PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Artem Korotkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Trager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Artem Korotkov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alex Trager's chin.

Korotkov
vs
Trager

190 cm
27
200 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Korotkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Trager!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korotkov scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Alex Trager has been cut.
Korotkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Korotkov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Korotkov moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Trager.
Trager lands an elbow that stopped Korotkov in his tracks for a moment.
Korotkov tries to circle away but Trager has him pinned against the ropes.
Korotkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Korotkov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Knees to the body from Trager.
Korotkov throws a head punch that misses.
Trager tries to stall but Korotkov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Korotkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Trager with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korotkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Trager shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Korotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Korotkov has Trager pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Trager manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korotkov jumps guard but Trager stands there with Korotkov around his waist. Korotkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Korotkov jumps guard but Trager stands there with Korotkov around his waist. Korotkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Korotkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Trager misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Trager.
Trager lands an elbow just above Korotkov 's eye.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Trager as Korotkov tries to tie him up.
Trager misses with a hook to the ribs.
Korotkov is working for takedown but Trager is calmly controlling the position for now.
Korotkov missing with knees to the body.
Trager tries to stall but Korotkov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Trager lands a knee to the head.
Korotkov takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Trager crunches a lovely knee into Korotkov's ribcage.
Korotkov is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trager blocks an elbow strike.
Trager stalling.
Trager connects with a nasty looking knee right to Korotkov's face.
Trager gets underhooks to prevent Korotkov's takedown attempt.
Korotkov wants to take the fight to the mat but Trager manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Trager working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Trager struggles to land a body shot inside as Korotkov controls his hands.
Trager scores with a hook to the body.
Trager using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Korotkov prevents a body shot from Trager.
Trager is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Trager taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trager lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Trager misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Korotkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Trager uses from the top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Trager looking to sit in guard and control but Korotkov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Korotkov scoring with some ground and pound.
Korotkov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Trager is trying to control the position but Korotkov postures up.
Korotkov trying to control but Trager is working from the bottom.
Korotkov 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Artem Korotkov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Trager takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Korotkov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Korotkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Korotkov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Trager circles away.

Trager gets tackled into the ropes by Korotkov. Korotkov maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korotkov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Trager pushes Korotkov back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Korotkov prevents a body shot from Trager.
Korotkov wants to break free but Trager has control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Korotkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Korotkov tries to circle away but Trager has him pinned against the ropes.
Trager holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Korotkov tries to break free but Trager pushes him back against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Trager dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Trager's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Korotkov throws a series of punches but Trager moves out of range.
Trager displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korotkov.

Korotkov darts in and clinches Trager up against the ropes.
Trager utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Trager lands a nice shot to the body.
Korotkov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Trager smiles and moves away.
Trager tries to clinch there but Korotkov circles away.
Korotkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Korotkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Trager sprawls well. Trager wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Korotkov gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Korotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Korotkov drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trager looking for a guillotine here but Korotkov defends easily.
Trager not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Trager is controlling Korotkov's posture.
Trager is looking to stand up but Korotkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Korotkov passes Trager's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Korotkov seems content to control.
Trager really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Korotkov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trager is trying to stand back up but Korotkov is controlling him

Korotkov maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Trager could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Korotkov has cracked it and Trager is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Korotkov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Artem Korotkov!