PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Born (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kornev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Kornev will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Born
vs
Kornev

184 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Born!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kornev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Born fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kornev avoids it really well and circles away.
Born fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Born with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Born. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Born fails with a takedown attempt.
Kornev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Born avoids it really well and circles away.
Kornev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Born's waist but Born gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kornev off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kornev closes the distance and clinches up with Born, looking for a takedown. Kornev pushes Born against the cage but Born circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Born.
Kornev should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kornev looks for a takedown but Born sprawls well.
Kornev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Born with that takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Born.
Born is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kornev rushes Born and presses him up against the cage.
Born has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kornev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Born is working for takedown but Kornev is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kornev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kornev misses with a takedown

and Born counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kornev tries to kick Born off but Born keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kornev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Born.

Born is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kornev tries to kick Born off but Born keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kornev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Born's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Born's back!
Kornev controlling from the back.
Kornev tries to get the hooks in deep but Born pushed the leg off.

Born defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kornev's arms.
Born breaks Kornev's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kornev is pulling down on Born's head. It's preventing any offense from Born, at least for the moment.

Born is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kornev is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kornev has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kornev tries to free his leg and advance position but Born is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jason Born will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Born defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kornev.
Born stuffs the takedown.

Born shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kornev trying to control the position.
Born is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Born drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kornev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kornev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kornev!
Born wants to control but Kornev postures up.
Born is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Born is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Born has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kornev is working away from the top position though.
Kornev wants to take a breather but Born is having none of it.
Born wants to control but Kornev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jason Born has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Born changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kornev tries to avoid it but Born manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kornev to the ground. Kornev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Born takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice body punch from Kornev.

Kornev forces Born back against the cage and clinches.
Born can't get the takedown.
Kornev working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Kornev pulls Born into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Born sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kornev's guard.
Born winds up and cracks Kornev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Born is looking for submissions but instead, Kornev has regained full guard.
Born looking to pass the guard.

Born avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Born trying to control the position from guard on top but Kornev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Born wants to pass the guard but Kornev is keeping the position.
Kornev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kornev controls Born momentarily but Born frees himself.
Born tries to free his leg and advance position but Kornev is retaining full guard.
Born trying to control but Kornev is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kornev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Born is aware though and is defending well.
Kornev keeping full guard, as Born tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Born dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Born stuffs the takedown.
Kornev closes the distance and clinches up with Born, looking for a takedown. Kornev pushes Born against the cage but Born circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Born circles away from the clinch attempt.
Born shoots in looking for a takedown. Kornev tries to sprawl out of it but Born keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kornev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Born keeps the fight on the outside.

Born fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kornev sprawls well initially but Born persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kornev is trying to stand back up but Born is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Born wants to free his trapped foot but Kornev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Born winds up and cracks Kornev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kornev looking for submissions off his back.
Born looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Born prevents Kornev from standing back up.
Born scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Born thows a huge punch but Kornev dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Born lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Born is working for a submission of some sort.
Born working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kornev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kornev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Born postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Born loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Born wants to pass the guard but Kornev is keeping the position.
Kornev wants to stand and escape but Born is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Born advances position into side control!
Born wants to control but Kornev is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Born is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kornev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Born working away.
Born lands a few punches from side control.
Jason Born is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Born trying to control the position but Kornev is working away.
Born controls the position.
Born scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kornev to see if he's OK.
Born tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Jason Born overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Born working the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Born has knee on belly momentarily but Kornev bucks him off and regains half guard.
Ivan Kornev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Born is looking to take a break and control but Kornev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Born showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Born, 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Born!
Jason Born decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.