PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Korba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haji Muakbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muakbar has chosen That Punjabi Jay-Z song as his entrance music. Erwin Korba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korba
vs
Muakbar

185 cm
34
181 lbs
23 - 18 - 0

171 cm
35
179 lbs
28 - 19 - 2

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erwin Korba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 19 - 2, fighting out of New York, Haji Muakbar!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Haji Muakbar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Muakbar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Korba shoots in for a takedown but Muakbar shows good takedown defense.
Korba has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Muakbar throws a solid leg kick but Korba takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Muakbar.
Korba half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Muakbar throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Korba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Muakbar counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Korba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muakbar slips a straight right by Korba.
Korba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Korba throws a head kick that misses.
Korba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Muakbar.
Muakbar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korba tries to clinch but Muakbar is having none of it.
Muakbar scores with a nice right hand.
Korba gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Muakbar.
Muakbar just misses with a punch to the body.
Korba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Muakbar sprawls and moves away.
Muakbar throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Korba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Korba ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Muakbar moves away.
Muakbar let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muakbar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Korba.
Muakbar throws a body punch but Korba moves out of range.
Muakbar's corner calls for a 1-2. Muakbar obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Korba throws a leg kick
letting Muakbar counter with a right hand.
Korba misses with a hook. Muakbar ducked under it nicely.
Korba looks to land a left hand but Muakbar moved out of range nicely.
Muakbar lands with a cross.

It looks like Erwin Korba has been cut.
Muakbar throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Muakbar looks to score with a jab to the body but Korba is just out of range.
Korba shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Muakbar sprawls well. Muakbar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Korba gets slowly back to his feet.
Korba throws a shot from downtown. Muakbar moves away and avoids it.
Jab, jab by Muakbar - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar throws a low kick but Korba avoids it.
Korba misses with a double jab
and Muakbar counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Muakbar moves out of range of the body kick from Korba.
Muakbar moves out of range of the body kick.
Haji Muakbar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Muakbar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Korba.
Korba throws a wild body kick that Muakbar sees coming a mile off.
Muakbar connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Korba momentarily.
Korba moves out of range of the body kick from Muakbar.
Muakbar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Muakbar drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Muakbar crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korba is looking for a sweep.
Korba managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Muakbar.
Muakbar scores with punches from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muakbar working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Korba can't do much from the bottom here.
Muakbar misses with the ground and pound.
Korba is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Korba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Muakbar has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Farrell Pikey Camp. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Muakbar works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Korba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Muakbar's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Muakbar.
Korba wants to get back to full guard.
Korba avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Muakbar.
Muakbar thows a huge punch but Korba dodges it nicely.
Korba slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Korba looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Muakbar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Muakbar lands with a punch from half guard.
Muakbar looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Korba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Korba is trying to maintain the position but Muakbar is very close to passing his half guard.
Muakbar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haji Muakbar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erwin Korba's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Muakbar scores with a punch to the head.
Haji Muakbar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Korba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Korba blocks a jab.
Korba throws a lazy body kick
and Muakbar counters with a stiff right hand.
Korba takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Muakbar looks to land a right hand but Korba moved out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Korba, as that shot connected.
Muakbar takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Korba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Korba misses with a hook. Muakbar ducked under it nicely.
Muakbar throws out a leg kick but Korba moves out of range and Muakbar only half commits.
Korba cracks Muakbar with a good jab.
Muakbar throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Korba attempts a counter takedown but Muakbar avoids it well and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korba tries to clinch there but Muakbar circles away.
Muakbar is looking for the big counter here.
No joy there for Muakbar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Korba feinted with a counter takedown.
Muakbar throws a lazy right hand but Korba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Korba throws a sloppy head kick and Muakbar moves out of range easily.
Muakbar connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Korba tries to clinch there but Muakbar circles away.
Korba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A swing and a miss from Muakbar.
Korba scores with a nice head shot.
Korba misses with a double jab.
Korba misses the jab.
Muakbar swings for the body but Korba moves out of range.
Muakbar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Korba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big left from Muakbar misses.
Korba tries for a takedown but Muakbar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Muakbar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Korba takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korba slips a straight right by Muakbar.
Muakbar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korba attempts a counter takedown but Muakbar avoids it well and moves away.
Korba throws the left hand but Muakbar avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Muakbar looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Korba wants to clinch up but Muakbar keeps it at a distance.
Korba on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Korba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice body punch from Muakbar.
Korba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Korba looks for the body kick but Muakbar saw that one coming.

Korba clinches up with Muakbar and pushes him back against the cage.
Korba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Muakbar is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A short left from Muakbar.
Muakbar slows down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar misses with the head strike.
Korba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Muakbar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Korba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Korba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Muakbar walks away with a smile on his face. Korba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Muakbar pivots, looking for a leg kick but Korba is out of range and Muakbar settles back down.
Korba avoids the body shot from Muakbar.
Korba feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Korba moves to clinch but Muakbar breaks away
and Muakbar counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Muakbar blocks a head kick by Korba.
Korba staying out of range there.
Muakbar throws a big shot that misses.
Korba throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Korba looks to land a body kick but Muakbar moved away.
Korba misses with a low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Korba there.
Korba slips a jab and a cross from Muakbar.
Korba feinted with a counter takedown.
Muakbar throws a low kick, looking for Korba's leg but Korba calmly moves out of range.
Muakbar moves out of range of the leg kick from Korba.
Muakbar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Korba.
Erwin Korba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Muakbar misses with a looping right.
Korba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haji Muakbar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Erwin Korba's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Muakbar keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Korba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Muakbar connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Korba scrambles back to his feet.
Muakbar throws a sloppy head kick

and Korba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Muakbar won't be happy with that.

Korba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Muakbar is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Muakbar is looking to regain half guard here but Korba keeps moving and retains side control.
Korba with the ground and pound but Muakbar regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Korba is thwarting Muakbar's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba trying to control the action but Muakbar is working from the bottom.
Muakbar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Korba working over Muakbar with some ground and pound. Muakbar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Korba is trying to control the action in half guard but Muakbar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Korba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Muakbar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Korba.
Korba is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Korba trying to control but Muakbar is working from the bottom.
Korba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muakbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Korba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muakbar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Korba slaps away a takedown attempt from Muakbar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Korba changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar scores with a decent looking hook.
Muakbar walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Korba checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Korba looks to score with a jab to the body but Muakbar is just out of range.
Muakbar swings for the body but Korba moves out of range.
Korba throws a hook but Muakbar blocks it.

Korba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Muakbar is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Muakbar sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Korba content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Haji Muakbar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muakbar won't allow Korba to pass to mount.
Korba stalling away here and it's allowed Muakbar to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Korba postures up in Muakbar's guard and throws a big left but Muakbar blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Korba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Erwin Korba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muakbar has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erwin Korba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Muakbar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haji Muakbar!
After the fight, Haji Muakbar 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.