PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olavi Korhonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramazan Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramazan Magomedov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Korhonen
vs
Magomedov

193 cm
23
211 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olavi Korhonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramazan Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Korhonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Korhonen from controlling successfully.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Magomedov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Korhonen crunches a lovely knee into Magomedov's ribcage.
Magomedov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Korhonen.
Korhonen stops a takedown attempt from Magomedov.
A nice right hand lands inside from Korhonen.

Magomedov pulls Korhonen into guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korhonen is trying to stand.
Korhonen pushes Magomedov off but Magomedov dives into side control.

Magomedov decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Korhonen clinches up with Magomedov and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Korhonen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Magomedov is defending well for now.
Korhonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Magomedov blocks it with crossed arms.
Magomedov letting Korhonen take a breather here.
Magomedov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Korhonen smiles and moves away.
Magomedov tries to clinch up but Korhonen circles away and keeps his distance.

Magomedov gets a clinch.
Korhonen lands a left hand.
Magomedov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Korhonen to keep the fight standing.
Olavi Korhonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramazan Magomedov.
Magomedov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Korhonen gets the underhooks and prevents it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov throws a sloppy head kick
and Korhonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Magomedov tries to clinch up but Korhonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Olavi Korhonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korhonen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Magomedov tries to clinch but Korhonen is having none of it.

Korhonen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Magomedov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Korhonen trying to control the position but Magomedov is working away.
Korhonen is breathing heavily.

Magomedov explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Magomedov is looking to clinch but Korhonen is avoiding it.
Korhonen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magomedov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Korhonen gets the takedown into side control.

Magomedov explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov wants to clinch up but Korhonen keeps it at a distance.
Magomedov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Korhonen counter with a right hand.
Magomedov wants to clinch.

Magomedov drives through and clinches with Korhonen against the cage.
Magomedov trying to control the position but instead, Korhonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Magomedov into the cage.
Korhonen has Magomedov pressed against the cage, preventing Magomedov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Olavi Korhonen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Korhonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magomedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Korhonen has closed the distance and engaged Magomedov in a clinch.
Korhonen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Magomedov breaks the clinch.
Korhonen lands a right hook to the body.

Magomedov gets tackled into the cage by Korhonen. Korhonen maintains the clinch.
Magomedov fails to pull guard.
Korhonen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Korhonen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magomedov is looking to control Korhonen's arms but Korhonen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Magomedov has his back to the cage.
Korhonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Magomedov blocks it with crossed arms.
Magomedov letting Korhonen take a breather here.
Korhonen throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov tries to break the clinch but Korhonen is controlling the position.
Magomedov taking a breather.
Magomedov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Korhonen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Korhonen has picked Magomedov up - he's going for a ride! Korhonen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Magomedov pushes Korhonen off and gets back to his feet.
Korhonen wants to clinch.
Korhonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Korhonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.
Korhonen is looking to counter punch.
Korhonen cracks Magomedov with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korhonen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Magomedov in his tracks.
Korhonen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Magomedov backs up against the cage.
Olavi Korhonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Magomedov moves in looking to clinch but Korhonen pushes him off.
Korhonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.

Korhonen closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Korhonen as the two fighters clinch.
Magomedov tries to stall but Korhonen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Magomedov has had enough of the clinch but Korhonen keeps him there for the moment.
Magomedov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Korhonen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Magomedov kicks Korhonen off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Korhonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Korhonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Magomedov misses with a body shot
and Korhonen counters with a one-two to the body.
Korhonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Magomedov throws out the jab.
It looked like Korhonen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Korhonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Magomedov misses with a straight right.
Korhonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Magomedov.

Korhonen darts in and clinches Magomedov up against the cage.
Magomedov prevents Korhonen from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korhonen prevents Magomedov from breaking the clinch.
Olavi Korhonen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Magomedov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Olavi Korhonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramazan Magomedov.
Magomedov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Korhonen after a bit of a struggle.

Magomedov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Magomedov misses with a wild combination.
Magomedov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Korhonen lunges at Magomedov with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Magomedov's hand.
Korhonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Korhonen throws a right and a left that Magomedov avoids nicely.
Magomedov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Olavi Korhonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Korhonen checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Korhonen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Korhonen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Korhonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Korhonen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Korhonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Korhonen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Korhonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Korhonen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Magomedov tries to stall but Korhonen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Korhonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korhonen tries to circle away but Magomedov has him pinned against the cage.
Magomedov tries to work over Korhonen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Magomedov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Magomedov trying to control the position but instead, Korhonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Magomedov into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov looking for a takedown.

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

Korhonen gets a clinch.
Magomedov fails to pull guard.
Olavi Korhonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ramazan Magomedov.
Korhonen pushes Magomedov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Korhonen lands with a right to the head.
Korhonen scores with a shoulder strike.
Korhonen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Magomedov's efforts to push away.
Magomedov jumps guard but Korhonen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Magomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Magomedov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korhonen missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Korhonen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Magomedov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Korhonen's efforts to push away.

Korhonen lands a takedown into guard.

Magomedov pushes Korhonen off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magomedov tries to clinch there but Korhonen circles away.
Korhonen is looking for a counter combo.
Magomedov moves to clinch but Korhonen breaks away
and Korhonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ramazan Magomedov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Korhonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Magomedov flicks out a counter leg kick but Korhonen steps away.
Magomedov tries to clinch up
and Korhonen counters with a three punch combo that has Magomedov backing up. Magomedov nods at Korhonen to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Korhonen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Magomedov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Korhonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Korhonen has Magomedov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Korhonen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Magomedov tumbling to the mat - Korhonen dives into Magomedov's guard.

Magomedov wriggles free and stands up.
Korhonen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Korhonen is looking to clinch but Magomedov is avoiding it.
Magomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Korhonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Magomedov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korhonen tries to clinch up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korhonen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Korhonen duly obliges.
Korhonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Magomedov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Korhonen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fight stays on the outside here - Korhonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Korhonen avoids a kick to the body.
Magomedov wants to clinch.
Ramazan Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Magomedov pushes Korhonen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramazan Magomedov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Korhonen 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olavi Korhonen!
After the fight, Olavi Korhonen 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.