PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pyrrhus Epirus (ranked 2724 p4p, 325 weight class) and Sergey Kostrov (ranked 1296 p4p, 184 weight class). Epirus comes to the ring accompanied by The Devil and The Huntsman. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Epirus
vs
Kostrov

178 cm
31
171 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

170 cm
22
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pyrrhus Epirus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Kostrov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Epirus misses
and Kostrov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kostrov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little jabbing left from Kostrov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kostrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Epirus darts in and clinches Kostrov up against the ropes.
Epirus working aggressively here.
Kostrov is looking to control Epirus's arms but Epirus gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kostrov has his back to the ropes.

Kostrov breaks from the clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kostrov. That's going to slow Epirus down.
Kostrov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kostrov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Epirus is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Epirus wants to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a stiff right hand.
Epirus moves in looking to clinch but Kostrov pushes him off.
Kostrov is looking for the big counter here.
Epirus lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pyrrhus Epirus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epirus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch there but Kostrov circles away.
Epirus wants to clinch.
Kostrov is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Epirus closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Epirus fails to land.
Epirus misses with some punches.
Kostrov lands a body shot.
Kostrov lands a right hand.
Kostrov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Kostrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Epirus on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kostrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kostrov throws a sloppy head kick and Epirus moves out of range easily.
Kostrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Epirus.
Kostrov throws out a counter right but Epirus avoids it with no problem.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch up.
Kostrov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Epirus wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epirus is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kostrov.
Epirus takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
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!
Epirus tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kostrov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kostrov tries to keep at a distance but Epirus has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kostrov tries a knee to the head but Epirus blocks it.
Kostrov tries a knee to the head but Epirus blocks it.
Kostrov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Epirus blocks it with crossed arms.

Kostrov manages to break the clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves out of range.
Epirus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Epirus forces Kostrov back against the ropes and clinches.

Kostrov breaks the clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Kostrov to counter with a crisp jab.
A combination from Epirus does no damage.
Kostrov throws out a counter right but Epirus avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epirus lands a high kick!

It looks like Sergey Kostrov has been cut.
Kostrov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Epirus misses with a straight right.
Epirus takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kostrov throws a shot to the body.
Epirus wants to clinch but Kostrov slips to the side
enabling Kostrov to counter with a crisp jab.
Kostrov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kostrov misses with a looping left.
Epirus is looking to clinch but Kostrov is avoiding it.
Epirus moves in looking to clinch but Kostrov pushes him off.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostrov connects with a nice looking jab.
Kostrov looks to land a body kick but Epirus moved away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Epirus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Epirus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Epirus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kostrov counters with a straight right hand.
Epirus tries to clinch up but Kostrov circles away and keeps his distance.
Epirus wants to clinch
and Kostrov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epirus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kostrov counters with a stiff right hand.
Epirus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kostrov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Epirus darts in trying to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves out of range.
Epirus tries to clinch up but Kostrov circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kostrov. That's going to slow Epirus down.
Kostrov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kostrov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Epirus had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Epirus tries to clinch up.
Kostrov misses with a body kick.
Epirus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kostrov tries a quick counter leg kick but Epirus is wise to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kostrov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergey Kostrov's cut.
That's time! Epirus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kostrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Epirus.
Epirus tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kostrov! But no joy.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kostrov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kostrov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Epirus throws a right hand that Kostrov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kostrov also avoids with ease.
Kostrov misses with a straight right.
Epirus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Kostrov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice jab there from Kostrov.
Kostrov loads up on a big right hand but Epirus slips the punch.
Kostrov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epirus throws a lazy head kick
and Epirus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kostrov lands a jab to the head.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov is having none of it.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostrov is looking for the big counter here.
Epirus tries to clinch up but Kostrov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kostrov flicks out a counter leg kick but Epirus steps away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epirus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kostrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Epirus moves to clinch but Kostrov breaks away
and Kostrov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Epirus wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Kostrov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Epirus moves out of range as Kostrov strikes.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Kostrov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Epirus is out of range and Kostrov settles back down.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves away
and Kostrov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Epirus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Epirus wants to clinch
enabling Kostrov to counter with a crisp jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kostrov.
Epirus tries to clinch up.
Kostrov throws a big counter head kick but Epirus avoids it with no problem.
Epirus tries to clinch up
and Kostrov counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Epirus wants to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostrov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kostrov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Epirus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kostrov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Epirus is looking to clinch but Kostrov is avoiding it.
Epirus tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kostrov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Kostrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Epirus wants to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Kostrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kostrov flicks out a counter leg kick but Epirus steps away.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Epirus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kostrov. Kostrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kostrov misses with an uppercut.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch but Kostrov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Epirus tries to clinch up
and Kostrov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Epirus wants to clinch.
Epirus moves out of range as Kostrov strikes.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves out of range.
A jab from Kostrov finds it's way through Epirus's defenses.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Kostrov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kostrov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Epirus. That's going to slow Kostrov down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves away
and Kostrov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Epirus has a couple of punches blocked by Kostrov.
Kostrov misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostrov looking to throw knees to the head but Epirus is blocking nicely.
Epirus throws an elbow but it misses.
Epirus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Epirus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kostrov backwards.
Kostrov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Epirus is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Epirus pushes Kostrov back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pyrrhus Epirus has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kostrov blocks an uppercut.

Kostrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Epirus throws an off balance right hand
and Kostrov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kostrov, as that shot connected.
Kostrov misses with a hook.
As Kostrov looks to move away, Epirus throws a big counter combo but Kostrov just gets out of the way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Epirus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Epirus moves to clinch but Kostrov breaks away
and Kostrov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Epirus's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Kostrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sergey Kostrov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kostrov lands with a right hand.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kostrov throws a leg kick but Epirus checks it.
Kostrov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kostrov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Epirus tries to clinch there but Kostrov circles away.
Kostrov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kostrov connects with a solid leg kick.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kostrov, as that shot connected.
Epirus doesn't manage to clinch there - Kostrov circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epirus looks to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kostrov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Epirus momentarily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Epirus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kostrov throws a head kick but Epirus moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epirus looks to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves away
and Epirus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Epirus misses with a body shot.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kostrov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Epirus throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kostrov.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Epirus looks to clinch
and Kostrov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch but Kostrov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Epirus looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Epirus tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kostrov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kostrov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Epirus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kostrov misses with a low kick as Epirus jumps back.
Kostrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Epirus clinches up against the ropes.
Epirus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Epirus scores with an uppercut up the middle.
I was talking to Epirus's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostrov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kostrov misses with a knee strike.
Kostrov tries a knee to the head but Epirus blocks it.
Kostrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Epirus lands with a short shot to the head.
Epirus misses with a punch on the inside.

Kostrov manages to break the clinch.
Kostrov tries to work over Epirus's front leg with a kick but Epirus checks it.
Kostrov swats away the attempt to clinch by Epirus.
Epirus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kostrov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Epirus thinking.
Epirus tries to move into range but Kostrov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Epirus tries to clinch but Kostrov moves out of range.
Kostrov lands with a nice body punch.
Kostrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kostrov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sergey Kostrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Kostrov keeps it at a distance.
Sergey Kostrov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epirus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Epirus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Epirus rushes Kostrov and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Epirus has a couple of punches blocked by Kostrov.
A knee to the head by Kostrov.
Kostrov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Epirus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pyrrhus Epirus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Epirus throws a punch but it's blocked by Kostrov.
Epirus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kostrov misses with a knee strike.
Epirus has a couple of punches blocked by Kostrov.
Epirus working aggressively here.
Epirus throws a punch but it's blocked by Kostrov.
Epirus connects with a knee to the head.
Epirus lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Epirus fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epirus misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epirus.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kostrov blocking some punches.
Kostrov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kostrov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Epirus creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kostrov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Epirus misses with the head strike.
Epirus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kostrov pushes Epirus back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kostrov taking a breather.
Epirus misses with an elbow over the top.
Epirus throws a head punch that misses.
Kostrov blocks an uppercut.
Kostrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kostrov misses with a knee strike.
Epirus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kostrov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Kostrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kostrov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Sergey Kostrov!

Sergey Kostrov wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Sergey Kostrov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.