PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ward Weber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Koba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Weber
vs
Koba

214 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ward Weber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Koba!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Weber was covering up waiting for the punch and Koba finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Weber looking for a guillotine here but Koba defends easily.
Weber will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koba postures up in Weber's guard and throws a big left but Weber blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weber 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.
Koba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Koba won't allow Weber to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koba looking to sit in guard and control but Weber gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Koba has his foot on Weber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Weber works his way back into a safe position though.
Koba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Weber manages to get himself to full guard.

Weber can't keep his opponent in guard - Koba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Weber is controlling Koba's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Koba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Weber. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Weber wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Weber works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koba trying to control the position from guard on top but Weber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weber wants to get back to his feet but Koba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Koba trying to control but Weber is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koba pushing down on Weber's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Koba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weber keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koba tries to stand but can't do so whilst Weber controls his leg.
Weber tries to roll over but Koba keeps him under control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Weber gets tackled into the cage by Koba. Koba maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Weber lands an elbow just above Koba 's eye.
Weber tries to work over Koba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Weber tries for a takedown but Koba manages to get underhooks.

Koba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Koba shoots in and gets a takedown into Weber's guard.
Weber keeping moving, preventing Koba from controlling successfully.
Weber has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Koba has passed into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weber is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Koba dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Koba closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koba.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Weber.

Koba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Koba has managed to clinch.
Koba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Weber misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koba content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Weber tries to land knees in the clinch but Koba avoids the damage to the body.
Koba gets underhooks to prevent Weber's takedown attempt.
Weber misses with a knee to the head.

Koba ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koba no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Weber drops back looking for a leg! Koba is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koba manages to kick Weber off! Weber jumps back into Koba's guard.
Koba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Koba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Weber defends well.
Weber slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Weber wants to control from the top but Koba keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koba wants to control but Weber passes easily into half guard.
Koba is trying to maintain the position but Weber is very close to passing his half guard.
Koba punching from the bottom.
Koba wants to get back to full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber lands with a slapping head kick.
Koba throws a right and a left that both miss.

Koba closes the distance and pushes Weber back into the cage.

Koba has picked Weber up - he's going for a ride! Koba dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Yuri Koba has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Weber keeps working.
Koba performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Koba stalling away here and it's allowed Weber to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koba engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Koba won't allow Weber to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weber throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Koba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Weber swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Koba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Weber takes the fight into the clinch.

Koba jumps guard.
Koba wants to sweep but no luck.
Weber wanted to stand there but Koba had control of the position.
Weber cracks Koba with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koba is trying to control the position but Weber postures up.

Weber stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Koba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koba working away.
Koba working the head and body with strikes.
Weber tries to improve position but can't.
Koba wants to control for a moment but Weber uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Koba trying to control from half guard but Weber is working away.

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.

Weber looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Weber tries to get to full guard but Koba has control of the leg.
Weber throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Koba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Weber does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Koba working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weber is looking to improve his position.
Koba not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Weber tries to sprawl but Koba drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Koba escapes and gets back to his feet.

Koba shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Koba was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Koba trying to control the position but Weber is working away.
Weber tries to buck Koba off but Koba is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koba working the body and head with strikes.
Weber taking a bit of punishment here - Koba scoring with strikes.
Koba trying to control the position but Weber is working away.
Weber tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weber throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Koba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Koba 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Koba!