PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhasulan Boranbayev (ranked 6801 p4p, 610 weight class) and Ivan Koloff (ranked 7346 p4p, 637 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Koloff's choice of entrance music: We Will Rock You. Zhasulan Boranbayev has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Boranbayev
vs
Koloff

177 cm
25
157 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

181 cm
24
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhasulan Boranbayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Koloff!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koloff doesn't manage to clinch there - Boranbayev circles away.
Boranbayev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Boranbayev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Koloff tries for a takedown but Boranbayev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Koloff throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Boranbayev.
Koloff is looking to clinch but Boranbayev is avoiding it.
Boranbayev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Koloff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Boranbayev sprawls well. Boranbayev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Koloff gets slowly back to his feet.

Boranbayev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Koloff is trying to defend but Boranbayev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Koloff makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boranbayev looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koloff throws out a counter right but Boranbayev avoids it with no problem.
Boranbayev throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Koloff has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Koloff throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Koloff tries a head kick but it misses.
Koloff throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Boranbayev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Koloff looks winded!
Boranbayev scoring with some ground and pound.
Boranbayev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boranbayev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boranbayev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev throws a big elbow that misses.
Koloff being controlled here, momentarily.
Boranbayev throws an elbow that misses. Koloff uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Boranbayev's guard. Nice move by Koloff!

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Boranbayev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Koloff defends it easily.

Boranbayev looking for a guillotine here but Koloff defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boranbayev controlling Koloff's posture.
Koloff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boranbayev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koloff being controlled here momentarily.
Boranbayev continues to stall.
Koloff throwing strikes from guard but Boranbayev blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Koloff trying to control the position from guard on top but Boranbayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Koloff tries to land a body kick

and Boranbayev counters with a takedown into side control.
Boranbayev slows the pace down.
Koloff wants to control but Boranbayev postures up.
Koloff tries to improve position but can't.
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.
Boranbayev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
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 Zhasulan Boranbayev will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Koloff misses with a wild combination.
Koloff just misses with a punch to the body.

Koloff tries to sprawl but Boranbayev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boranbayev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boranbayev not doing much here.
Boranbayev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koloff is looking to control Boranbayev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Koloff avoid being mounted?
Boranbayev throwing shots but Koloff is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koloff gets full guard.
Boranbayev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boranbayev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boranbayev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koloff swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boranbayev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Koloff misses with an uppercut. Boranbayev saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koloff jabs Boranbayev right on the nose. Boranbayev blinks but takes it well.

Boranbayev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zhasulan Boranbayev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koloff is breathing heavily.
Boranbayev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koloff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Boranbayev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Boranbayev's back!
Boranbayev rolls, trying to escape but Koloff keeps control of the position.
Boranbayev has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Koloff.
Boranbayev trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Boranbayev tries to escape the position.
Koloff throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Boranbayev wants to get back to his feet.
Boranbayev tries to escape but Koloff has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev trying to control the hands but Koloff breaks the grip.
Even with his hooks in, Koloff manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Koloff throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Koloff has the hooks in. Boranbayev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Koloff struggling to land strikes to the head as Boranbayev covers up.
Boranbayev is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Will Koloff go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Koloff keeps control of the position as Boranbayev tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koloff thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Koloff missing with strikes.
Boranbayev wants to get back to his feet.
Will Koloff go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Koloff might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Boranbayev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Boranbayev trying to control the hands but Koloff won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koloff missing with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Koloff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Boranbayev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Boranbayev lands with an overhand left.
Boranbayev throws a head kick but Koloff moves out of range.

Boranbayev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Koloff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boranbayev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boranbayev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koloff is keeping the position for now.
Boranbayev stays in close to Koloff's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koloff is trying to keep Boranbayev in close.

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

Boranbayev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Koloff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boranbayev creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Koloff sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Boranbayev working the strikes but Koloff uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Koloff is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Boranbayev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Boranbayev's back!
Boranbayev covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Koloff controlling well, preventing Boranbayev from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boranbayev is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Koloff controlling well, preventing Boranbayev from escaping the position.
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!
Boranbayev is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Boranbayev rolls, trying to escape but Koloff keeps control of the position.
Koloff throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Boranbayev is trying to stand back up.
Boranbayev just trying to survive but Koloff is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Boranbayev defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Koloff keeps control of the position as Boranbayev tries to break free.
Boranbayev manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Koloff is now in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Koloff seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Boranbayev parries the strikes from Koloff easily there. Koloff is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Boranbayev to escape.
Boranbayev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Boranbayev defending against the ground and pound.
Boranbayev tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boranbayev wants to get back to his feet but Koloff drags him back down.

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 Zhasulan Boranbayev.
I think Boranbayev 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivan Koloff!
During a confident post fight interview, Ivan Koloff thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.