PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kocherga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pogue Mahone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mahone has chosen dj shadow as his entrance music. Pogue Mahone has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kocherga
vs
Mahone

183 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kocherga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pogue Mahone!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mahone slaps away a takedown attempt from Kocherga, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kocherga circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kocherga clinches up with Mahone and pushes him back against the cage.
Mahone tries to pull guard but Kocherga won't allow it.
Kocherga is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kocherga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mahone smiles and moves away.

Mahone drives through and clinches with Kocherga against the cage.
Kocherga throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mahones head.
Mahone lands an elbow that stopped Kocherga in his tracks for a moment.
Mahone lands a nice elbow.
Mahone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kocherga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mahone is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Mahone misses with an elbow strike.
Mahone throws an elbow but it misses.
Mahone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mahone throws an elbow but misses.

Mahone ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mahone no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kocherga throws a strike but Mahone rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mahone wants to control from the top but Kocherga keeps moving.
Mahone is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mahone would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Mahone forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga pushes Mahone off looking to stand but Mahone dives back in and keeps control.

Mahone decides to stand and escape the position.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kocherga shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mahone as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kocherga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body kick there by Mahone.
Mahone moves to clinch but Kocherga breaks away
and Kocherga makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mahone moves into range and clinches up with Kocherga.
Kocherga presses Mahone against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Mahone looks gassed!
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike.
Mahone blocks a body shot from Kocherga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahone using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kocherga lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kocherga wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mahone throws an elbow that misses.
Mahone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mahone throws an elbow but misses.
Kocherga goes for a takedown attempt but Mahone pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mahone fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kocherga rushes Mahone and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kocherga avoids the elbow strike from Mahone, against the cage.
Kocherga lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
Kocherga content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Mahone looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kocherga avoiding damage as Mahone throws knees to the body.
Mahone connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kocherga's face.
Mahone throws an elbow but it misses.
Kocherga lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
Kocherga lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kocherga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Kocherga.
Mahone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kocherga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kocherga wants a takedown.
Kocherga avoids a wild elbow strike from Mahone.
Mahone misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kocherga.
Kocherga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pogue Mahone dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kocherga moves into the clinch successfully.
Kocherga dodges an elbow strike from Mahone.
Kocherga tries to land a knee to the head but Mahone blocks with his arms.
A shot in the inside from Kocherga.
Pogue Mahone seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kocherga lands a body shot.
Mahone keeps control of Kocherga as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mahone pushes off an throws an elbow but Kocherga leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kocherga blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mahone obliges.
Kocherga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
Mahone looking to throw knees to the head but Kocherga is blocking nicely.
Mahone is breathing heavily.
A short uppercut from Kocherga.
Mahone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kocherga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mahone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Kocherga breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kocherga clinches up with Mahone and pushes him back against the cage.
Mahone throws an elbow that misses.
Mahone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mahone on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kocherga dodges an elbow strike from Mahone.
Kocherga works on Mahone's body with a couple of short punches.
Mahone tries to land knees in the clinch but Kocherga avoids the damage to the body.
Mahone being controlled against the cage.
Kocherga misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kocherga has had enough of the clinch but Mahone keeps him there for the moment.
Kocherga lands with a left to the head.
Mahone throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kocherga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mahone gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kocherga.
Mahone tries to land a knee to the head but Kocherga blocks with his arms.
Stalling in the clinch from Kocherga.
Mahone lands a nice knee to the body.
Mahone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kocherga goes for a takedown attempt but Mahone pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kocherga has managed to clinch.
Kocherga stalling against the cage.
Kocherga blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mahone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mahone throws an elbow that misses.
A short uppercut from Kocherga.
Kocherga trying to stall but Mahone improves his position.
Mahone jumps guard but Kocherga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kocherga looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Kocherga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike from Mahone.
Mahone trying to land knees to the body.
Kocherga dodges an elbow strike from Mahone.
Kocherga digs a right hand underneath Mahone's ribcage. Mahone let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kocherga pushes Mahone back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike from Mahone.
Kocherga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mahone has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mahone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kocherga creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kocherga lands a right hand.
Mahone jumps guard but Kocherga turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Kocherga manages to pull guard.
Mahone throws a strike but Kocherga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kocherga stops Mahone from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kocherga dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mahone tries to keep at a distance but Kocherga has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mahone managing to block the knees to the body from Kocherga.
Mahone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mahone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mahone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mahone misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mahone throws an elbow but misses.
Mahone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kocherga pushes off an throws an elbow but Mahone leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mahone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kocherga lands a shoulder strike.
Mahone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kocherga dodges an elbow strike from Mahone.
Kocherga is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mahone is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mahone just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kocherga's brow.
Mahone with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kocherga missing with knees to the body.
Kocherga has had enough of the clinch but Mahone keeps him there for the moment.
Mahone comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kocherga wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mahone has him pressed against the cage.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike.
Mahone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mahone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kocherga has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mahone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike.
Kocherga missing with knees to the body.
Kocherga blocks an elbow strike from Mahone.
Good body shot from Kocherga.
Mahone avoids the elbow strike from Kocherga, against the cage.
Kocherga blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mahone tries to land knees in the clinch but Kocherga avoids the damage to the body.
Kocherga lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mahone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kocherga cracks Mahone with a nice body shot.
Kocherga lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kocherga drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mahone pulls his leg out and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahone tries to clinch but Kocherga moves out of range.
Ivan Kocherga is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kocherga keeps the fight on the outside.
Mahone misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mahone is looking to clinch but Kocherga is avoiding it.

Kocherga clinches.
Mahone tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kocherga avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kocherga lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
Kocherga is trying to push Mahone away but Mahone has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kocherga is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kocherga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mahone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mahone fails to pull guard.
Kocherga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mahone backwards.
Kocherga lands a nice shot to the body.

Kocherga drags the fight down to the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kocherga holds on and takes a little breather.
Mahone prevents Kocherga from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahone looking to sit in guard and control but Kocherga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kocherga stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kocherga takes the fight into the clinch.
Kocherga pushes Mahone back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Kocherga.
Kocherga dodges an elbow strike from Mahone.
Mahone with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kocherga lands with a right to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Kocherga.
Kocherga drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Kocherga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kocherga 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kocherga!