PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Koslov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wolf Messing (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koslov comes into the arena with Requiem for a Dream blaring out of the sound system. Messing is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Young Jeezy - I Put On. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koslov
vs
Messing

191 cm
23
245 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

196 cm
21
248 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Koslov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wolf Messing!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Messing avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koslov throws a series of punches but Messing moves out of range.
Messing shoots and misses
and Koslov counters with a nice uppercut.
Messing with a lazy takedown attempt
and Koslov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A punch combination from Koslov misses.
Messing misses with a takedown

and Koslov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Igor Koslov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wolf Messing.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Messing looking for submissions off his back.
Messing works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messing can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koslov controls the pace.

Messing is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koslov is aware though and is defending well.
Messing is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Koslov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messing is keeping the position for now.
Messing is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Messing working a defensive guard but Koslov passes into half guard.

That's two 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.

Messing looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Koslov trying to mount his opponent but Messing defends it.

Messing is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Koslov pulls his head out easily.
Koslov uses his free foot to push down on Messing's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Messing.
Koslov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messing is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Koslov controlling from the full mount.
Messing tries to hold on but Koslov pushes him away.
Koslov wants to control the pace but Messing is squirming around nicely.
Messing is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Messing is squirming around, avoiding Koslov's attempts to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Messing avoids the head kick by Koslov.
Messing wants to clinch up but Koslov keeps it at a distance.
Koslov tries to land a front kick but Messing steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Messing with a lazy takedown attempt
and Koslov counters with a series of strikes. Messing will be more careful next time no doubt.
Koslov scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Koslov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Koslov misses with a takedown attempt

and Messing counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Messing is looking to take a break and control but Koslov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Messing is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Koslov reverses the position - he's now on top in Messing's guard.

Messing working for submissions but it's allowed Koslov to get to half guard.
Koslov is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messing looking for submissions off his back.
Messing is looking to control Koslov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Messing avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koslov is taking a breather. Messing says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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.

Koslov moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Messing.
Messing can't do much from the bottom here.
Messing gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Koslov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Messing misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koslov slows the pace down in half guard.
Messing wants to control but Koslov is keeping busy.
Koslov not doing much here.
Messing trying to hold on to Koslov's head to control him but Koslov postures up.

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.

We're going to have a standup here because Igor Koslov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A punch combination from Koslov misses.

Koslov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Koslov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Messing will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Koslov wants to control but Messing is keeping him busy.
Messing struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Igor Koslov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Koslov sizes up Messing with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Koslov misses with a wild combination.
Koslov throws a head kick that misses

and Messing counters with a nice double leg into side control. Koslov won't be happy with that.
Messing is looking to take a break and control but Koslov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Messing is trying to get an arm triangle but Koslov is defending well.

Messing tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Messing has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Messing goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Koslov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Messing but great work by Koslov.
Koslov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Messing keeps working.

Koslov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Messing gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Koslov counters with a left and a right that stings Messing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koslov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Koslov throws a series of punches but Messing avoids them all with ease.
Messing wants to clinch

and Koslov counters with a shoot takedown. Messing fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Messing working for a triangle but Koslov defends it easily.
Messing takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Messing tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Messing working for a triangle but Koslov defends it easily.
Koslov forces his way into half guard.
Messing strikes from the bottom but Koslov passes into mount!
Koslov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Messing is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Messing wants to control but Koslov is having none of it.
Igor Koslov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Koslov trying to control but Messing is having none of it.
Wolf Messing has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Messing keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koslov looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Koslov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koslov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Koslov!