PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Cristophe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ambrose Kornikova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ambrose Kornikova struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 267.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Ambrose Kornikova has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cristophe
vs
Kornikova

193 cm
24
245 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
292 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Cristophe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ambrose Kornikova!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kornikova fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck for Kornikova with that takedown attempt.

Cristophe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cristophe wants to stand but Kornikova is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kornikova working a defensive guard here.
Cristophe looking to pass the guard.
Kornikova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cristophe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cristophe forces his way into half guard.

Cristophe is trying to work for a kimura but Kornikova is defending well.
Cristophe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cristophe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kornikova sees it coming and defends easily.
Kornikova tries to roll over but Cristophe keeps him under control.
Cristophe is keen to just control but Kornikova is a slippery customer.
Kornikova has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cristophe is working away from the top position though.

Cristophe looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kornikova wants to control but Cristophe is keeping busy.

Cristophe decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kornikova tries for a takedown but Cristophe circles away easily

and Cristophe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cristophe.
Kornikova is trying to keep Cristophe in close.
Kornikova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cristophe trying to move into half guard but instead Kornikova has managed to sweep!
Kornikova with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cristophe is trying to keep Kornikova in close.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cristophe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kornikova gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kornikova with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kornikova trying to control the position from guard on top but Cristophe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cristophe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kornikova gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cristophe working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kornikova has passed into half guard!
Cristophe is breathing heavily.
Kornikova is thwarting Cristophe's attempts to control the position.
Cristophe manages to get to full guard.

Cristophe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kornikova wants to control from the top but Cristophe keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cristophe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kornikova doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kornikova manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cristophe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kornikova slips nicely into half guard.
Kornikova winds up and cracks Cristophe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cristophe tries to roll over but Kornikova keeps him under control.
Kornikova working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kornikova is taking a breather. Cristophe says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cristophe tries to get to full guard but Kornikova has control of the leg.
Cristophe is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kornikova scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Cristophe dominated that round.
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.

Kornikova throws a predictable looking body shot

and Cristophe counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cristophe is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leo Cristophe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kornikova looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cristophe is one step ahead there.
Kornikova tries to strike from the bottom.
Kornikova trying to control the position.
Cristophe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cristophe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kornikova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kornikova looking to control.
Cristophe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kornikova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cristophe shoots and misses

and Kornikova counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cristophe!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kornikova avoids the attempt from Cristophe to control.
Cristophe can't escape the position.
Cristophe is working hard here to advance position.
Kornikova in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kornikova tries to control but Cristophe wriggling away.
Kornikova pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Cristophe tries to lock up and control but Kornikova gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cristophe is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kornikova working the ground and pound effectively.
Kornikova scoring with strikes but Cristophe is staying in there.
Kornikova lands a big shot there that rocks Cristophe but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristophe can't escape the position.
Cristophe tries to hold on but Kornikova postures up.
Cristophe can't escape the position.
Kornikova with the ground and pound from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cristophe is squirming around, avoiding Kornikova's attempts to control the action.
Cristophe is working to get back to half guard.
Kornikova really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cristophe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A nice elbow there by Kornikova.
Cristophe bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cristophe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kornikova trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Cristophe drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kornikova dives on top into guard.

Cristophe working for a triangle but Kornikova defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cristophe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kornikova gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cristophe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kornikova controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kornikova keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cristophe's head.

Cristophe looking for subs off his back but Kornikova has passed one foot through into half guard.

Cristophe is defending against the submission attempts here by Kornikova.

That's four 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.
Kornikova trying to control the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kornikova lands a nice short elbow.
Kornikova wants to control but Cristophe is keeping him busy.

Cristophe is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kornikova pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kornikova is trying to control. Cristophe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kornikova prevents Cristophe from improving his position.

Cristophe actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ambrose Kornikova showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kornikova changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cristophe looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cristophe is trying to control Kornikova's posture but Kornikova avoids it.
Cristophe misses with a strike from the bottom.
Cristophe is trying to control Kornikova's posture but Kornikova avoids it.
Kornikova working the ground and pound.
Cristophe struggling a bit here.
Kornikova tries to move to mount but Cristophe blocks the move with his legs.
Cristophe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kornikova takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cristophe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kornikova off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristophe doesn't have the hooks in and Kornikova manages to turn into his guard.
Kornikova scoring with punches to the head and body.

Cristophe has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Kornikova doesn't defend quickly enough and Cristophe has managed to lock this one up! Can Kornikova escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Cristophe on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Leo Cristophe!