PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Deven King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Koreshkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King comes to the cage accompanied by monster. Andrey Koreshkov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

King
vs
Koreshkov

172 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Deven King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Koreshkov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koreshkov thows a body kick. King tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Koreshkov cracks King with a right hand to the side of the head.
Koreshkov swings away with a body shot that misses

and King moves into the clinch.
Koreshkov is working for takedown but King is calmly controlling the position for now.
Koreshkov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Koreshkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andrey Koreshkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koreshkov connects with a body shot.
A jab lands there for Koreshkov.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koreshkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
King takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that misses

and King moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Koreshkov manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koreshkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
King tries to clinch but Koreshkov is having none of it.
Koreshkov lands a high kick!
King takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A head kick misses from Koreshkov.
King slips a jab and a cross from Koreshkov.
Koreshkov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down King rather than just go for the knockout.
King wants to clinch up but Koreshkov keeps it at a distance.
Koreshkov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
King keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Koreshkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov lands with an uppercut that bounces King off the cage and back into range.
Koreshkov swinging wildly here.
Koreshkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koreshkov looks gassed!
Koreshkov throws a hook but King blocks it.
King wants to clinch up but Koreshkov keeps it at a distance.
Koreshkov keeps King at a distance using the push kick.
Koreshkov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

King forces Koreshkov back against the cage and clinches.
Koreshkov fails to pull guard.
Deven King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Koreshkov.
Koreshkov goes for a takedown in the clinch but King prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov looking for a takedown.

King breaks from the clinch.
Koreshkov throws a sloppy head kick

and King counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Koreshkov wants a takedown but no success here.

King breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Koreshkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
King has Koreshkov pressed against the cage, preventing Koreshkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Koreshkov won't allow it.
Koreshkov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables King to keep the fight standing.
Koreshkov wants a takedown.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koreshkov scores with a nice strike.
A combination from Koreshkov does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Koreshkov dominated that round.
That's time! King's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

King tries to clinch there but Koreshkov circles away.
King walks into a jab.
King has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Koreshkov lands a jab to King's midsection.
King steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koreshkov.
Koreshkov throws a lazy head kick

and King counters by moving into the clinch.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
Koreshkov working hard to break the clinch.
King stops a takedown attempt from Koreshkov.

King manages to break the clinch.

Koreshkov tries to keep at a distance but King has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koreshkov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. King fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Deven King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Koreshkov.
Koreshkov is breathing heavily.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that half lands.
King doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Koreshkov cracks a nice hook into King's ribs.
King takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Koreshkov throws a lazy uppercut

and King moves into the clinch.

King breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King moves out of range as Koreshkov throws a body kick.
Koreshkov throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
Koreshkov swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
Koreshkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract King.
Koreshkov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Andrey Koreshkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King moves out of range of the leg kick from Koreshkov.
Koreshkov lands an overhand right.
Koreshkov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Koreshkov tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Koreshkov.
Koreshkov tries to bum rush King with a series of wild strikes but King uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
King avoids a kick to the body.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
King ducks under a wild hook from Koreshkov.

King drives through and clinches with Koreshkov against the cage.
Koreshkov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King tries to clinch there but Koreshkov circles away.
Koreshkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but King circles away quickly and effectively.
Koreshkov misses with a right hand

and King counters by clinching up.
Koreshkov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as King walks away with a smile on his face. Koreshkov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that misses.
King tries to clinch but Koreshkov is having none of it.
Koreshkov throws a lazy head kick

and King holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

King manages to break the clinch.
Koreshkov swings away with a body shot that misses

and King counters by clinching up.
Koreshkov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. King gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Koreshkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

King checks a low kick from Koreshkov.
King avoids the head kick by Koreshkov.

King drives through and clinches with Koreshkov against the cage.
Deven King has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Koreshkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Koreshkov throws a wild body kick that King sees coming a mile off.
Koreshkov works King's body with a nice hook.
King ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Koreshkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
King has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Koreshkov takes a swing at King's ribcage but misses.
Koreshkov misses with a head kick.
Koreshkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
King defending well as Koreshkov loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koreshkov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and King counters by clinching up.
Koreshkov is looking to break free of the clinch but King has double underhooks.

King manages to break the clinch.
Koreshkov lands a nice hook to King's body. King takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that misses.
Koreshkov misses with a kick to the body.
King wants to clinch up but Koreshkov keeps it at a distance.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Koreshkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Koreshkov misses

and King counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by King.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.
Deven King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries to circle away but Koreshkov has him pinned against the cage.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koreshkov misses with a body shot.

King takes the fight into the clinch.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
King tries to move into range but Koreshkov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koreshkov throws a leg kick

and King moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koreshkov throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
King blocks a head kick by Koreshkov.
King moves in looking to clinch but Koreshkov pushes him off.
Koreshkov tries a head kick but it misses.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koreshkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
King is looking to clinch but Koreshkov is avoiding it.
Koreshkov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Koreshkov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Andrey Koreshkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King avoids the head kick by Koreshkov.
Koreshkov misses with the combination.
Koreshkov misses with a combination
and King counters with a good low kick that Koreshkov was not able to check.
King tries to clinch but Koreshkov is having none of it.

King closes the distance and clinches.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King blocks a head kick by Koreshkov.
Koreshkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Andrey Koreshkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Koreshkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

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 Deven King.
I think Koreshkov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Koreshkov!