PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between TJ Hearts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Koreshkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koreshkov has chosen Beyoncé - 7/11 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Andrey Koreshkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hearts
vs
Koreshkov

182 cm
22
211 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
215 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition
Milwaukee's Best 160

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, TJ Hearts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Andrey Koreshkov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koreshkov has managed to clinch.
Koreshkov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hearts is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hearts misses with a body punch.
Hearts goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hearts tries to throw a body punch but Koreshkov avoids it by throwing Hearts back against the cage.
Hearts misses with a punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hearts - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hearts just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hearts misses with the head strike.
We've been hearing reports that Hearts has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A short right from Hearts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right handed body shot lands from Hearts.

Koreshkov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hearts uses from the top position.

Koreshkov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hearts uses it to pass to side control.
Hearts creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts controls the position.
Koreshkov is trying to improve his position.
Hearts lands a decent elbow from side control.
Koreshkov tries to bench press Hearts off him but Hearts keeps the position.
Hearts scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Koreshkov to see if he's OK.
Koreshkov is looking to reverse the position.
Hearts lands some shots froms side control.
Koreshkov tries to improve position but can't.
Hearts tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hearts is staying tight to Koreshkov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts is looking to take a break and control but Koreshkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Koreshkov is trying to get back to half guard.
Koreshkov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Hearts is looking to take a break and control but Koreshkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Koreshkov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The referee asks Hearts politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hearts prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov tries to bench press Hearts off him but Hearts keeps the position.
Koreshkov prevents Hearts from improving position.
Hearts happy to just control the position for now.
Koreshkov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hearts's best efforts.

Koreshkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hearts pulls his head out easily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hearts in particular looking to stall.

Koreshkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hearts pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Koreshkov tries to roll over but Hearts keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Koreshkov actively working from the bottom here.
Hearts trying to pass the guard but Koreshkov defending well.
Koreshkov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hearts slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Koreshkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koreshkov wants to clinch up but Hearts keeps it at a distance.

Koreshkov takes the fight into the clinch.
A short left from Hearts.
Koreshkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hearts swings wildly with an uppercut but Koreshkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hearts swings wildly with an uppercut but Koreshkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koreshkov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hearts pulls his leg out and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koreshkov tries to clinch up.
Hearts misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koreshkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hearts is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hearts keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hearts fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koreshkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Hearts lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Koreshkov backwards.
Koreshkov blocks a body shot from Hearts.
A short right from Hearts on the inside.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but Hearts holds him up against the cage and eventually Koreshkov drops back down to his feet.
Hearts lands a shoulder strike.
Hearts is looking for a takedown.
Hearts misses with a punch on the inside.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but Hearts won't allow it.
TJ Hearts has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrey Koreshkov.
Koreshkov blocks an uppercut.
Koreshkov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hearts is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koreshkov can do to turn this around?
Hearts misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts stops a takedown attempt from Koreshkov.
Koreshkov is trying to drag Hearts to the mat but Hearts just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hearts tries a body shot but Koreshkov blocks it.

Koreshkov pulls guard successfully.
Hearts 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.
Hearts works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hearts performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hearts trying to control from half guard but Koreshkov is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearts is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Koreshkov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hearts is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Koreshkov has hold of Hearts's hands but Hearts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Nice strikes from Hearts there.

Koreshkov actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Koreshkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Hearts seems content to control.
Hearts is looking to take a break and control but Koreshkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hearts lands with a punch from half guard.
Koreshkov is trying to get back to full guard.
Hearts tries to pass the half guard into mount. Koreshkov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hearts is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Hearts dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Koreshkov moves into the clinch.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but Hearts won't allow it.
Hearts working aggressively here.
Koreshkov prevents a body shot from Hearts.
TJ Hearts has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Koreshkov jumps into guard, dragging Hearts to the mat.

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

Koreshkov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koreshkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koreshkov trying to control the position.

Koreshkov working for a triangle but Hearts defends it easily.
Koreshkov being controlled here, momentarily.
Hearts's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
TJ Hearts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Koreshkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hearts swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koreshkov takes one to the chin there.
Hearts looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koreshkov tries to clinch up

and Hearts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Koreshkov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hearts got a little sloppy there for a moment and Koreshkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hearts has managed to get both his arms back between Koreshkov's legs - danger averted.
Hearts showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
TJ Hearts overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koreshkov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hearts is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hearts 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Koreshkov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hearts defends it easily.

Koreshkov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hearts uses it to pass to side control.
Hearts happy to just control the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Koreshkov regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Hearts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hearts has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Hearts!
A victorious TJ Hearts thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.