PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kova Luu (ranked 3158 p4p, 5586 weight class) and Fedor Osipov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kova Luu has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Luu
vs
Osipov

199 cm
23
260
10 - 5 - 0

185 cm
19
285
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kova Luu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fedor Osipov!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Osipov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Luu is wriggling around but Osipov manages to pass to half guard.

Osipov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Osipov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Luu to regain full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luu being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osipov cracks Luu with a solid left hand.
Osipov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Luu is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Osipov content to stall in guard here.
Osipov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Osipov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Luu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Luu trying to control the position.
Luu is looking to stand up but Osipov isn't so interested in that idea.
Luu has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Osipov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Osipov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Osipov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Let's hope that Osipov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osipov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Osipov.
Yet more stalling tactics from Osipov.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Osipov trying to pass the guard but Luu defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Osipov is taking a breather. Luu 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Luu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Osipov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Luu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
I was talking to Luu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Luu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Luu lands with a right to the head.
Osipov is looking for a takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luu working Osipov over with knees to the body.
Osipov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Luu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kova Luu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Osipov.
Osipov goes for a takedown attempt but Luu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Luu fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fedor Osipov will probably get the nod.
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.

Osipov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Luu tries to avoid it but Osipov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Luu to the ground. Luu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Luu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Osipov.
Osipov misses with a takedown attempt - Luu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Osipov fails with the takedown
and Luu counters with a body kick.
Kova Luu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Osipov.

Osipov tries to keep at a distance but Luu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Luu presses Osipov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Luu.

It looks like Fedor Osipov has been cut.
A short right from Luu on the inside.
Luu lands an elbow that stopped Osipov in his tracks for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luu is trying to maintain a safe position but Osipov gets an underhook and turns Luu into the cage.
Luu lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Luu - that landed with a thud.
Knees in the clinch landing for Luu.

Osipov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Osipov is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Osipov controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osipov wants to control but Luu is keeping him busy.
Luu managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Osipov.
Osipov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luu keeps working.
Osipov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Luu tries to bench press Osipov off him but Osipov keeps the position.
Osipov just content to control the position.
Luu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Osipov is controlling the pace.
Luu is doing well to control the position and prevent Osipov from advancing to side control.
Osipov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Osipov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Osipov content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fedor Osipov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Luu slams his shin into Osipov's torso.
Osipov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Luu pinned against the cage. Luu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Luu is looking to counter with head kicks.
Osipov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Luu's waist but Luu gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Osipov off to one side.
Osipov has his takedown stuffed
and Luu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kova Luu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Osipov.
Osipov shoots for a takedown but Luu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luu tries to counter by clinching up but Osipov breaks away and moves out of range.

Osipov gets a double leg takedown into Luu's guard.

Luu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Osipov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Luu lands a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right hand to the body from Luu.
Osipov jumps guard but Luu stands there with Osipov around his waist. Osipov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Luu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Luu putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Osipov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Luu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Osipov takes a knee right on the jaw!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kova Luu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fedor Osipov's cut.
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!

Luu lands with a thumping leg kick.

Osipov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Luu sprawls well initially but Osipov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Luu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Osipov is working away from the top position though.
Osipov prevents Luu from standing back up.
Osipov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Luu is trying to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osipov content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luu wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Luu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Osipov can do to turn this around?
Osipov fails with the takedown
and Luu makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Luu throws a leg kick which misses Osipov's front leg but catches the back leg as Osipov tries to avoid it.
Osipov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Osipov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Luu!
Osipov working away.
Osipov taking a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osipov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Luu keeps working.
Osipov prevents Luu from escaping the position.
Osipov staying calm.
Luu sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Luu wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osipov is taking a breather. Luu 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.
Luu is looking to escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Osipov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Luu tries to kick Osipov off but Osipov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Osipov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luu is trying to get back to full guard.
Osipov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Osipov is nestled in close to Luu, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Osipov trying to control the pace.
Luu wants to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Osipov seems content to control.
Osipov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fedor Osipov.
I think Osipov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!