PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Korolev (ranked 2214 p4p, 2678 weight class) and Anakoni Kai (ranked 293 p4p, 354 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
Kai

180 cm
22
196
5 - 3 - 0

184 cm
22
190
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT
PWNAGE™

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 5 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anakoni Kai!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Korolev lands a two punch combo.
Korolev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big right from Kai misses.
Kai throws a poor cross that misses
and Korolev counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Korolev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Korolev walks into a jab.
Kai looks to land a left hand but Korolev moved out of range nicely.
Korolev is looking to counter punch.
Kai tries to close the distance and clinch but Korolev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kai looks to land a body kick but Korolev moved away.
A swing and a miss from Kai.
Korolev checks a leg kick.
Korolev throws out a loose jab but Kai uses good head movement to avoid it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kai! But no joy.
Korolev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kai moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Korolev throws out a loose jab but Kai uses good head movement to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korolev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev throws out a loose jab but Kai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice cross by Korolev.
Kai throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Korolev on the side of the head.
Kai misses with an uppercut
letting Korolev counter with a right hand.
Korolev misses the shot to the body.
Korolev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kai was well out of range. Poor timing from Korolev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai scores with a spinning back kick!
Korolev attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Korolev jabs at Kai's body.
Korolev misses with a looping right.
Sloppy strikes from Korolev. Those never looked like landing.
Kai connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Korolev slips under a jab.
Korolev is looking to counter punch.
Kai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Korolev circles away quickly and effectively.
Korolev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Korolev moves out of range of the leg kick from Kai.
We've been informed that Kai has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Korolev misses with a hook.
Kai moves out of range as Korolev strikes.
Korolev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kai clobbers Korolev with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kai staying out of range there.
Kai walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Korolev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Korolev misses with a straight left.
Kai throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot lands for Korolev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Korolev in his tracks.
Kai misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Korolev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kai slips under a jab.
Kai tries a low kick but Korolev avoids it.
Korolev blocks the body kick.
Jab from Kai.
A swing and a miss from Korolev.
Kai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Korolev manages to avoid it.

Kai has Korolev up against the cage in a clinch.
Korolev managing to block the knees to the body from Kai.
Kai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Korolev misses with a body punch.
Korolev is trying to push Kai away but Kai has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Korolev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kai misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Korolev breaks from the clinch.
Korolev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev ducks under a wild hook from Kai.
Kai lands a glancing blow to the side of Korolev's head.
Kai lands a nice looking body kick.
Korolev throws a lazy right hand but Kai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Korolev misses with a straight right.
Kai ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Kai swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Korolev counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Kai clinches up against the cage.
Kai swings wildly with an uppercut but Korolev uses good head movement to avoid it.

Korolev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kai scoring well with a low kick there.
Korolev blocks a leg kick.
It looked like Korolev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Korolev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Left hook, right uppercut from Kai.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
A swing and a miss from Korolev.
Korolev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kai.
Kai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Korolev.
Kai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Korolev.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev misses with an uppercut. Kai saw that one coming.
Korolev looks to land a right hand but Kai moved out of range.
Kai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Kai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Korolev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Despite the aggression on Kai's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kai ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kai lands a really nice looking cross but Korolev seems unphased.
Kai ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kai lands a jab-cross combination.
Kai misses with a straight left.
Korolev takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kai tried to score with a low kick but Korolev checks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anakoni Kai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Korolev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kai misses with a looping left.
Kai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Korolev takes one to the side of the head.
Korolev works the jab nicely.
Korolev missing with a left hand there. Kai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Korolev.
Kai throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Korolev counter with a right hand.
Korolev throws the left hand but Kai avoids the punch easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kai.
Kai connects with a solid leg kick.
Kai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Korolev.
Kai throws a jab when Korolev was well out of range.
Kai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Korolev.
A bone on bone clash there as Korolev blocks the leg kick.
Kai moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Korolev looks to throw the jab but Kai is out of range.
Korolev misses with a lunging right hand
and Kai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korolev swings for the body but Kai moves out of range.
Kai misses with a straight left.
Korolev throwing a counter right hand but Kai manages to avoid it.
Korolev loads up on a big right hand but Kai slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai tries to score with a low kick but Korolev moves his leg out of the way.
A jab from Kai misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Korolev as he connects with a hook.
Kai is looking to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kai.
Kai avoids the body shot from Korolev.
Korolev misses with a wild combination.
Korolev misses with a looping right.
Korolev misses with a looping left.
Kai misses with a hook. Korolev ducked under it nicely.
Kai scoring well with a low kick there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Korolev.

Kai moves into the clinch.
Korolev lands a right hand.
Korolev blocks the elbow strike.
Kai misses with the head strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korolev wants to get back to striking at distance but Kai won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev managing to block the knees to the body from Kai.
Korolev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kai misses with some punches.
Kai lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Kai.
Kai misses with an elbow over the top.
Kai throws a punch but it's blocked by Korolev.
Korolev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Kai scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short left from Korolev.
A nice left hand lands by Kai.
Kai pushes Korolev back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kai lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Korolev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kai misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Korolev.
A right handed body shot lands from Kai.
Korolev tries to throw a body punch but Kai avoids it by throwing Korolev back against the cage.

Korolev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kai takes the fight into the clinch.

Korolev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Korolev throws a lazy right hand but Kai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Korolev is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A punch combination from Kai misses.

Kai clinches up with Korolev and pushes him back against the cage.
Kai digs a right hand into Korolev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Korolev's gas tank.
Kai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Korolev avoids the elbow strike from Kai, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kai prevents a body shot from Korolev.
Kai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Korolev blocks the elbow strike.
Kai can't find room to land a body shot as Korolev controls the action.
Kai misses with an elbow strike.
Kai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Korolev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Korolev manages to break the clinch.
Kai blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kai! But no joy.
Korolev with a nice calf kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Korolev, as that shot connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anakoni Kai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexander Korolev's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Korolev 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Korolev misses with a looping left.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kai, as that shot connected.
Nice uppercut lands for Kai. That snapped Korolev's head back.
Korolev smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kai tries to close the distance and clinch but Korolev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Korolev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Korolev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kai.
Nice defenses there by Kai.
Kai misses with a straight left.
An attempted straight right counter from Korolev misses the target.
Korolev's corner calls for a 1-2. Korolev obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kai cracks a nice hook into Korolev's ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Kai finds it's way through Korolev's defenses.
Korolev throws a lazy right hand but Kai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Anakoni Kai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kai slips a straight right by Korolev.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kai moves away from the strike by Korolev.
Kai doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Korolev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Kai misses.
Korolev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kai moves away from the strike by Korolev.
Kai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Korolev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Korolev misses with a hook.
A little jabbing left from Kai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Korolev misses with a right hand
and Kai counters with a right hand to the body.
Korolev takes a swing at Kai's ribcage but misses.
Kai bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Korolev misses with a straight left.
Korolev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kai throws out the jab.
It looked like Korolev was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Korolev misses the shot to the body.
Kai misses the jab.
Korolev throws a lazy right hand but Kai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Korolev blocks the leg kick.
Korolev moves away from the strike by Kai.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Kai's shoulder, as Kai tries to avoid the shot.
Korolev throws the left hand but Kai avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kai is looking to land body kicks.
Kai defending well as Korolev loads up on a big left hand.
Kai swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korolev throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kai tries a quick counter leg kick but Korolev is wise to it.
Korolev moves away from the strike by Kai.
Korolev throwing a counter right hand but Kai manages to avoid it.
Korolev throws a jab but it's blocked by Kai.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kai counters with a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kai loads up on a big right hand but Korolev slips the punch.
Korolev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Korolev jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Korolev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korolev.
Kai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Korolev.
Kai avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kai throws a poor cross that misses
and Korolev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kai scores with a nice strike.
Kai slips a straight right by Korolev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kai.
Kai scores with a crisp jab that stopped Korolev in his tracks.
Korolev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alexander Korolev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Korolev takes one on the button.
Kai misses with a kick to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Korolev misses its target.
Korolev moves out of range as Kai strikes.
Korolev takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Korolev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Korolev.
Kai slips a straight right by Korolev.
Korolev looks to land a combination but Kai avoids it well.
Kai throws out a counter right but Korolev avoids it with no problem.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kai. Korolev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kai takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Korolev throws the left hand but Kai avoids the punch easily.
Kai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Korolev tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korolev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kai defending well as Korolev loads up on a big left hand.
Kai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korolev gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The fighters circling - Korolev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Korolev looks to throw the jab but Kai is out of range.
Korolev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kai ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Korolev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kai checks a leg kick nicely.
Kai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Korolev connects with a single shot there.
Korolev swinging wildly here.
Anakoni Kai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kai blocks a jab.
Kai is looking to score with low kicks.
Korolev with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kai to score with a decent uppercut.
Korolev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Korolev takes one to the chin there.
Kai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev throws a body shot but no joy.
Kai appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Korolev takes one to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Anakoni Kai.
Well Kai has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anakoni Kai!
Anakoni Kai seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.