PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Khrapov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitrtiy Koschelev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Khrapov
vs
Koschelev

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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, Vasiliy Khrapov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrtiy Koschelev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koschelev connects with a high kick.

It looks like Vasiliy Khrapov has been cut.
Khrapov keeps the fight on the outside.
Khrapov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Koschelev counters with a three punch combo that has Khrapov backing up. Khrapov nods at Koschelev to acknowledge the strikes.
Koschelev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Koschelev tries to keep at a distance but Khrapov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Khrapov pulls guard successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Khrapov is trying to control the position but Koschelev postures up.
Koschelev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Khrapov is proving hard to escape from.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Khrapov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A low kick from Khrapov misses
and Koschelev counters with a series of strikes. Khrapov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Koschelev wants to clinch.
Khrapov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koschelev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khrapov throws a series of punches but Koschelev moves out of range.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch but Khrapov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khrapov swats away the attempt to clinch by Koschelev.
Khrapov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Khrapov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Koschelev counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Koschelev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khrapov.
Koschelev tries to clinch up but Khrapov circles away and keeps his distance.
Khrapov throws a leg kick that is checked
and Koschelev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khrapov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Khrapov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khrapov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Koschelev lands a head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koschelev slips a jab and a cross from Khrapov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Khrapov is breathing heavily.
A combination from Khrapov does no damage.
Khrapov takes a kick to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koschelev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Khrapov forces Koschelev back against the cage and clinches.
Khrapov is trying to push Koschelev away but Koschelev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Khrapov has had enough of the clinch but Koschelev keeps him there for the moment.

Khrapov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khrapov tries to bum rush Koschelev with a series of wild strikes but Koschelev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Khrapov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Khrapov lands in his opponent's guard.
Koschelev wants to get back to his feet but Khrapov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koschelev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Khrapov looking to sit in guard and control but Koschelev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Khrapov is trying to control the position but Koschelev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vasiliy Khrapov.
Koschelev lands a head kick!
Khrapov has a takedown stuffed.
Khrapov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Khrapov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Khrapov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Koschelev counters with a left to the body.

Khrapov takes the fight into the clinch.
Koschelev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Koschelev is trying to break the clinch but Khrapov has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Khrapov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khrapov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khrapov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koschelev is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitrtiy Koschelev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vasiliy Khrapov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koschelev bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Koschelev moves in looking to clinch but Khrapov pushes him off.
Koschelev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Koschelev tries to clinch but Khrapov is having none of it.
Khrapov keeps the fight on the outside.
Khrapov stalks Koschelev and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Koschelev's face. Koschelev staggers backwards, shaken.
Koschelev slips a jab and a cross from Khrapov.
Koschelev closes the distance but Khrapov moves to the side

and Khrapov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khrapov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Koschelev kicks off Khrapov and gets to his feet.
Khrapov misses with a combination
and Koschelev counters with a slapping leg kick.
Vasiliy Khrapov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koschelev lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch but Khrapov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khrapov scores with a nice head shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khrapov misses with a wild combination.
Koschelev lands a jab to the head.
Khrapov misses with a two punch combination.
Koschelev throws a shot to the body.
Khrapov scores with a jab.
Koschelev slips a jab and a cross from Khrapov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koschelev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koschelev lands a two punch combo.
Khrapov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Koschelev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koschelev throws a series of punches but Khrapov moves out of range.
Koschelev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koschelev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koschelev tries to clinch there but Khrapov circles away.
Koschelev slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koschelev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koschelev wants to clinch.
Koschelev tries to clinch up.
Khrapov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Koschelev closes the distance but Khrapov moves to the side

and Khrapov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Khrapov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Vasiliy Khrapov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khrapov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khrapov prevents Koschelev from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koschelev's head.
Khrapov throws a strike but Koschelev avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Khrapov distracts Koschelev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Khrapov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khrapov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khrapov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khrapov looking to sit in guard and control but Koschelev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Khrapov controlling Koschelev's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov wants to sweep here but Koschelev controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vasiliy Khrapov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Khrapov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khrapov throws a lazy right hand but Koschelev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Khrapov misses with the combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koschelev looks to land a combination but Khrapov avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Khrapov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vasiliy Khrapov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Koschelev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Koschelev tries to clinch up but Khrapov circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Khrapov misses.

Khrapov drops Koschelev with a beautiful combination! Koschelev stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Khrapov is looking for the KO!

Koschelev is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khrapov misses with a double jab
and Koschelev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Koschelev is still on wobbly legs! Can Khrapov finish him?
Khrapov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Koschelev seems to have recovered his senses.
Khrapov misses with a few strikes there.
Koschelev is looking to clinch.
Khrapov throws a nice looking combination but Koschelev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koschelev tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Khrapov counters by moving into the clinch.

Koschelev breaks from the clinch.
Khrapov dodges the punch combination from Koschelev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khrapov misses with a double jab
and Koschelev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koschelev lands with a good body shot.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khrapov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khrapov looks to land a combination but Koschelev avoids it well.
Khrapov throws a series of punches but Koschelev avoids them all with ease.
Koschelev lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Koschelev tries to clinch but Khrapov moves out of range.
Dmitrtiy Koschelev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Koschelev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koschelev is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Khrapov rather than just go for the knockout.
Khrapov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khrapov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koschelev fails to land with a series of punches.
Koschelev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khrapov.
Koschelev slips a jab and a cross from Khrapov.
Koschelev misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khrapov throws a combination that misses
and Koschelev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Koschelev doesn't manage to clinch there - Khrapov circles away.
Koschelev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Khrapov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Khrapov misses with a series of wild punches.
Khrapov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khrapov throws out a leg kick but Koschelev moves out of range and Khrapov only half commits.
Khrapov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Khrapov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Koschelev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Khrapov misses with a double jab.
Koschelev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koschelev misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koschelev scores with a leg kick.
A combination from Khrapov does no damage.
Koschelev throws a nice head kick!

Khrapov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Khrapov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Koschelev throws a head kick that Khrapov semi-blocks.
Khrapov throws a nice looking combination but Koschelev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koschelev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Khrapov misses with the combination.
Koschelev is looking to clinch.
Khrapov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Koschelev moves in looking to clinch but Khrapov pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov misses with a few strikes there.
Koschelev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Koschelev connects with a high kick.
Dmitrtiy Koschelev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Khrapov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Koschelev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Khrapov forces Koschelev back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Khrapov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koschelev tries to clinch up.
Koschelev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Khrapov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Koschelev tries to keep at a distance but Khrapov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Khrapov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vasiliy Khrapov.
I think Khrapov 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasiliy Khrapov!