!
Korsakov tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Korsakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Long moves into the clinch successfully.

Long manages to break the clinch.
Long stuffs the takedown.
Korsakov avoids the head kick by Long.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kong Long showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Korsakov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Long moves into the clinch.
Korsakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Long has double underhooks.
Long is trying to drag Korsakov to the mat but Korsakov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Long escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Long is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Long shoots for a takedown but Korsakov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Korsakov plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Robert Korsakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Long keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Korsakov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Robert Korsakov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kong Long.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Long fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Korsakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Long counters by moving into the clinch.
Long will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Korsakov up against the cage.
Long scores with a knee to the head.
Long is pushing Korsakov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Korsakov tries for a takedown but Long manages to get underhooks.
Korsakov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Long throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Korsakovs head.
Korsakov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Korsakov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Korsakov fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long tries to pull guard but Korsakov won't allow it.
Korsakov can't get the takedown.
Long lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Long works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Long tries to stand but Korsakov is controlling from the bottom.
Korsakov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Korsakov is looking to take a break and control but Long is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Korsakov prevents Long from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Long pushes Korsakov off but Korsakov dives into side control.
Long is looking to reverse the position.
Long taking a bit of punishment here - Korsakov scoring with strikes.
Long wants to control but Korsakov postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Long gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Korsakov tries to land knees in the clinch but Long avoids the damage to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Long takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Long breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Long slaps away a takedown attempt from Korsakov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Long is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Korsakov lands a jab-cross combination.

Long takes the fight into the clinch.
Long prevents the takedown attempt.

Long breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Long takes the fight into the clinch.

Long's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Long throws a head kick but Korsakov moves out of range.
Long shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Korsakov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kong Long.
I think Long 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!