PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Kokoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rory Joaquin will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kokoev
vs
Joaquin

196 cm
21
209 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Kokoev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rory Joaquin!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kokoev tries a head kick but it misses.
Joaquin tries to clinch up.
Joaquin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joaquin shoots in looking for a takedown. Kokoev tries to sprawl out of it but Joaquin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kokoev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kokoev throws a nice looking combination but Joaquin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joaquin fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Joaquin is defended easily by Kokoev.
Alexandr Kokoev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rory Joaquin.
Joaquin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kokoev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alexandr Kokoev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joaquin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joaquin moves to clinch but Kokoev breaks away
and Kokoev counters with a left and a right that stings Joaquin.
Kokoev throws a right hand that Joaquin ducks under and follows up with a left that Joaquin also avoids with ease.

Joaquin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kokoev's guard.
Joaquin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Joaquin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kokoev wants to control the position but Joaquin says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kokoev is trying to stand.
Kokoev taking some punishment here, with Joaquin in his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kokoev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Joaquin is working away from the top position though.
Joaquin controlling the pace.
Joaquin tries to pass to full mount but Kokoev defends it.
Joaquin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Joaquin in particular looking to stall.
Joaquin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kokoev!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokoev is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kokoev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joaquin on the ground.
Kokoev wants to hold on but Joaquin pushes him away.
Joaquin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kokoev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Poor strikes thrown by Joaquin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Joaquin thowing shots but they're missing.
Kokoev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Joaquin unloads with some shots from mount but Kokoev bucks and avoids them well.
Kokoev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin controlling from mount.
Joaquin cracks Kokoev with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Joaquin looking to finish with strikes here!
Joaquin prevents Kokoev from getting the reversal.
Kokoev blocking the ground and pound.
Joaquin looking to control but Kokoev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Joaquin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joaquin controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Joaquin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Some bone on bone action there as Kokoev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kokoev throws a right hand that Joaquin ducks under and follows up with a left that Joaquin also avoids with ease.
Joaquin misses with a head kick.
Joaquin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kokoev but Kokoev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kokoev misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Kokoev - just one landing.
No joy there for Kokoev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joaquin shoots in looking for a takedown. Kokoev tries to sprawl out of it but Joaquin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kokoev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joaquin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kokoev counters with a left and a right that stings Joaquin.
Kokoev scores with a nice right hand.

Joaquin is rocked!
Both fighters circle each other, looking for something big. Kokoev moves in and throws an overhand right. That hurt Joaquin! Kokoev continues to tee off on Joaquin, landing with a left and a right! Kokoev connects with a right hand that leaves Joaquin sleeping against the cage! What a finish by Kokoev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Alexandr Kokoev!
A relieved looking Alexandr Kokoev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.