PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Korba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phan Tran Le (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Le has chosen Dukes of Hazard Theme Song - Waylon Jennings as his entrance music. Erwin Korba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korba
vs
Tran Le

185 cm
33
181 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

179 cm
29
182 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erwin Korba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phan Tran Le!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Korba manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Le on his heels. He'll look to pass Le's guard now, I'm sure.
Korba trying to control but Le is working from the bottom.

Korba postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Le is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Korba, into his guard.

Le gets to his feet - Korba follows without any prompting.
Le tries to clinch but Korba moves out of range.
Korba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Le paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Erwin Korba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Le avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Korba tries to land a front kick but Le steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Le bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Korba's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korba shoots in for a double leg but Le sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba tries to close the distance and clinch but Le swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Korba darts in trying to clinch
and Le counters with a nice uppercut.
Le throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Korba looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Korba shoots in looking for a takedown but Le manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Korba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Korba instigates a clinch.
Korba blocks an uppercut.
Korba definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Korba breaks from the clinch.
Le takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Le defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Korba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Korba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le leaves Korba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Le fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korba will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Le displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korba.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Korba wants to clinch.

Korba gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Korba is trying to drag Le to the mat but Le just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Le creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Korba is trying to pull guard but Le has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Le comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Erwin Korba has been cut.
Korba managing to block the knees to the body from Le.
With the fighters up against the cage, Le throws an elbow but misses.
Korba is trying to pull guard but Le has him pressed against the cage.
Le lands a good knee to the midsection. Korba won't want to take too many of those.
Korba drops down looking for an ankle pick but Le pulls his leg out and moves away.
Le moves into range and connects with a jab.
Le will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Korba wants to clinch.
Le is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Korba.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korba connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Le throws a body punch but Korba moves out of range.
Korba moves in looking to clinch but Le pushes him off.
Le stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Le wants it to stay on the feet.
Le scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Korba doesn't seem bothered though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korba looks to score with a jab to the body but Le is just out of range.

Korba changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Le looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Korba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Le tries to buck Korba off but Korba is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korba fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phan Tran Le will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Erwin Korba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A punch lands to the side of Korba 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Le throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Le does no damage.
Korba tries to clinch up but Le circles away and keeps his distance.

Korba fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Le to the ground. Korba is now in Le's guard.
Korba wants to control from the top but Le keeps moving.
Le preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Korba looking to sit in guard and control but Le gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Korba throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Korba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Korba working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Korba is proving hard to escape from.
Korba keeping moving, preventing Le from controlling successfully.
Le wants to pass the guard but Korba is keeping the position.
Korba trying to control the position.
Le 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Phan Tran Le was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Korba closes the distance and pushes Le back into the cage.
A short uppercut from Le.
Korba takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Le creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Korba has clasped his hands together around Le's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Le tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Korba presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Korba cracks Le with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korba sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Le wants to control but Korba is having none of it.
Korba controlling from mount.
Le tries to hold on but Korba postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korba trying to control but Le is having none of it.
Korba lands a heavy elbow.
Korba controlling the pace for now.

Korba swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Le is now in Korba's guard. A big mistake from Korba there, giving up the dominant position!
Le wants to control from the top but Korba keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Korba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Le's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Le is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Korba wants to pass the guard but Le is keeping the position.
Korba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Le works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Erwin Korba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Le avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Korba slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Korba dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erwin Korba's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Le avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Phan Tran Le seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Korba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Le is trying to defend but Korba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Korba is trying to control the action in half guard but Le is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Le wants to control but Korba is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Korba wants to take a breather but Le is having none of it.
Korba trying to mount his opponent but Le defends it.
Le avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Korba.

Korba wants to work for an arm triangle but Le is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Le is looking for a sweep. Korba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Le keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Korba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Le sees it coming and defends easily.
Le is looking for a sweep. Korba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Le is pressing down on Korba's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Korba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Le swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Le can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Korba controls the pace.
Korba trying to control the position from guard on top but Le is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Korba trying to control but Le is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Erwin Korba wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Korba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Korba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Korba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Le paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Le ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Korba misses with a takedown attempt
and Le counters with a low kick, right behind Korba 's knee.
Korba dives in for a single leg takedown but Le sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korba is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Le to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Korba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Le throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Le.
Le is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Korba is defending well for now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Le.
Le looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Korba being controlled against the cage.
Le lands a right hand.
Korba takes an elbow to the temple.
Le trying to stall but Korba improves his position.
Le creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korba tries for a takedown but Le manages to get underhooks.
Le throws an elbow but it misses.
A shot in the inside from Le.
Korba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Le pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Korba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Le avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Le looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Le is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Le lands a right hand that snaps the head of Korba backwards.
Le effectively controlling the action here.
Korba wants a takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Le creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Korba's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Le using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Le gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phan Tran Le.
I think Le has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phan Tran Le!
After the fight, Phan Tran Le was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.