PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Kharitonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and len Kozak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergey Kharitonov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kharitonov
vs
Kozak

191 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergey Kharitonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, len Kozak!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kharitonov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kharitonov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kharitonov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kharitonov staying calm.
Kozak is looking to regain half guard here but Kharitonov keeps moving and retains side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kozak is looking for a sweep.
Kharitonov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kozak!
Kharitonov controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozak tries to reverse the position but Kharitonov maintains control.
Kharitonov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sergey Kharitonov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kozak tries to clinch but Kharitonov moves away
and Kharitonov counters with a one-two to the body.
Kozak with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kharitonov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kozak tries to clinch up
and Kharitonov counters with a left to the body.
Kozak is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kharitonov.

It looks like len Kozak has been cut.
Kozak misses with a takedown

and Kharitonov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kozak looks gassed!
Kharitonov lands an uppercut.
Kozak wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kozak has a couple of punches blocked by Kharitonov.
Kozak tries to score a body lock takedown but Kharitonov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sergey Kharitonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of len Kozak.

Kozak pulls guard successfully.
Kharitonov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kharitonov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozak has a closed guard, preventing Kharitonov from standing up.

Kozak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kharitonov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kharitonov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kharitonov is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sergey Kharitonov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kharitonov lands a jab to Kozak's midsection.
Kharitonov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kozak looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov digs a good hook to Kozak's body.

Kharitonov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kozak sprawls well initially but Kharitonov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kharitonov working over Kozak with some ground and pound. Kozak looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kharitonov tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kozak.
Still in half guard, Kharitonov seems content to control.
Kharitonov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kharitonov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kozak on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sergey Kharitonov just wasn't active enough.
Kozak misses with a double jab

and Kharitonov moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kharitonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kharitonov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on len Kozak's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kharitonov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kozak tries to circle away but Kharitonov has him pinned against the cage.

Kharitonov breaks the clinch.

Kharitonov feints and as Kozak raises his hands in defense, Kharitonov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kozak uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kharitonov.
Kozak being controlled for a moment.
Kharitonov wants to stand but Kozak is controlling his arm.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozak trying to remain calm as Kharitonov controls from the top position.
Kharitonov working the head and body with strikes.

Kharitonov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kozak swings widly with a right hand

and Kharitonov counters with a shoot takedown. Kozak fights it but they end up in guard.
Kharitonov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kharitonov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kozak is retaining full guard.
Kozak looking for a sweep. Not yet Kozak, not yet.
Kozak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kharitonov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kharitonov showed some decent athleticism there.
Kozak is trying to maintain the position but Kharitonov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov not doing much here.
Kozak wants to get back to his feet.
Kharitonov controlling the action here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kozak avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kharitonov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kozak throws a combination that misses
and Kharitonov counters with a left to the body.
Jab from Kharitonov.
Kozak closes the distance but Kharitonov moves to the side
and Kharitonov counters with a nice body shot.
Kharitonov feints a jab promting Kozak to slip. Kharitonov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kozak slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Kharitonov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kozak is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kozak on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kharitonov avoiding damage as Kozak throws knees to the body.

Kharitonov breaks from the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kharitonov moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kharitonov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on len Kozak's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kharitonov throws a right and a left that Kozak avoids nicely.

Kharitonov has managed to clinch.

Kozak lands a takedown into guard.
Kharitonov keeping moving, preventing Kozak from controlling successfully.
Kharitonov wants to stand but Kozak is controlling the position.
Kharitonov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kharitonov tries to get out of the position.

Kozak decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kharitonov moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kozak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kharitonov walks away with a smile on his face. Kozak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kharitonov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kozak tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kharitonov is in Kozak's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozak doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kozak working a defensive guard but Kharitonov manages to pass into side control anyway.
Kharitonov wants to stand but Kozak has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Kozak is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kharitonov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kozak 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.
Kharitonov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two 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.

Kozak pushes Kharitonov off and gets back to his feet.

Kharitonov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kozak has Kharitonov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kharitonov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Kozak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kharitonov stuns Kozak with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Kharitonov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kozak looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kozak looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kharitonov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kharitonov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kozak makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kozak.
Kharitonov wants to stand but Kozak has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sergey Kharitonov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kharitonov is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kharitonovis looking to pass into half guard but Kozak pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kozak is in guard.
len Kozak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kozak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Kharitonov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kharitonov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Kharitonov!