PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kosmanov (ranked 1655 p4p, 795 weight class) and Luis Pinto (ranked 236 p4p, 114 weight class). Luis Pinto told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kosmanov
vs
Pinto

180 cm
23
170
5 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
170
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction
Urban Fighter

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kosmanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Pinto!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kosmanov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pinto misses with an uppercut.
Pinto looks to throw the jab but Kosmanov is out of range.
Pinto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kosmanov.
Pinto tries to close the distance and clinch but Kosmanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pinto misses with a takedown
and Kosmanov counters with a straight right hand.
Kosmanov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pinto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kosmanov takes a swing at Pinto's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosmanov throws a low kick, looking for Pinto's leg but Pinto calmly moves out of range.
Pinto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kosmanov misses with a straight left.
Kosmanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pinto.
The fighters circling - Kosmanov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pinto looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto missing with a left hand there. Kosmanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pinto looks to score with a jab to the body but Kosmanov is just out of range.
Kosmanov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kosmanov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
It looks like Kosmanov has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Pinto misses with a looping right.
Kosmanov thows a leg kick but Pinto checks it
and Pinto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pinto changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pinto throws an overhand right that lands on Kosmanov's shoulder, as Kosmanov tries to avoid the shot.
Pinto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kosmanov.
Kosmanov sets himself, and Pinto steps forward looking for the clinch! Kosmanov avoids it this time.

Pinto rushes Kosmanov and presses him up against the cage.
Pinto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kosmanov.

Kosmanov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Pinto regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pinto looking for a sweep. Not yet Pinto, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pinto throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kosmanov escapes and throws Pinto's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Pinto on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pinto wants to control but Kosmanov postures up.
Kosmanov lands a nice forearm strike.
Kosmanov trying to control the action but Pinto is working from the bottom.
Pinto can't do much from the bottom here.
Kosmanov tries to advance to mount but Pinto denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ground and pound from Kosmanov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kosmanov grinds an elbow into Pinto's temple.
Kosmanov lands an elbow.
Pinto struggling a bit here.
Pinto is not content to let Kosmanov control the position.
Pinto is trying to work for a sweep but Kosmanov has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov with the ground and pound from mount.
Kosmanov landing punches.
Kosmanov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kosmanov working Pinto over with strikes here.
Pinto can't escape the position.
Kosmanov with good strikes from the mount here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pinto working to try and regain half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kosmanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kosmanov dominating with strikes here.
Pinto is in a horrible position here. Kosmanov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kosmanov working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kosmanov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pinto ducks right into an uppercut from Kosmanov.
Pinto is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Pinto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kosmanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kosmanov feinted with a counter takedown.
Kosmanov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kosmanov half committed to a counter leg kick.
Pinto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kosmanov defends it nicely.
Kosmanov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pinto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pinto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kosmanov feinted with a counter takedown.

Kosmanov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kosmanov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pinto taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinto struggling a bit here.
Vladimir Kosmanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kosmanov tries to advance to mount but Pinto denies him.
Pinto can't do much from the bottom here.
Pinto tries to buck Kosmanov off but Kosmanov is having none of it.
Kosmanov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pinto tries to bench press Kosmanov off him but Kosmanov keeps the position.
Pinto regains half guard.
Kosmanov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kosmanov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kosmanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pinto keeps working.
Kosmanov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kosmanov is looking to stall here but Pinto recovers full guard.
Kosmanov throws a big elbow that misses.
Pinto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pinto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kosmanov works over Pinto with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinto wants to sweep but no luck.
Kosmanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pinto is keeping the position for now.
Kosmanov postures up.
Kosmanov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pinto is trying to keep Kosmanov in close.
Kosmanov is working Pinto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kosmanov controlling from the top position.
Kosmanov wants to control from the top but Pinto keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Pinto looking for a sweep. Not yet Pinto, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pinto takes a swing at Kosmanov's ribcage but misses.
Kosmanov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pinto shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kosmanov throws a poor cross that misses
and Pinto counters with a nice uppercut.
Pinto walks into a jab.
Kosmanov works the jab nicely.
Kosmanov fails to land the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pinto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kosmanov.
Kosmanov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kosmanov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pinto.
The fighters circling - Kosmanov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pinto replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Kosmanov blocks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kosmanov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pinto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pinto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kosmanov.
Pinto misses the shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pinto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kosmanov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pinto.
Pinto on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kosmanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosmanov misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Pinto to counter with a crisp jab.
Pinto throws a lazy right hand but Kosmanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pinto misses with a low kick.
Pinto throws a right hand that misses

and Kosmanov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pinto!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosmanov working the ground and pound from side control.
Kosmanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pinto keeps working.
Pinto is trying to get back to half guard.
Kosmanov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pinto tries to buck Kosmanov off but Kosmanov is having none of it.
Kosmanov cracks Pinto with a big right hand but Pinto just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kosmanov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kosmanov scoring with punches and elbows.
Luis Pinto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov trying to control the action but Pinto is working from the bottom.
Kosmanov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pinto stops Kosmanov from passing to mount.
Pinto tries to buck Kosmanov off but Kosmanov is having none of it.
Kosmanov throwing strikes but Pinto manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kosmanov is looking for a sweep.
Kosmanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Kosmanov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pinto's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov wants to get back to full guard.
Kosmanov is not content to let Pinto control the position.
Kosmanov gets back to full guard.
Kosmanov working a defensive guard here.
Pinto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kosmanov is retaining full guard.
Pinto wants to control from the top but Kosmanov keeps moving.
Pinto is pushing down on Kosmanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kosmanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Pinto has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kosmanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pinto in particular looking to stall.
Kosmanov regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kosmanov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pinto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pinto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pinto advances to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kosmanov is looking for a sweep. Pinto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Kosmanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kosmanov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Kosmanov!
A relieved looking Vladimir Kosmanov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.