PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kroshevic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jini Park (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kroshevic comes to the cage accompanied by "Curl of the Burl" by Mastodon. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kroshevic
vs
Park

188 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kroshevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jini Park!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kroshevic displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Park.
Park shoots and misses

so Kroshevic counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kroshevic preventing the sweep.
Kroshevic passes Park's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kroshevic is trying to control. Park wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kroshevic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Park doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kroshevic.

Kroshevic looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroshevic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kroshevic 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.
Park moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kroshevic trying to control but Park is working from the bottom.
Kroshevic tries to free his leg and advance position but Park is retaining full guard.

Park is looking for a triangle but Kroshevic pushes his legs off easily.
Kroshevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Park is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ivan Kroshevic just wasn't active enough.
Park with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kroshevic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Park's guard.
Ivan Kroshevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jini Park.
Park trying to keep a closed guard but Kroshevic is proving a slippery customer.
Kroshevic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kroshevic wants to control from the top but Park keeps moving.
Kroshevic forces his way into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Park can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park is not content to let Kroshevic control the position.
Kroshevic with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kroshevic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kroshevic wants to free his trapped foot but Park is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Park is staying active underneath Kroshevic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Kroshevic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Park fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kroshevic avoids it really well and circles away.
Park shoots in looking for a takedown. Kroshevic tries to sprawl out of it but Park keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kroshevic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Park fails with a takedown attempt.
Ivan Kroshevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jini Park.
Kroshevic misses with a body shot.
Park looks for a takedown but Kroshevic sprawls well.
No luck for Park with that takedown attempt.
Park shoots in for a takedown but Kroshevic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Park feints and as Kroshevic raises his hands in defense, Park changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kroshevic trying to control the position.
Park with a flurry of punches that miss.
Park looking to pass the guard.
Park landing some decent shots from guard.
Park landing some decent shots from guard.
Park working some strikes from top position.
Park in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kroshevic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Park is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Park landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Park got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kroshevic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Park has managed to get both his arms back between Kroshevic's legs - danger averted.
Kroshevic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Park!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Park is looking to improve his position but Kroshevic isn't that keen on the idea.
Kroshevic misses with a head shot.
Park is squirming around, avoiding Kroshevic's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kroshevic goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Park is on top in guard.
Kroshevic looking to control.
Park keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kroshevic's head.
Park postures up and lands a big shot to Kroshevic's brow.
Kroshevic trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Park lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Park trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Park is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ivan Kroshevic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Park lands a couple of digs.
Park trying to control but Kroshevic is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Park pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kroshevic is keeping the position for now.
Park with a nice head shot there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Park landing some decent shots from guard.

Park got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kroshevic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Park has managed to get both his arms back between Kroshevic's legs - danger averted.
Park lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kroshevic keeping moving, preventing Park from controlling successfully.
Park with a nice head shot there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Park trying to control but Kroshevic is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jini Park showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kroshevic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Park is fending him off so far but Kroshevic persists. Nope, Park circles away and we're back to standing.
Park fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Park.
Nice sprawl there from Kroshevic as Park shoots in.
Ivan Kroshevic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jini Park.
Kroshevic fails with a takedown attempt.
Park shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kroshevic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Park closes the distance and clinches up with Kroshevic, looking for a takedown. Park pushes Kroshevic against the cage but Kroshevic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Park shoots and misses

and Kroshevic counters with a shoot takedown. Park fights it but they end up in guard.
Kroshevic pushing down on Park's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Park is controlling Kroshevic's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kroshevic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Park defends it well.
Park is looking for a sweep. Kroshevic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Park looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kroshevic is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kroshevic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Park defending well though.
Kroshevic trying to control the pace.
Kroshevic is thwarting Park's attempts to control the position.

Ivan Kroshevic has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Park shoots in and drives through. Kroshevic sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroshevic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kroshevic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Park tries for a takedown but Kroshevic circles away easily

and Kroshevic decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Park's guard.
Kroshevic wants to control from the top but Park keeps moving.
Kroshevic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kroshevic wants to pass the guard but Park is keeping the position.
Park wants to sweep here but Kroshevic controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kroshevic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Kroshevic wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kroshevic stuffs the takedown.
Park shoots in looking for a takedown but Kroshevic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Park's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Park.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Park lands a nice forearm strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Park works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kroshevic is pushing Park's head away, looking to escape. Park manages to hold on to the position though.
Park scoring with punches and elbows.
Kroshevic tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Park wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Kroshevic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kroshevic 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Kroshevic!
In his post fight interview, Ivan Kroshevic started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.