PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zvone Koban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Medvedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koban's entrance music is TIM DOG - step to me. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Koban
vs
Medvedev

188 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
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 2 - 3 - 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Medvedev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Medvedev blocks a head kick by Koban.

Medvedev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Medvedev working the head and body with strikes.
Koban avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Medvedev.

Medvedev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Koban defends it well.
Koban moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Koban tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Medvedev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Koban trying to keep a closed guard but Medvedev is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medvedev postures up in Koban's guard and throws a big left but Koban blocks it.
Medvedev landing some decent shots from guard.
Medvedev stops Koban from standing up.
Koban preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Koban definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Medvedev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koban wants to sweep but no luck.
Medvedev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koban 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.
Medvedev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koban avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Medvedev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Medvedev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Koban has Medvedev pulled in close to control his posture.
Medvedev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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!
Medvedev trying to control the position from guard on top but Koban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Medvedev postures up in Koban's guard and throws a big left but Koban blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koban looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Medvedev tries to free his leg and advance position but Koban is retaining full guard.
Medvedev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev is working Koban over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Medvedev throwing strikes from guard but Koban blocks nicely.
Medvedev throws a big elbow that misses.
Medvedev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Medvedev lands a couple of elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Medvedev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Medvedev tries to free his leg and advance position but Koban is retaining full guard.
Koban keeping moving, preventing Medvedev from controlling successfully.
Medvedev throws a big right hand that misses.
Medvedev throwing strikes from guard but Koban blocks nicely.
Koban wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Medvedev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Koban wants to stand but Medvedev is controlling the position.
Medvedev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Medvedev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koban is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
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!
Koban is trying to control. Medvedev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Medvedev wants to get back to his feet.

Medvedev kicks Koban off and gets back to his feet.
Decent striking displayed by Koban there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Medvedev dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Koban throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Medvedev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Koban.
Koban throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ivan Medvedev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koban smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
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!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Medvedev.
Koban tries to clinch but Medvedev is having none of it.
Koban thuds a left hand into Medvedev's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koban thows a body shot but no joy.
Koban looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Medvedev shoots in for a takedown but Koban shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Medvedev is breathing heavily.
Koban lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Ivan Medvedev has been cut.
Medvedev takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Koban lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Medvedev as Koban shoots in.
Koban tests Medvedev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Medvedev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koban with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Koban takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zvone Koban is winning the standup battle so far.
Koban digs a good hook to Medvedev's body.
Koban lands a right hook to the body.
Zvone Koban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koban shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Medvedev sprawls well. Medvedev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Koban gets slowly back to his feet.
Medvedev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koban manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koban fails in his attempt to clinch.
A shot to the liver by Koban. Beautiful body shot.
Koban fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Medvedev.
Koban scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Koban throws a series of punches but Medvedev moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Koban.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Medvedev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Koban lands a lovely overhand right.
Medvedev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Koban. Koban obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Koban.
Koban connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Medvedev momentarily.
Medvedev shoots in but Koban avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zvone Koban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Medvedev.
Koban scores with a nice right hand.

Medvedev is rocked!
Koban fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Medvedev manages to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Koban cracks Medvedev with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Koban has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Medvedev to stand back up!
Medvedev is still on wobbly legs! Can Koban finish him?
Koban lunges in with a left hook that violently twists Medvedev head around and knocks him out cold! Koban hops onto the cage and yells out at the top of his lungs - Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah! They're showing the replay on the big screens now; that was nasty! I hope one of the photographers got a good shot of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zvone Koban!
During a confident post fight interview, Zvone Koban thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.