PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kaido Koksaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Maksimenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Koksaja
vs
Maksimenko

187 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 3

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kaido Koksaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 3, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Maksimenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maksimenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maksimenko shoots for a takedown but Koksaja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Koksaja doesn't manage to clinch there - Maksimenko circles away.
Koksaja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koksaja throws a front kick aimed at Maksimenko's knee but Maksimenko avoids it well.
Igor Maksimenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koksaja shoots in for a takedown but Maksimenko shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaido Koksaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koksaja dives in and grabs Maksimenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maksimenko pushes down on Koksaja's head and hops out.

Maksimenko has Koksaja up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Maksimenko.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
You can see the frustration on Koksaja's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maksimenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koksaja keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koksaja regains half guard.
Maksimenko thows a huge punch but Koksaja dodges it nicely.
Well, if Maksimenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Koksaja is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maksimenko scores with a couple of nice shots.

Maksimenko postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Koksaja to stand up.
Maksimenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Maksimenko looking to score a takedown here. Koksaja is defending well but Maksimenko drives through and ends up in Koksaja's guard.
Maksimenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koksaja is on top in guard.
Maksimenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koksaja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maksimenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko can't keep his opponent in guard - Koksaja advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Maksimenko is trying to stand back up but Koksaja is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maksimenko is not content to let Koksaja control the position.
Koksaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Maksimenko pushes Koksaja off and gets back to his feet.

Koksaja rushes Maksimenko and presses him up against the cage.
Koksaja tries to pull guard but Maksimenko forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Koksaja is breathing heavily.
Maksimenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Maksimenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko shoots for a takedown but Koksaja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Koksaja tries to clinch there but Maksimenko circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Koksaja. Those never looked like landing.
Koksaja fails with the takedown

and Maksimenko counters by clinching up.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Maksimenko misses with a knee strike.

Maksimenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maksimenko throws a sloppy head kick and Koksaja moves out of range easily.
Koksaja moves in looking to clinch but Maksimenko pushes him off.
Koksaja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maksimenko circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koksaja defends it nicely.

Maksimenko moves into the clinch.
Maksimenko looking to throw knees to the head but Koksaja is blocking nicely.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maksimenko gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maksimenko working over Koksaja with some ground and pound. Koksaja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maksimenko working Koksaja over with strikes.
Maksimenko controlling the pace.
Koksaja trying to control but Maksimenko postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Maksimenko dominated that round.
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.

Maksimenko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maksimenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Koksaja. Koksaja gets slowly back to his feet.

Maksimenko shoots in and gets a takedown into Koksaja's guard.
Igor Maksimenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koksaja wants to stand but Maksimenko is controlling the position.
Maksimenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maksimenko landing with the ground and pound.
Koksaja has a closed guard, preventing Maksimenko from standing up.
Koksaja wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maksimenko landing with the ground and pound.
Koksaja wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koksaja keeping moving, preventing Maksimenko from controlling successfully.
Koksaja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Maksimenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Koksaja on his heels. He'll look to pass Koksaja's guard now, I'm sure.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maksimenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maksimenko 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.
Maksimenko wants to control from the top but Koksaja keeps moving.
Koksaja is trying to control the position but Maksimenko postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maksimenko trying to control but Koksaja is working from the bottom.
Koksaja tries to strike from the bottom.
Koksaja is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Koksaja is looking to take a break and control but Maksimenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maksimenko pushes Koksaja off looking to stand but Koksaja dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koksaja trying to pass the guard but Maksimenko defending well.
Maksimenko wants to get back to his feet.
Koksaja tries to stand and escape but Maksimenko is controlling the position.

Maksimenko kicks off Koksaja and gets to his feet.
Maksimenko tries for a takedown but Koksaja sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maksimenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaido Koksaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Maksimenko.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koksaja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Maksimenko shoots in but Koksaja avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maksimenko wants it to stay on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Maksimenko.
Kaido Koksaja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koksaja shoots in but Maksimenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maksimenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koksaja tries to land a front kick but Maksimenko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Maksimenko looking to score a takedown here. Koksaja is defending well but Maksimenko drives through and ends up in Koksaja's guard.
Maksimenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maksimenko connects with a couple of short punches.
Maksimenko working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Maksimenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Maksimenko has managed to clinch.

Maksimenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maksimenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maksimenko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koksaja sprawls well. Koksaja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maksimenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Koksaja is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maksimenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Maksimenko stuffs the takedown.
Maksimenko wants to clinch
and Koksaja counters with a two punch combo.
Maksimenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Koksaja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maksimenko looks for a takedown but Koksaja sprawls well.
Kaido Koksaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Maksimenko.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice sprawl there from Koksaja as Maksimenko shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maksimenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koksaja shoots in but no luck this time.
Maksimenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koksaja paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Maksimenko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Koksaja wants to get back to his feet.

Maksimenko decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Koksaja gets caught napping as Maksimenko dives in and scores a takedown. Koksaja manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko postures up.
Koksaja doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Maksimenko stands up and waves to Koksaja to follow him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maksimenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Maksimenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koksaja stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Koksaja swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maksimenko.

Maksimenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Koksaja's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Maksimenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maksimenko throwing strikes from guard but Koksaja blocks nicely.
Maksimenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Maksimenko won't allow Koksaja to sweep him here.
Maksimenko wants to stand but Koksaja is controlling his posture from full guard.
Maksimenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Koksaja's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maksimenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Koksaja is trying to control the position but Maksimenko postures up.
Maksimenko connects with a couple of short punches.

Koksaja manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Maksimenko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Koksaja quickly recovers to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Maksimenko stands up from half guard.
Maksimenko dives in and grabs Koksaja's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koksaja pushes down on Maksimenko's head and hops out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koksaja avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaido Koksaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Igor Maksimenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maksimenko shoots for a takedown but Koksaja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Maksimenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maksimenko 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Maksimenko!
During a confident post fight interview, Igor Maksimenko thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.