PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zvone Koban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Barsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koban comes to the cage accompanied by TIM DOG - step to me. Barsov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Stare kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Koban
vs
Barsov

188 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zvone Koban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Barsov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barsov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Barsov lands a slapping body shot.
We've been told by Koban's head coaches at Iron Fist Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Koban ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Koban throws a front kick aimed at Barsov's knee but Barsov avoids it well.
Barsov cracks Koban with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice cross by Barsov.
Some wild striking there from Barsov.
Barsov connects with a body shot that sends Koban's belly button to the back.
Barsov clobbers Koban with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koban throws a leg kick
and Barsov counters with an inside leg kick.
Koban throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barsov.
Koban throws a hook but Barsov avoids it easily.
Barsov checks a leg kick.
Barsov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Koban pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barsov is out of range and Koban settles back down.
Koban is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koban looks to land a left hand but Barsov moved out of range nicely.
Barsov avoids the head kick by Koban.
Zvone Koban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barsov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Barsov moves out of range as Koban strikes.
Koban fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Barsov is out of range.
Koban misses with a straight left.
Barsov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sloppy strikes from Barsov. Those never looked like landing.
Barsov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Barsov clinches up with Koban and pushes him back against the cage.
Barsov is trying to push Koban away but Koban has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Barsov looking to stall.
Barsov scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koban has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Barsov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Barsov wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barsov wants to control his opponent's hands but Koban gets his hands free.
Koban trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Barsov trying to control the action but Koban just sinks the hooks in.
Koban controlling well, preventing Barsov from escaping the position.
Barsov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Koban's guard. Nice work there by Barsov.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barsov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barsov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barsov throwing strikes but missing.
Barsov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Koban is trying to control the position but Barsov postures up.
Barsov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koban utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Koban is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barsov throws a big elbow that misses.
Koban is breathing heavily.
Barsov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barsov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barsov connects with a couple of short punches.

Koban is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barsov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Oh Koban is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barsov postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Koban covers up, he's hurt! Barsov keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Barsov and the ref steps in to end the fight! Barsov can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Barsov!
An out of breath Alexander Barsov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.