PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jc Cobb (ranked 7537 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Stroev (ranked 5098 p4p, 0 weight class). Jc Cobb has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Cobb
vs
Stroev

191 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

175 cm
25
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jc Cobb!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cobb darts in and clinches Stroev up against the cage.

Stroev has picked Cobb up - he's going for a ride! Stroev dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Cobb is positioning himself well to prevent Stroev advancing to mount.
Stroev slows the pace down in half guard.
Stroev is just content to waste time from the top position. Cobb takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Stroev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb trying to control the position.
Stroev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cobb swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev controlling from the top position.
Cobb looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cobb throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stroev.

Stroev gets the takedown into side control.
Stroev working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev wants to stand but Cobb has his arm trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stroev tries to advance position but instead Cobb slips a leg back in to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stroev is thwarting Cobb's attempts to control the position.
Stroev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Cobb does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cobb moves into full guard.
Cobb seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stroev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cobb trying to control the position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cobb shoots in and drives through. Stroev sprawls well.
Stroev misses with a body kick.

Stroev closes the distance and clinches.
Cobb blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cobb can't get the takedown.

Cobb is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stroev is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cobb to the mat. Cobb regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cobb controls Stroev momentarily but Stroev frees himself.
Stroev trying to control but Cobb is working from the bottom.
Cobb will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cobb trying to keep a closed guard but Stroev is proving a slippery customer.
Stroev wants to stand and escape but instead Cobb has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cobb stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stroev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cobb napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Cobb is trying to control Stroev's posture but Stroev avoids it.
Cobb is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stroev working the ground and pound from side control.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cobb struggling a bit here.

Stroev goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cobb has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Stroev but great work by Cobb.

Cobb is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stroev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Cobb thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stroev is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cobb stands up and beckons Stroev to his feet.
Victor Stroev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stroev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Stroev rushes Cobb and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cobb breaks from the clinch.

Cobb clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Stroev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cobb really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stroev is stalling here. Cobb is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Stroev seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Cobb has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Stroev stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Cobb decides to stand back up.

Stroev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stroev is breathing heavily.
Cobb struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev just content to control the position.
Cobb manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Stroev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cobb is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stroev pulls his head out easily.
Stroev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Stroev is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stroev throws a sloppy head kick and Cobb moves out of range easily.

Stroev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cobb, pushing him back against the cage.
Cobb is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stroev pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Stroev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stroev pushes Cobb up against the cage in a clinch.

Cobb manages to break the clinch.

Cobb gets tackled into the cage by Stroev. Stroev maintains the clinch.

Stroev has hold of one of Cobb's legs. Cobb is fighting the takedown attempt but Stroev gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cobb seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cobb keeping full guard, as Stroev tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Stroev trying to control the position from guard on top but Cobb is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cobb is trying to keep Stroev in close.
Cobb is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Stroev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stroev is just content to waste time from the top position. Cobb takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Cobb looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Cobb is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stroev is aware though and is defending well.
Stroev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cobb looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev wanted to stand there but Cobb had control of the position.
Stroev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stroev trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cobb manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Stroev pulls Cobb in to control the position.
Stroev is striking but Cobb is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev trying to control but Cobb postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cobb in particular looking to stall.
Stroev wants to get back to full guard but Cobb has passed into side control.
Cobb has control of an arm but Stroev manages to advance to Cobb's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stroev gets his hands free as Cobb looks to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Stroev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stroev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Stroev!