PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kokorin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kokorin
vs
Morris

189 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
276 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuri Kokorin!
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, Jack Morris!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris shoots in for a takedown but Kokorin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kokorin.
Morris throws a front kick aimed at Kokorin's knee but Kokorin avoids it well.
Kokorin tries to counter with a takedown but Morris is quick to defend against it.
Kokorin with a poor takedown
and Kokorin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kokorin throws a right and a left that Morris avoids nicely.
Morris tries to clinch there but Kokorin circles away.

Morris clinches.

Morris jumps guard and drags Kokorin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kokorin wants to control from the top but Morris keeps moving.
Morris really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kokorin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morris throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kokorin escapes and throws Morris's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Morris looks to move to half guard but instead Kokorin has passed into mount! Damn!
Kokorin content just to control the position here.
Kokorin unloads with some shots from mount but Morris bucks and avoids them well.
Kokorin prevents Morris from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kokorin tries to control but Morris wriggling away.
Morris is in all sorts of trouble here.
Morris is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Kokorin controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morris is squirming around, avoiding Kokorin's attempts to control the action.

Kokorin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Morris has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin looking to ground and pound but Morris is blocking nicely.
Morris is trying to reverse the position but instead Kokorin has taken his back - oops!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
I would not like to be Morris right now.
Kokorin somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Morris tries to escape but Kokorin has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Morris trying to control the action but Kokorin just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin trying to control momentarily.
Morris is in bad spot here.
Kokorin controls the action.

Kokorin working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kokorin has the hooks in. Morris is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Kokorin 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.

Kokorin fails with a takedown attempt.
Yuri Kokorin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kokorin avoids it really well and circles away.
Kokorin doesn't manage to clinch there - Morris circles away.
Morris throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kokorin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kokorin throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Morris fails with an attempt to clinch.

Morris fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kokorin, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Morris taking a breather.
Kokorin has Morris pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Morris manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kokorin tries to pull guard but Morris holds him up against the cage and eventually Kokorin drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kokorin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Morris is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Morris prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kokorin tries for a takedown. No joy.

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.
Kokorin can't get the takedown.
Morris tries for a takedown but Kokorin manages to get underhooks.

Kokorin drags the fight down to the ground.
Morris looking to sit in guard and control but Kokorin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kokorin trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.
Kokorin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kokorin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kokorin prevents Morris from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Morris wants to improve his position but Kokorin is controlling well.

Kokorin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Morris holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Morris is trying to maintain the position but Kokorin is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morris wants to get back to full guard.
Kokorin is trying to control. Morris wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Morris wants to improve his position but Kokorin is controlling well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kokorin misses with a head kick.
Kokorin shoots in but Morris avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Morris raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Kokorin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Kokorin dominated that second 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. 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.

Morris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kokorin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kokorin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Kokorin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Morris can do to turn this around?
Kokorin shoots in looking for a takedown but Morris manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kokorin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morris wants it to stay on the feet.
Morris shoots in and drives through. Kokorin sprawls well.
Kokorin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Morris shoots in looking for a takedown but Kokorin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Morris's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Yuri Kokorin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Morris.
Morris misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kokorin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Morris sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Morris changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Morris shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kokorin sprawls well. Kokorin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morris gets slowly back to his feet.
Morris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Kokorin as Morris shoots in.
Kokorin dives in and grabs Morris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morris pushes down on Kokorin's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokorin fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kokorin is defended easily by Morris.
Morris tries to counter with a clinch but Kokorin shakes him off and moves away.
Morris shoots in and drives through. Kokorin sprawls well.
Kokorin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kokorin moves in looking to clinch but Morris pushes him off.

Morris gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morris.
Morris can't break the clinch.
Kokorin tries for a takedown. No joy.

Kokorin breaks from the clinch.
Kokorin blocks a low kick nicely.
Kokorin dives in and grabs Morris's left leg, looking for a takedown. Morris pushes down on Kokorin's head and hops out.
Yuri Kokorin is winning the standup battle so far.
Kokorin shoots in looking for a takedown but Morris manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kokorin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kokorin shoots in but no luck this time.
Morris shoots in for a takedown but Kokorin shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris stuns Kokorin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Morris looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Morris gets a clinch.

Morris jumps guard and drags Kokorin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Morris working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kokorin.
Morris controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Morris can do anything to dispel that myth.
Morris is trying to control the position but Kokorin postures up.

Kokorin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Morris throws a head kick but Kokorin moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokorin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kokorin stuffs the takedown attempt from Morris. Morris gets slowly back to his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Kokorin misses its target.
Kokorin wants to clinch up but Morris keeps it at a distance.

Morris moves into the clinch.
Kokorin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Morris's elbow.
Morris wants to break free but Kokorin has control.
Morris tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kokorin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kokorin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kokorin connects with a high kick.
Jack Morris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yuri Kokorin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like Jack Morris has been cut.
Kokorin doesn't manage to clinch there - Morris circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jack Morris.
I think Kokorin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight for Yuri Kokorin!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Yuri Kokorin!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Yuri Kokorin!

Yuri Kokorin wins by unanimous decision!