PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Lester (ranked 23731 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rade Kornjaca (ranked 5080 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lester
vs
Kornjaca

220 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rade Kornjaca!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lester steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kornjaca. That one must have hurt.
Lester takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lester tries to counter by clinching up but Kornjaca breaks away and moves out of range.

Kornjaca darts in and clinches Lester up against the cage.
Kornjaca landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Kornjaca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lester.
Kornjaca throws a sloppy head kick and Lester moves out of range easily.
Kornjaca just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromLester.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kornjaca shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kornjaca showed some decent athleticism there.
Kornjaca not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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.
Kornjaca missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kornjaca gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Kornjaca throws a head kick that misses.

Kornjaca fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lester, pushing him back against the cage.

Kornjaca breaks from the clinch.
Kornjaca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kornjaca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kornjaca moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kornjaca crunches a lovely knee into Lester's ribcage.

Kornjaca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lester avoids a kick to the body.
As Kornjaca tries to get set, Lester tries to push him back and clinch up but Kornjaca manages to avoid the attempt.
Kornjaca throws a right and a left that Lester avoids nicely.
Lester swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lester avoids the head kick by Kornjaca.

Kornjaca closes the distance and clinches.

Kornjaca escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kornjaca tries to land a front kick but Lester steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lester was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lester tries for a takedown but Kornjaca circles away easily
and Kornjaca counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kornjaca throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lester was covering up waiting for the punch and Kornjaca finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kornjaca slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lester tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kornjaca wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ground and pound from Kornjaca seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Lester tries to improve position but can't.
An elbow from Kornjaca crashes against the mat.
Kornjaca has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kornjaca decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kornjaca stuffs the takedown attempt from Lester. Lester gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Lester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lester fails with a takedown attempt.
Lester is breathing heavily.

Kornjaca gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kornjaca closes the distance and clinches.

Kornjaca breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lester really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kornjaca throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kornjaca goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kornjaca doesn't manage to clinch there - Lester circles away.

Kornjaca moves into range and clinches up with Lester.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kornjaca's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kornjaca fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lester.
Kornjaca fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lester has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kornjaca goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nice body kick there by Kornjaca.

Kornjaca gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kornjaca breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kornjaca throws the kick towards the body but Lester avoids it.
Rade Kornjaca seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kornjaca throws a sloppy head kick and Lester moves out of range easily.
It looked like Lester was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kornjaca.
Kornjaca throws a head kick that misses
and Lester counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kornjaca circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Lester drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Kornjaca follows Lester to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rade Kornjaca!