PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Korolev (ranked 2786 p4p, 3514 weight class) and Walter Mason (ranked 363 p4p, 443 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.

Korolev
vs
Mason

180 cm
21
196
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
185
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Korolev!
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, Walter Mason!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason connects with a body shot.
Korolev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Korolev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mason changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Korolev misses with a hook.
Mason is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Korolev throws a looping overhand right but Mason ducks down to avoid it.
Mason is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mason slips a jab from Korolev.
Mason steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Korolev misses with a hook. Mason ducked under it nicely.
Korolev lands a glancing blow to the side of Mason's head.
Korolev misses with the combination.
Korolev throws a jab but it's blocked by Mason.
Mason moves away from the strike by Korolev.
Korolev with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mason fails with the takedown.
Mason ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Masons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Korolev lands with an uppercut that bounces Mason off the cage and back into range.
Mason pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mason manages to avoid it.
Alexander Korolev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Korolev throws a body shot but no joy.
Korolev lands with an uppercut that bounces Mason off the cage and back into range.
Mason scores with a jab. Korolev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mason swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Korolev misses.

Mason shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mason showed some decent athleticism there.

Korolev has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Mason is on him like a limpet, forcing Korolev back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mason scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mason lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Mason.
Korolev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Korolev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korolev letting Mason take a breather here.

Korolev breaks from the clinch.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab, jab by Korolev - just one landing.
Korolev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korolev cracks Mason with an open hand slap.
Korolev swings for the body but Mason moves out of range.
Korolev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mason slips under a jab.
Korolev throws an off balance right hand

and Mason counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mason throwing strikes but missing.
Korolev working a defensive guard here.
Mason trying to control but Korolev is working from the bottom.
Mason pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Korolev is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason stops Korolev from standing up.
Mason throws a strike but Korolev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mason avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mason is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mason lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Korolev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mason is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Korolev throws a jab but it's blocked by Mason.
Alexander Korolev is winning the standup battle so far.
Korolev throws a hook to the side of Mason's head but Mason sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mason is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Korolev throws a hook but Mason avoids it easily.
Korolev misses with a hook. Mason ducked under it nicely.
Mason throws out a counter right but Korolev avoids it with no problem.
Korolev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mason circles away quickly and effectively.
A swing and a miss from Korolev.
Mason ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Korolev throws a hook but Mason blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason dives in for a single leg takedown but Korolev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Korolev lunges at Mason with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mason's hand.
Mason rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Korolev to counter with a crisp jab.
A right-left combo lands from Korolev.

It looks like Walter Mason has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A lazy left from Korolev finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korolev throws a looping overhand right but Mason ducks down to avoid it.
Korolev throws a big shot that misses.
Korolev looks to land a right hand but Mason moved out of range.
Mason moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Korolev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mason dives in and grabs Korolev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Korolev pushes down on Mason's head and hops out.
Korolev leaves Mason with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alexander Korolev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Mason.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Mason's shoulder, as Mason tries to avoid the shot.
Mason slips under a jab.
Mason slips a straight right by Korolev.
Korolev with a jab.
Korolev misses with an uppercut. Mason saw that one coming.
A telegraphed right hand from Korolev misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Alexander Korolev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korolev misses with a looping left.
Mason lands a slapping body shot.
Mason fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
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!
Mason is trying hard to land a takedown here. Korolev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mason is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Korolev rather than just go for the knockout.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev swings widly with a right hand

and Mason counters with a nice double leg into side control. Korolev won't be happy with that.
Mason working the ground and pound.

Korolev sneaks out the side door and pushes Mason away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Korolev throws a lazy uppercut

and Mason counters by moving into the clinch.

Korolev manages to break the clinch.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt.
Korolev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev misses with a lunging right hand
and Mason counters with a stiff right hand.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Mason closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Korolev wants to break free but Mason has control.
Korolev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mason can do to turn this around?
Korolev tries to break free but Mason pushes him back against the cage.
Mason misses with a punch on the inside.

Korolev breaks from the clinch.
Mason uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korolev.
Korolev throws the left hand but Mason avoids the punch easily.
Korolev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mason moves away.
Korolev throws the left hand but Mason avoids the punch easily.
Korolev throws a shot from downtown. Mason moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korolev misses with a hook.
Mason let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Korolev gets caught flat footed, as Mason shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mason lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mason is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Walter Mason has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mason throws a big elbow that misses.
Mason with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korolev wants to stand but Mason is controlling the position.
Mason content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mason has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Korolev controls Mason momentarily but Mason frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Walter Mason's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mason shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Korolev misses with a wild body shot.
Korolev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Korolev throws a hook to the side of Mason's head but Mason sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mason tries for a takedown but Korolev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Korolev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Korolev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Korolev thuds a left hand into Mason's body.
Mason fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Korolev manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason cracks Korolev with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mason looks to land a combination. Korolev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korolev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Mason closes the distance and pushes Korolev back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev tries to break the clinch but Mason is controlling the position.
Korolev gets underhooks to prevent Mason's takedown attempt.
Alexander Korolev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Mason.
Mason pushes Korolev back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mason has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Korolev seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Mason can turn it around.
Mason doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Mason is trying to trip Korolev. He has hold of a leg but Korolev is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mason persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Mason 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.
Mason tries to free his leg and advance position but Korolev is retaining full guard.
Korolev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mason wants to control from the top but Korolev keeps moving.
Walter Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Korolev has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mason off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Mason tries to clinch up but Korolev circles away and keeps his distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mason.
Korolev looks to land a left hand but Mason moved out of range nicely.
Korolev misses with a left hand

and Mason counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason scoring with punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Alexander Korolev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Korolev tries to buck Mason off but Mason is having none of it.
Korolev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mason off and has taken his back!
Mason tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Korolev cracks Mason with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Mason sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Korolev prevents Mason from improving his position.

Mason with the active half guard here but Korolev passes nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korolev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Korolev decides to stand back up. Korolev steps back and let's Mason get back to his feet.
Korolev swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mason drives through with a takedown into guard.

Korolev wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mason walks into a straight right hand from Korolev.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Korolev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Korolev, 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Korolev!
Alexander Korolev thanked the fans post fight for their support.