PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicolai Zhurmedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilia Kosarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Zhurmedov
vs
Kosarev

195 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Nicolai Zhurmedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilia Kosarev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kosarev gets a double leg takedown into Zhurmedov's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kosarev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kosarev throws a strike but Zhurmedov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zhurmedov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kosarev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kosarev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kosarev!
Kosarev is putting a hurting on Zhurmedov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Kosarev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kosarev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Zhurmedov is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Kosarev's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kosarev working the head and body with strikes.
Zhurmedov tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhurmedov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Zhurmedov wants to control but Kosarev postures up.
Zhurmedov gets back to half guard.
Kosarev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zhurmedov defending well though.
Zhurmedov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kosarev.
Kosarev is nestled in close to Zhurmedov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kosarev looks to land a strike but Zhurmedov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zhurmedov looking to control.

Zhurmedov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Zhurmedov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kosarev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kosarev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zhurmedov pulls Kosarev in close to his closed guard and prevents Kosarev from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosarev stopping the sweep attempt from Zhurmedov.
Kosarev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kosarev chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kosarev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Zhurmedov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kosarev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kosarev chips away with some ground and pound.
Kosarev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zhurmedov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhurmedov tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhurmedov strikes from his own guard.
Kosarev postures up in Zhurmedov's guard and throws a big left but Zhurmedov blocks it.
Kosarev looks winded!
Zhurmedov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zhurmedov unloading with bombs!
BOOM! Zhurmedov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kosarev is trying to stand.

Zhurmedov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zhurmedov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kosarev's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhurmedov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Zhurmedov jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kosarev is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kosarev and Zhurmedov has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Zhurmedov working the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kosarev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nicolai Zhurmedov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zhurmedov instigates a clinch.
Zhurmedov stalls.
Kosarev wants a takedown.
Kosarev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zhurmedov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Zhurmedov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Zhurmedov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kosarev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhurmedov.
Kosarev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zhurmedov.
Zhurmedov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zhurmedov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kosarev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kosarev is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosarev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zhurmedov lands with a punch from half guard.
Zhurmedov winds up and cracks Kosarev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kosarev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Zhurmedov is looking for a kimura but Kosarev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zhurmedov to get the leverage.

Zhurmedov is trying to work for a kimura but Kosarev is defending well.
Zhurmedov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhurmedov works his way into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhurmedov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kosarev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Zhurmedov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Zhurmedov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kosarev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhurmedov is trying to get an arm triangle but Kosarev is defending well.

Zhurmedov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kosarev has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zhurmedov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zhurmedov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kosarev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zhurmedov.

Zhurmedov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolai Zhurmedov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kosarev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zhurmedov swivels and escapes.
Kosarev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kosarev shoots and misses

and Zhurmedov counters with a single leg into guard. Kosarev didn't expect that.
Nicolai Zhurmedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilia Kosarev.
Zhurmedov landing with the ground and pound.
Zhurmedov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kosarev is proving hard to escape from.
Kosarev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nicolai Zhurmedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosarev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zhurmedov lands a couple of elbows.

Zhurmedov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kosarev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zhurmedov has Kosarev in his guard.
Kosarev throws an elbow that misses. Zhurmedov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kosarev's guard. Nice move by Zhurmedov!
Zhurmedov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kosarev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zhurmedov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Zhurmedov chips away with some ground and pound.
Zhurmedov advances position into side control!
Zhurmedov cracks Kosarev with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kosarev taking a bit of punishment here - Zhurmedov scoring with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zhurmedov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kosarev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhurmedov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zhurmedov works to advance to full mount. Kosarev defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zhurmedov scoring with strikes but Kosarev is staying in there.
Kosarev taking shots to the head.
Kosarev is in a horrible position here. Zhurmedov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhurmedov landing shots from mount.

Kosarev is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhurmedov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Ilia Kosarev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kosarev is still in real trouble! Can Zhurmedov finish him?
Zhurmedov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A big strike lands for Zhurmedov! That's really hurt Kosarev and he's turned his back - Zhurmedov keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Zhurmedov jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nicolai Zhurmedov!