PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitaliy Smekhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kornev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Smekhov
vs
Kornev

174 cm
21
198 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitaliy Smekhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kornev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kornev clinches.
Smekhov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Kornev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smekhov uses from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kornev trying to keep a closed guard but Smekhov is proving a slippery customer.
Smekhov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smekhov stopping the sweep attempt from Kornev.
Smekhov throwing strikes but missing.

Kornev working for a triangle but Smekhov defends it easily.
Smekhov postures up in Kornev's guard and throws a big left but Kornev blocks it.

Smekhov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smekhov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kornev has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kornev is trying to control the position but Smekhov postures up.
Kornev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smekhov.
Smekhov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smekhov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kornev looking for a guillotine here but Smekhov defends easily.
Smekhov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smekhov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kornev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kornev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kornev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smekhov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kornev wants to sweep here but Smekhov controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smekhov landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smekhov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smekhov cracks Kornev with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smekhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kornev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kornev, not yet.
Kornev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smekhov preventing the sweep.
Smekhov throwing strikes from guard but Kornev blocks nicely.
Kornev has Smekhov pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov cracks Kornev with a solid left hand.

Kornev looking for a guillotine here but Smekhov defends easily.
Smekhov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smekhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Kornev looking to control.
Smekhov passes Kornev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kornev is not content to let Smekhov control the position.

Smekhov is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Kornev as he works his way to full guard.
Smekhov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smekhov postures up in Kornev's guard and throws a big left but Kornev blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kornev wants to stand and escape but Smekhov is having none of it.
Smekhov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kornev is keeping the position for now.
Kornev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smekhov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kornev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kornev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kornev looking for a guillotine here but Smekhov defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smekhov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaliy Smekhov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kornev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smekhov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kornev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kornev looks for a takedown but Smekhov sprawls well.
Kornev misses with a body kick.
A slow jab from Smekhov misses its intended target.
Smekhov throws a one two combo.
Kornev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vitaliy Smekhov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kornev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smekhov swivels and escapes.
Vitaliy Smekhov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Kornev.
Smekhov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kornev as he avoids it easily.
Smekhov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Ivan Kornev has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kornev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kornev is breathing heavily.
Kornev throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Smekhov.
Kornev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kornev is defended easily by Smekhov.
Smekhov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from Smekhov does no damage.
Smekhov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kornev backs up against the cage.
Smekhov misses with a series of wild punches.
Smekhov throws a right hand that Kornev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kornev also avoids with ease.
Kornev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kornev shoots in but Smekhov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice shot by Smekhov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Smekhov.
Smekhov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smekhov throws a series of punches but Kornev avoids them all with ease.
Kornev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kornev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smekhov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smekhov misses with a few strikes there.
Kornev shoots for a takedown but Smekhov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kornev staying out of range there.
Smekhov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kornev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smekhov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smekhov lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kornev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smekhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kornev is retaining full guard.
Kornev trying to keep a closed guard but Smekhov is proving a slippery customer.
Smekhov looking to pass the guard.
Smekhov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kornev wants to stand and escape but Smekhov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov throws a big elbow that misses.
Smekhov postures up in Kornev's guard and throws a big left but Kornev blocks it.
Kornev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Kornev has his feet on Smekhov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Smekhov misses with a series of wild punches.
Smekhov stuffs the takedown.
Smekhov misses with a double jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch combination from Smekhov misses.
Kornev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kornev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaliy Smekhov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Kornev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Smekhov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kornev's head backwards.
Kornev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smekhov.
Kornev tries to clinch but Smekhov moves out of range.
A punch combination from Smekhov misses.
Smekhov throws a nice looking combination but Kornev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kornev takes a swing at Smekhov's ribcage but misses.
Smekhov shoots in looking for a takedown but Kornev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smekhov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smekhov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Smekhov shoots for a takedown but Kornev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smekhov misses with a hook. Kornev ducked under it nicely.
Kornev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kornev tries to close the distance and clinch but Smekhov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smekhov rushes Kornev and presses him up against the cage.
Kornev prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaliy Smekhov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kornev breaks the clinch.
Kornev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smekhov circles away.
Kornev with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kornev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kornev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smekhov slaps away a takedown attempt from Kornev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kornev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smekhov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov lands a really nice looking cross but Kornev seems unphased.
Kornev misses with a double jab.
Smekhov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kornev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kornev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A punch lands to the side of Kornev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kornev closes the distance and clinches up with Smekhov, looking for a takedown. Kornev pushes Smekhov against the cage but Smekhov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smekhov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kornev but Kornev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smekhov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kornev fails with a takedown attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Smekhov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov misses with an uppercut.
Kornev lands with a kick to the temple. Smekhov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Vitaliy Smekhov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smekhov throws a nice looking combination but Kornev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kornev shoots in looking for a takedown but Smekhov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kornev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smekhov closes the distance and clinches up with Kornev, looking for a takedown. Smekhov pushes Kornev against the cage but Kornev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smekhov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vitaliy Smekhov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kornev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Smekhov looks to land a left hand but Kornev moved out of range nicely.
Smekhov leaves Kornev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kornev back to the cage. Smekhov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Smekhov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kornev. Kornev obviously looking to wear him down.
Smekhov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Smekhov misses with a few strikes there.
Kornev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smekhov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kornev.
Smekhov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smekhov misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kornev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ivan Kornev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smekhov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

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 Vitaliy Smekhov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smekhov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitaliy Smekhov!
A relieved looking Vitaliy Smekhov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.