PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Kostrov (ranked 3197 p4p, 358 weight class) and Johny Handicks (ranked 2851 p4p, 334 weight class). The key to victory for Sergey Kostrov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kostrov
vs
Handicks

170 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
181 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Kostrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Handicks!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostrov is looking to slow Handicks down with leg kicks.
Kostrov misses with a hook.
A little jabbing left from Handicks on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kostrov throws a sloppy head kick and Handicks moves out of range easily.
Kostrov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Handicks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Sergey Kostrov has been cut.
Kostrov throws a series of punches but Handicks moves out of range.
Handicks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kostrov.
Kostrov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kostrov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Handicks throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Kostrov.
Kostrov lands a slapping body shot.
Kostrov misses with a straight left.
Kostrov throws a nice looking combination but Handicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A punch lands to the side of Kostrov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kostrov with a hook.
Handicks takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Handicks staying out of range there.
Kostrov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Handicks lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handicks throws a lazy right hand but Kostrov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kostrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kostrov throws a body kick that misses.
Handicks blocks a low kick nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Kostrov.
Kostrov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Handicks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kostrov.
Kostrov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kostrov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Handicks fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Handicks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kostrov.
Handicks fails with the takedown.
Handicks jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Handicks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kostrov. Kostrov obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kostrov connects with an inside leg kick.
Handicks might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handicks misses with a hook.
Kostrov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Handicks.
Kostrov throwing a counter right hand but Handicks manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Kostrov.
Kostrov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A jab from Handicks misses.
Sergey Kostrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Handicks stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kostrov.
Kostrov slips a straight right by Handicks.
Handicks cracks Kostrov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Handicks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Handicks misses with a lunging right hand
and Kostrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Handicks throws a lazy right hand but Kostrov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut lands for Kostrov. That snapped Handicks's head back.
Kostrov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Handicks takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kostrov misses with a right hand
and Handicks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kostrov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Kostrov is predictable there
and Handicks counters with a nice uppercut.
Handicks throws a jab but it's blocked by Kostrov.
The fighters circle momentarily. Handicks darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kostrov scores with a jab to the head.
Handicks's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Handicks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kostrov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kostrov slips under a jab from Handicks.
Kostrov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Handicks needs to keep his hands up - Kostrov had a free shot at his head there.
Kostrov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Handicks cracks Kostrov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kostrov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kostrov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Sergey Kostrov's cut is getting worse.
Kostrov throws a looping overhand right but Handicks ducks down to avoid it.
Handicks misses with a hook.
Kostrov's corner calls for a 1-2. Kostrov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kostrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handicks blocks a low kick nicely.
Handicks keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Handicks looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Handicks looks to land a left hand but Kostrov moved out of range nicely.
Handicks ducks right into an uppercut from Kostrov.
Handicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And Kostrov counters with a quick kick to the body but Handicks blocks it.
Sergey Kostrov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Handicks misses with a hook.
Kostrov connects with a looping right hand.
Kostrov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Handicks has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kostrov thumps Handicks with a low kick.
Kostrov defending well as Handicks loads up on a big left hand.
Kostrov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Handicks blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Handicks ducks under a wild hook from Kostrov.
Handicks connects with a single shot there.
Kostrov tries a head kick but it misses.
A shot to the body from Handicks misses
and Kostrov counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kostrov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergey Kostrov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kostrov cracks Handicks with a right hand to the side of the head.
Handicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Handicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
A cross from Kostrov lands.
Kostrov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kostrov thows a body kick. Handicks tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kostrov connects with a body shot.
Kostrov misses with a low kick.
Handicks throws a lazy right hand but Kostrov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kostrov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Handicks can do to turn this around?
Handicks throws a poor cross that misses
and Kostrov counters with a head kick. That will keep Handicks thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Handicks looks to land a left hand but Kostrov moved out of range nicely.
Handicks misses with a right hand
and Kostrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kostrov misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostrov throws a leg kick but Handicks checks it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Handicks! But no joy.
Handicks slips under a jab.
Handicks looks to land a right hand but Kostrov moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handicks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Handicks blocks a jab.
Handicks looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Handicks throws a combination that misses
and Kostrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kostrov blocks a jab.
Sergey Kostrov is winning the standup battle so far.
Handicks lands with a hook. Kostrov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Handicks misses with a right hand
and Kostrov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Handicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kostrov lands a jab to the nose.
Handicks misses with an uppercut.
Handicks throws an overhand right that lands on Kostrov's shoulder, as Kostrov tries to avoid the shot.
Handicks misses with a double jab
and Kostrov counters with a straight right hand.
Kostrov throws a right hand that Handicks ducks under and follows up with a left that Handicks also avoids with ease.
Kostrov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Handicks checks a leg kick.
Kostrov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kostrov defending well as Handicks loads up on a big left hand.
Kostrov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kostrov cracks the inside of Handicks's front leg.
Handicks slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kostrov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Handicks momentarily.
Kostrov misses with an uppercut
and Handicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Handicks slips under a jab.
Handicks lands a lovely overhand right.
Handicks checks a low kick from Kostrov.
Handicks throws out a counter right but Kostrov avoids it with no problem.
Handicks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Handicks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Handicks throws a poor cross that misses
and Kostrov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kostrov throws an overhand right that lands on Handicks's shoulder, as Handicks tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Handicks! But no joy.
Nice defenses there by Handicks.
Handicks swings widly with a right hand
and Handicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Handicks throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handicks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Handicks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kostrov throws a low kick but Handicks avoids it.
Kostrov dips to his left and cracks Handicks with an uppercut!
Handicks looks to land a left hand but Kostrov moved out of range nicely.
Kostrov throws a shot to the body.
Kostrov slips a jab from Handicks.
Handicks walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kostrov.
Handicks misses with a straight left.
Handicks has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kostrov finds it's way round the side to connect with Handicks's head.
Handicks misses with an uppercut
and Kostrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Handicks on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A shot to the liver by Kostrov. Beautiful body shot.
Kostrov lands with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kostrov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Handicks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kostrov moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Handicks misses.
Handicks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kostrov.
Nice defenses there by Kostrov.
Kostrov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kostrov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Handicks throws out the jab.
Kostrov jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Kostrov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Handicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kostrov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kostrov defending well as Handicks loads up on a big left hand.
Handicks misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Kostrov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Handicks.
Kostrov tests Handicks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kostrov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice jab there from Handicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kostrov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sergey Kostrov's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Handicks misses with a hook
and Kostrov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kostrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Handicks misses with a lunging right hand
and Kostrov counters with a low kick, right behind Handicks 's knee.
Handicks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A slow jab from Kostrov misses its intended target.
Kostrov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kostrov throws a head kick but Handicks moves out of range.
Kostrov throws a leg kick which misses Handicks's front leg but catches the back leg as Handicks tries to avoid it.
Handicks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kostrov circles away quickly and effectively.
Handicks slips a jab from Kostrov.
Kostrov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kostrov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kostrov scores with a jab to the body.
Kostrov misses with a body kick.
Kostrov swings widly with a right hand
and Handicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Handicks lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Handicks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kostrov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from Kostrov.
Kostrov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Handicks's sensitive parts.
Kostrov throws a hook to the side of Handicks's head but Handicks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Handicks throws a right hand that misses
and Kostrov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kostrov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Handicks momentarily.
Kostrov misses with a kick to the body.
Kostrov takes one to the chin there.
Handicks slips a jab from Kostrov.
Kostrov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Handicks throws a hook to the side of Kostrov's head but Kostrov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick from Kostrov lands but Handicks takes it in his stride.
Handicks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Handicks misses with a left hand
and Kostrov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Johny Handicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Handicks lands with an uppercut that bounces Kostrov off the ropes and back into range.
Kostrov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Handicks's head.
Kostrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good standup being displayed there by Kostrov as he connects with a hook.
Handicks misses with a straight right.
Kostrov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Handicks's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kostrov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Handicks scrambles back to his feet.
Handicks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kostrov lands a jab to the nose.
Kostrov misses with a hook.
Handicks waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kostrov.
Handicks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Handicks misses with a looping right.
A big left from Handicks misses.
Handicks walks into a jab.
Sergey Kostrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kostrov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kostrov misses with an uppercut. Handicks saw that one coming.
Kostrov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Handicks's sensitive parts.
Handicks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Handicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Handicks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kostrov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Handicks.
Handicks moves away from the strike by Kostrov.
Handicks swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Handicks on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Handicks throws a hook but Kostrov blocks it.
Handicks moves forwards but Kostrov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Handicks misses with a straight right.
Kostrov throws a one two combo.
Handicks misses the jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Handicks fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Some wild striking there from Kostrov.
Kostrov staying out of range there.
Kostrov slips a straight right by Handicks.
Handicks misses with a hook. Kostrov ducked under it nicely.
Handicks throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Handicks throws a good cross that connects.
Kostrov with a jab.
Kostrov throws a chopping leg kick but Handicks manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Handicks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kostrov.
Kostrov lands with an overhand left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kostrov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Handicks appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Handicks misses with a hook. Kostrov ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Kostrov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kostrov 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!

Sergey Kostrov wins by unanimous decision!
Sergey Kostrov was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.