PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cory Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Barzakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barzakov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Alexander The Great by Iron Maiden. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Scott
vs
Barzakov

184 cm
21
160 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cory Scott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Barzakov!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barzakov.
Scott does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barzakov swinging wilding here.
Scott uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barzakov.

Scott darts in and clinches Barzakov up against the cage.

Scott wants the takedown. Barzakov is fighting it off but Scott persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Barzakov's guard against the cage.
Barzakov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Scott sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barzakov's guard.
Barzakov manages to get to full guard.
Barzakov has Scott pulled in close to control his posture.
Scott throwing strikes from guard but Barzakov blocks nicely.

Scott drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Scott jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott pushes down on Barzakov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Barzakov wants to control but Scott passes into side.
Barzakov is looking for a sweep.

Scott swings around for an armbar but Barzakov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Scott's guard.
Barzakov is fighting to break Scott's control of his arms but Scott is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barzakov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barzakov won't allow Scott to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov is looking to work some ground and pound but Scott has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barzakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Scott is retaining full guard.
Scott is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barzakov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Barzakov throws a big right hand that misses.
Scott keeping moving, preventing Barzakov from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Scott looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barzakov is fending him off so far but Scott persists. Nope, Barzakov circles away and we're back to standing.
Scott with a lazy takedown attempt
and Barzakov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Scott is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barzakov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Barzakov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Scott preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barzakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Scott is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barzakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Scott is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Scott can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barzakov controls the pace.
Barzakov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Barzakov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Barzakov lands a couple of elbows.
Barzakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Barzakov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barzakov clinches up with Scott and pushes him back against the cage.
Scott wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Scott tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Scott is trying to drag Barzakov to the mat but Barzakov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Scott wants to break the clinch but can't.

Barzakov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barzakov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Barzakov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Scott reverses the position - he's now on top in Barzakov's guard.
Scott preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barzakov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Scott drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Scott jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barzakov wants to sweep but no luck.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barzakov can do anything to dispel that myth.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Barzakov holds on and takes a little breather.
Barzakov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Barzakov controls Scott momentarily but Scott frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barzakov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barzakov keeps the fight on the outside.
Scott tries to clinch there but Barzakov circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Scott misses with a head kick.

Barzakov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Barzakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Scott is trying to control the position but Barzakov postures up.
Scott can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barzakov controls the pace.
Barzakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Barzakov looking to pass the guard.
Barzakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Scott controls Barzakov momentarily but Barzakov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barzakov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Scott's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barzakov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barzakov stays in close to Scott's body and controls the position.
Barzakov scoring with some ground and pound.
Barzakov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Scott is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barzakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Barzakov 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.

Nice cross by Barzakov.
Scott moves in looking to clinch but Barzakov pushes him off.
Barzakov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Scott moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice sprawl there from Barzakov as Scott shoots in.
Barzakov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Scott gets caught flat footed, as Barzakov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barzakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barzakov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Scott working a defensive guard here.
Scott keeping full guard, as Barzakov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barzakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Scott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barzakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Despite being in the dominant position, Alexander Barzakov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barzakov wants to clinch up but Scott keeps it at a distance.
Scott has a takedown stuffed.

Barzakov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Scott, pushing him back against the cage.
Scott jumps guard but Barzakov stands there with Scott around his waist. Scott gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barzakov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Scott throws an elbow but it misses.

Barzakov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Barzakov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Scott. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barzakov trying to control the pace.
Barzakov working Scott over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Barzakov seems content to control.
Barzakov uses his free foot to push down on Scott's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Scott.
Barzakov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barzakov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Barzakov.
Scott takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Scott takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Barzakov scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barzakov controlling his opponent.
Scott taking shots to the head.
Barzakov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Alexander Barzakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alexander Barzakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cory Scott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barzakov lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barzakov controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Barzakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barzakov 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 William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Barzakov!