PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Duc Minh Pham (ranked 7402 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Koryagin (ranked 7636 p4p, 778 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.

Minh Pham
vs
Koryagin

180 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Duc Minh Pham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nikolay Koryagin!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koryagin looks to land a combination but Pham avoids it well.
Pham misses with a wild body shot.
Pham doesn't manage to clinch there - Koryagin circles away.
Pham misses with a double jab.
Pham scores with a sloppy right hand. Koryagin should have avoided that one.
Koryagin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pham.
Koryagin lands with a nice body punch.
Pham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Pham wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koryagin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Koryagin looks to throw the jab but Pham is out of range.
Koryagin drops his hands momentarily and Pham takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Nikolay Koryagin has been cut.

Koryagin moves into the clinch.
Pham throws a head punch that misses.
Pham swings wildly with an uppercut but Koryagin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koryagin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pham to keep the fight standing.
Koryagin blocks an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koryagin blocking some punches.
Koryagin can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koryagin moves forwards but Pham connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pham throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab by Pham.
Koryagin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pham at a distance.
Pham scores with a nice head shot.
Pham on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Duc Minh Pham has been cut.
Nikolay Koryagin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Koryagin has taken the fight to the clinch.

Pham manages to break the clinch.
Koryagin lands with an overhand left.
Koryagin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koryagin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut there from Pham.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Koryagin lands with a right hand.
Koryagin needs to keep his hands up - Pham had a free shot at his head there.
Koryagin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Pham is rocked!
Koryagin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pham finds it's way round the side to connect with Koryagin's head.
Oh Pham is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koryagin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pham is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Koryagin.
Pham tries to close the distance and clinch but Koryagin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pham seems to have got his legs back now.

Pham clinches.
Pham gets through Koryagin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Koryagin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Duc Minh Pham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Koryagin.
Koryagin stalling against the cage.
Koryagin looks winded!
Koryagin is trying to pull guard but Pham has him pressed against the cage.
Koryagin wants a takedown but no success here.
Good body shot from Pham.

Pham manages to break the clinch.
Pham cracks Koryagin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Koryagin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pham was well out of range. Poor timing from Koryagin.
Pham is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Pham uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Koryagin has time to react.
Pham fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Koryagin on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pham has Koryagin up against the cage in a clinch.
Pham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pham scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koryagin blocking some punches.
Pham throws a punch but it's blocked by Koryagin.
Pham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pham throws a punch but it's blocked by Koryagin.
Koryagin blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koryagin.
Koryagin tries to score a body lock takedown but Pham shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pham misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Pham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koryagin misses with a wild combination.
Pham cracks Koryagin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Koryagin swings for the body but Pham moves out of range.
Pham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Koryagin.

Pham pushes Koryagin up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koryagin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pham throws a punch but it's blocked by Koryagin.
Pham tries a knee to the head but Koryagin blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duc Minh Pham dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pham pivots, looking for a leg kick but Koryagin is out of range and Pham settles back down.
Koryagin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pham looks to land a combination but Koryagin avoids it well.
Nice straight punches there by Pham. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pham.
Pham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pham throws out a powerful jab.
Koryagin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pham smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pham jabs Koryagin to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Koryagin clinches up with Pham and pushes him back against the cage.
Pham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koryagin can do to turn this around?
Koryagin is trying to drag Pham to the mat but Pham just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pham is pressed up against the cage. Koryagin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pham down to the mat. Pham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Koryagin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pham moves away.
Koryagin misses the shot to the body.
Koryagin throws a right hand that misses
and Pham counters with a nice body shot.
Koryagin is breathing heavily.
Pham thuds his right hand into Koryagin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Koryagin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Koryagin takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koryagin.

Pham manages to break the clinch.

Koryagin forces Pham back against the cage and clinches.
Pham lands a body punch.
Pham is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Duc Minh Pham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Koryagin.
Pham prevents the takedown attempt.
Pham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Pham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koryagin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pham closes the distance and pushes Koryagin back into the cage.
Pham misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pham lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Duc Minh Pham has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pham lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koryagin backwards.
Pham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koryagin's elbow.
Pham looking to throw knees to the head but Koryagin is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pham lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pham is pressed up against the cage. Koryagin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pham down to the mat. Pham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Koryagin wants to clinch but Pham slips to the side
enabling Pham to counter with a crisp jab.
Koryagin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pham with a jab.
Koryagin doesn't manage to clinch there - Pham circles away.
Pham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koryagin walks into a left hand.
Koryagin looks to land a right hand but Pham moved out of range.
Koryagin walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koryagin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Koryagin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pham back to the cage. Koryagin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koryagin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Pham. That snapped Koryagin's head back.
Koryagin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pham tries to close the distance and clinch but Koryagin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Koryagin lands a head shot.
Pham throws a combination. Koryagin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pham throws a lazy right hand but Koryagin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koryagin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Koryagin throws a one two combo.

Koryagin moves into the clinch.
Koryagin jumps guard but Pham turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Koryagin jumps guard but Pham turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pham tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Koryagin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Koryagin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pham avoids it.
Koryagin wants to get back to striking at distance but Pham won't allow it.
Pham scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pham pushes Koryagin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pham has a couple of punches blocked by Koryagin.
Koryagin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pham pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pham connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Koryagin lands a nice looking body shot.
Koryagin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duc Minh Pham dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Koryagin staying out of range there.
Koryagin misses the shot to the body.
Pham tries to clinch up but Koryagin circles away and keeps his distance.
Pham is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Koryagin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And Koryagin tries to counter it with a takedown but Pham pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Koryagin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Koryagin tests Pham's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Koryagin tries to close the distance and clinch but Pham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pham wants to clinch up but Koryagin keeps it at a distance.
Koryagin connects with a single shot there.
Koryagin misses with a few strikes there.
Koryagin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pham fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Koryagin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
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!
Pham tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koryagin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koryagin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Koryagin. Beautiful body shot.
Pham connects with a right hand. Koryagin shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pham lands with a nice combination. Koryagin backs away looking to recover.
Pham fails with an attempt to clinch.

Koryagin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pham misses with a body punch.
Pham lands with a right to the head.
Koryagin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pham is pressed up against the cage. Koryagin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pham down to the mat. Pham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pham takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pham wants to clinch.
Koryagin tries to close the distance and clinch but Pham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Duc Minh Pham is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for Koryagin.

Pham has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pham.
Pham lands a body punch in the clinch.
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!

Pham manages to break the clinch.
Pham gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pham works Koryagin's body with a nice hook.
Koryagin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pham throws a hook but Koryagin avoids it easily.
Koryagin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Good exchange - Pham coming out on top.
Koryagin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Koryagin throws a combination that misses
and Pham counters with a left and a right that stings Koryagin.
Koryagin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Koryagin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Koryagin slips a jab from Pham.

Koryagin moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pham throws a head punch that misses.
Pham tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koryagin's elbow.
Koryagin tries to pull guard but Pham forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Koryagin is trying to pull guard but Pham turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Duc Minh Pham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolay Koryagin.
Pham tries to land knees in the clinch but Koryagin avoids the damage to the body.
Koryagin can't break the clinch.
Pham tries to throw a body punch but Koryagin avoids it by throwing Pham back against the cage.
Pham misses with a punch on the inside.
Koryagin fails to pull guard.
Koryagin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pham just stands there and leans against the cage.
Koryagin is trying to force a seperation but Pham has the dominant position.
Pham has a couple of punches blocked by Koryagin.
Koryagin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koryagin jumps guard but Pham turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Pham misses with some punches.
Pham lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Koryagin has had enough of the clinch but Pham keeps him there for the moment.
Pham lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pham misses with a punch on the inside.
Koryagin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Koryagin tries to score a body lock takedown but Pham shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Nikolay Koryagin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pham blocks a body shot from Koryagin.
Pham lands a hook that snaps the head of Koryagin backwards.
Koryagin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pham scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duc Minh Pham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pham 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Duc Minh Pham!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Duc Minh Pham!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Duc Minh Pham!

Duc Minh Pham wins by unanimous decision!