PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Winford Odom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Korent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Odom
vs
Korent

214 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
134 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Winford Odom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nikola Korent!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Korent drives through with a takedown into guard.
Odom being controlled here, momentarily.
Odom controls Korent momentarily but Korent frees himself.
Korent sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korent trying to control the position from guard on top but Odom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odom is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Korent is controlling him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Korent stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Odom swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Korent drives through with a takedown into guard.

Odom manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Odom is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Odom is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Korent is keeping busy.
Odom jumps guard but Korent stands there with Odom around his waist. Odom gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Odom rushes Korent and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Korent breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Korent shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Odom's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korent stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Odom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Odom is wriggling around but Korent manages to pass to half guard.
Odom trying to control but Korent postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Odom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Korent.
Korent content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Odom really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Odom blocking the ground and pound attempt from Korent.
Korent keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Korent's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.
Odom wants to stand back up but Korent manages to pass into side control.

Korent looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Korent is putting a hurting on Odom here, landing some big shots from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Korent working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Korent dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Korent drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Odom explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Korent tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Odom was well out of range. Poor timing from Korent.
Odom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Odom backs off Korent throws a huge counter combo but Odom manages to avoid it all.
Korent will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Winford Odom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Odom instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stalling in the clinch from Korent.
Odom slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Korent breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Odom tries to clinch up but Korent circles away and keeps his distance.

Korent gets the takedown into side control.
Korent taking a breather here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Korent goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Odom rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Korent's guard! Nice work there by Odom!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Korent can do anything to dispel that myth.
Odom wants to get up but he can't break Korent's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Korent throws his legs up looking for a submission but Odom uses it to pass to side control.
Odom working the ground and pound but Korent is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odom scoring with punches from side control.
Odom creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Korent sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Odom tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Odom scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Korent to see if he's OK.
Odom will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Odom working away.
Odom cracks Korent with a big elbow.
Korent is working to avoid the ground and pound but Odom connects with a decent elbow.
Korent is trying to control Odom's posture but Odom avoids it.
Odom throws a strike aimed at the side of Korent's head but Korent avoids it well.
Korent tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Odom looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Odom throws an elbow but Korent slips to the side and avoids it well.
Korent is looking to reverse the position.

Odom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Korent is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Korent is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Odom is controlling him well.
Korent sneaks back into half guard.
Odom working Korent over with strikes.

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.
Korent looks like he's trying to stand up.
Odom seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Korent is looking to control Odom's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Korent avoid being mounted?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Odom stops Korent from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Korent shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Odom is trying to defend but Korent finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Korent wants to take a breather but Odom is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Winford Odom 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!

Korent shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Odom is looking to control Korent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Odom avoid being mounted?
Korent tries to pass to full mount but Odom defends it.
It looks like Korent is going to stand back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korent is taking a breather. Odom says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odom is trying to stand back up but Korent is controlling him
Odom is looking to control Korent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Odom avoid being mounted?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Korent is stalling here. Odom is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Korent seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Odom has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Winford Odom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Korent wants to get back to his feet but Odom drags him back down.
An elbow from Odom crashes against the mat.
Korent sneaks back into half guard.
Korent regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korent wants to sweep here but Odom controlling him for the moment.
Odom postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Korent tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Odom postures up and lands a big shot to Korent's brow.
Korent wants to control but Odom passes easily into half guard.
Odom not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Korent trying to control but Odom postures up.
Korent takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korent taking some punishment here, with Odom in his half guard.
Korent is looking for a sweep. Odom is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Odom stops Korent from getting back to his feet.

Odom is looking for a kimura but Korent is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Odom to get the leverage.
Odom is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Korent is looking for a sweep. Odom is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Odom not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Odom tries to stand and escape but Korent actually recovers to full guard.
Korent trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Odom throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Korent is looking to stand up but Odom isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Korent throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Odom attempts a counter takedown but Korent avoids it well and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Korent. Odom does a little dance to reset his feet.
Odom shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Korent sprawls well. Korent wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Odom gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Korent closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Winford Odom.
I think Odom has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Winford Odom!