PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Urat Shahriar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iosif Koba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Urat Shahriar had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Shahriar
vs
Koba

202 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

202 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Urat Shahriar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iosif Koba!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Koba looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Koba is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shahriar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shahriar tries to clinch up but Koba circles away and keeps his distance.
Koba missing with a left hand there. Shahriar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shahriar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shahriar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Koba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Shahriar wants to get back to his feet.
Koba wants to take a breather but Shahriar is having none of it.
Shahriar trying to hold on to Koba's head to control him but Koba postures up.
Shahriar is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shahriar is staying active underneath Koba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Koba is looking for a kimura but Shahriar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Koba to get the leverage.
Shahriar is staying active underneath Koba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shahriar looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shahriar moves in looking to clinch but Koba pushes him off.

Koba darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koba is thwarting Shahriar's attempts to control the position.
Koba moves nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koba advances to full mount.
Koba tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
I looks like Koba might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Let's hope that Koba 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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Iosif Koba just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shahriar wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosif Koba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Koba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shahriar was covering up waiting for the punch and Koba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Koba trying to control but Shahriar is working from the bottom.
Koba sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koba pushing down on Shahriar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koba uses his free foot to push down on Shahriar's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Shahriar.
Koba is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Shahriar is in real trouble.
Koba controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shahriar looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Good control from Koba.
I really don't envy Shahriar right now.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Koba controlling the positon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Iosif Koba just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koba pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shahriar fails with the takedown

and Koba moves into the clinch.
Shahriar fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shahriar is pressed up against the cage. Koba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shahriar down to the mat. Shahriar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Koba misses with a kick to the body.
Shahriar throws a leg kick which misses Koba's front leg but catches the back leg as Koba tries to avoid it.
Koba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shahriar avoids it really well and circles away.
Urat Shahriar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shahriar fails with the takedown
and Koba counters with a nice kick to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urat Shahriar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shahriar with a lazy takedown attempt

so Koba counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Koba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shahriar's guard.
Shahriar trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iosif Koba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shahriar looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shahriar shoots and misses

and Koba counters by moving into the clinch.
Koba lands a good knee to the midsection. Shahriar won't want to take too many of those.
Shahriar stops a takedown attempt from Koba.
Koba avoids a wild elbow strike from Shahriar.
Shahriar stops a takedown attempt from Koba.
Koba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Shahriar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Koba uses from the top position.
Shahriar being controlled here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koba is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Koba's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Koba sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shahriar's guard.
Koba is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Koba controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koba dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shahriar is trying to escape the mount but Koba keeps good control and instead manages to take Shahriar's back.
What can Shahriar do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Shahriar is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Koba gets his way!
Koba trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Shahriar doesn't escape.

Despite being in the dominant position, Iosif Koba just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shahriar with a lazy takedown attempt

and Koba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shahriar's guard.
Koba looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iosif Koba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iosif Koba!