PBP Commentary

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

Korotkov
vs
Great

190 cm
28
200 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

187 cm
21
184 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 5 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, The Great!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korotkov moves in looking to clinch but Great pushes him off.
Great fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Korotkov avoids it really well and circles away.
Korotkov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Korotkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Korotkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Great closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Artem Korotkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Great clinches up against the cage.
Great is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Great throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Great stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by The Great.

Korotkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Korotkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Korotkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Great swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Great looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Great is retaining full guard.
Korotkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Great is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Great 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Korotkov throws a right and a left that Great avoids nicely.
Great ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Korotkov moves away.
Korotkov misses with a takedown attempt - Great sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Korotkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Great as he jumps to the side.
Korotkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Korotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Great displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korotkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Great circles away quickly and effectively.
Korotkov shoots in but Great avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Great shoots in for a takedown but Korotkov shows good takedown defense.
Korotkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Great.
Korotkov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Korotkov throws a right hand that Great ducks under and follows up with a left that Great also avoids with ease.
Korotkov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Korotkov misses with a two punch combination.
Great misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Korotkov.
Great pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Great moves into range and clinches up with Korotkov.
Great misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Korotkov.
Great tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Great working Korotkov over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Great using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Korotkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Great avoiding damage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Great pressing his opponent against the cage.
Great keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Korotkov's efforts to push away.
Great throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Korotkov is trying to break free.
Great is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Korotkov is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but The Great will probably get the nod.
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.

Left hook, right uppercut from Korotkov.
Great slaps away a takedown attempt from Korotkov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Great tries for a takedown but Korotkov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Korotkov has a takedown stuffed.
Korotkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Great avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Korotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Great shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Korotkov sprawls well. Korotkov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Great gets slowly back to his feet.
Korotkov scores with a body shot.
Artem Korotkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Korotkov misses.
Korotkov wants to clinch

and Great moves into the clinch.
Great is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korotkov trying to stall but Great improves his position.
Great creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Great landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Great prevents the takedown attempt.
Great misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Great missing with knees to the body.
Great tries a knee to the head but Korotkov blocks it.
Great tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Korotkov avoids it.
Korotkov looking for a takedown.
Great trying to land knees to the body.
Great misses with a knee to the head.
Great stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Great taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Great lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Korotkov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Great walks away with a smile on his face. Korotkov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Korotkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Great's waist but Great gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Korotkov off to one side.
Great dives in and grabs Korotkov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Korotkov pushes down on Great's head and hops out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korotkov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Great.
Great throws a head kick but Korotkov moves out of range.
Great on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Korotkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Great manages to avoid it.
Korotkov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Korotkov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Korotkov stuffs the takedown attempt from Great. Great gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Great tries a head kick but it misses.
Korotkov scores with a jab.
Korotkov misses with a wild combination.
Great tries to clinch but Korotkov is having none of it.
Korotkov misses with a takedown attempt - Great sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Korotkov blocks a head kick by Great.
Great avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Korotkov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Great shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Korotkov as he jumps to the side.
Korotkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Great sprawls well. Great wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Korotkov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Great displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korotkov.
Great misses with a two punch combination.
Korotkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Great defends it nicely.
Korotkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Great looks for a takedown but Korotkov sprawls well.

Great shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Korotkov's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Great wants to stand but Korotkov is controlling his posture from full guard.

Great gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but The Great will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Korotkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Korotkov looks to land a combination. Great sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Korotkov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Korotkov missing with a left hand there. Great was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Great looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Korotkov is fending him off so far but Great persists. Nope, Korotkov circles away and we're back to standing.
Great changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Korotkov tries to avoid it but Great manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Korotkov to the ground. Korotkov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Korotkov shoots for a takedown but Great saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Korotkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Korotkov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Great swivels and escapes.
Great delivers a nice body kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Great.
Artem Korotkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Great.
Great lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Great forces Korotkov back against the cage and clinches.
Great tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Great unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Great stalling in the clinch.

Korotkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Korotkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Great looks for a takedown but Korotkov sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Korotkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Great which made him look bad.
Great throws a body kick that misses.
Korotkov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Great throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Great throws a head kick that Korotkov semi-blocks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Great shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Great misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Great displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korotkov.

Great moves into the clinch successfully.
Korotkov managing to block the knees to the body from Great.
Great pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Korotkov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Great tries to land a knee to the head but Korotkov blocks with his arms.
Great is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Korotkov is defending well for now.
Great has Korotkov pressed against the cage, preventing Korotkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Korotkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Great shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Great misses with a knee strike.
Great looking to throw knees to the head but Korotkov is blocking nicely.
Korotkov letting Great take a breather here.
Great with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Korotkov jumps guard and drags Great to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Korotkov looking to control.

Korotkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Great avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Korotkov trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Great wants to get up but he can't break Korotkov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Korotkov is trying to control the position but Great postures up.
Korotkov has a closed guard, preventing Great from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Korotkov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Great defends well.
Great wants to stand but Korotkov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Great stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
The Great comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Great winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... The Great!