PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Hadjiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Korotkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Artem Korotkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hadjiev
vs
Korotkov

187 cm
29
185 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

190 cm
36
200 lbs
10 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Valentin Hadjiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Korotkov!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hadjiev slips a jab and a cross from Korotkov.
Korotkov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Valentin Hadjiev has been cut.
Korotkov shoots and misses

and Hadjiev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Korotkov's guard.
Korotkov has momentary wrist control but Hadjiev slips an elbow through the middle.

Hadjiev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Korotkov dives on top into guard.

Hadjiev has his foot on Korotkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Korotkov works his way back into a safe position though.

Hadjiev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Korotkov defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hadjiev has a closed guard, preventing Korotkov from standing up.

Hadjiev working for a triangle but Korotkov defends it easily.

Hadjiev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Korotkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Korotkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hadjiev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hadjiev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hadjiev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Korotkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Korotkov is looking to work some ground and pound but Hadjiev has wrist control.
Korotkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Korotkov wanted to stand there but Hadjiev had control of the position.
Korotkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hadjiev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Korotkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Korotkov wants to control from the top but Hadjiev keeps moving.
Korotkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Korotkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hadjiev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Korotkov has managed to get both his arms back between Hadjiev's legs - danger averted.
Hadjiev striking off his back but it's not causing Korotkov any problems.
Hadjiev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korotkov throwing strikes from guard but Hadjiev blocks nicely.
Korotkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Korotkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hadjiev pushes Korotkov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Korotkov 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.
Korotkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hadjiev dodges the punch combination from Korotkov.
Korotkov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hadjiev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!

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

Hadjiev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hadjiev has his foot on Korotkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Korotkov works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hadjiev will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korotkov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hadjiev trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Hadjiev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Korotkov trying to control but Hadjiev is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Korotkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hadjiev is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Korotkov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Korotkov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hadjiev is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Korotkov to the mat. Korotkov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Hadjiev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Korotkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hadjiev has managed to get both his arms back between Korotkov's legs - danger averted.
Hadjiev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Korotkov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hadjiev is controlling him.
Hadjiev stands up over Korotkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hadjiev lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Korotkov looking for a guillotine here but Hadjiev defends easily.
Hadjiev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hadjiev pushes down on Korotkov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hadjiev seems to be working for a kimura but Korotkov defends the submission attempt.
Hadjiev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hadjiev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Hadjiev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Korotkov defends it well.
Hadjiev is thwarting Korotkov's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hadjiev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Valentin Hadjiev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Korotkov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Korotkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Artem Korotkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korotkov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hadjiev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hadjiev.
Hadjiev cracks Korotkov with a solid left hand.
Korotkov is trying to control the position but Hadjiev postures up.
Hadjiev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Korotkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hadjiev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hadjiev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hadjiev distracts Korotkov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Korotkov working for a triangle but Hadjiev defends it easily.
Hadjiev scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hadjiev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Korotkov is rocked!
Hadjiev connects with a couple of short punches.
Korotkov is still in real trouble! Can Hadjiev finish him?
Hadjiev stops Korotkov from standing up.
Hadjiev loads up on a big left hand. Korotkov felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Hadjiev looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Korotkov can't hide his disappointment, as Hadjiev celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Valentin Hadjiev!
An out of breath and clearly excited Valentin Hadjiev thanked Soul Supremacy Fight Gear for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).