PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Reading (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danila Kormov (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.

Reading
vs
Kormov

188 cm
24
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Taylor Reading!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Danila Kormov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kormov tries to keep at a distance but Reading has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kormov can't break the clinch.

Reading ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Reading no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kormov throwing strikes from guard but Reading blocks nicely.
Reading could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kormov wants to stand but Reading has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kormov throwing strikes but missing.
Kormov is looking to work some ground and pound but Reading has wrist control.
Reading is trying to control the position but Kormov postures up.
Kormov postures up and lands a big shot to Reading's brow.
Kormov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kormov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kormov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kormov throws an elbow that misses. Reading uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kormov's guard. Nice move by Reading!

Kormov is working an open guard so Reading takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kormov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kormov cracks Reading with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Reading can't do much from the bottom here.
Reading is pushing Kormov's head away, looking to escape. Kormov manages to hold on to the position though.
Reading wants to control but Kormov postures up.
Kormov wants to stand but Reading has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reading pushes Kormov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kormov tries to clinch but Reading is having none of it.

Kormov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Reading looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kormov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Reading gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Reading keeping hold of Kormov's head, controlling as best he can.
Kormov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reading. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kormov tries to stand and escape but Reading actually recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kormov is looking to stand up but Reading won't let him.
Kormov is looking to advance position but Reading has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kormov is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Reading misses with a head shot.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kormov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kormov tries to hold on but Reading pushes him away.
Reading tries to control but Kormov wriggling away.
Kormov blocking the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reading sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kormov is squirming around, avoiding Reading's attempts to control the action.
Kormov tries to improve his position but instead Reading has taken his back!
Kormov trying to control the hands but Reading won't let him.
Kormov is trying to break free.
Kormov looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reading biding his time, controlling Kormov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Danila Kormov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reading looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reading tries for a takedown but Kormov circles away easily

and Kormov counters with a takedown into side control.
Kormov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kormov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kormov working the strikes but Reading uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Kormov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Reading slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kormov postures up.
Kormov wants to get up but he can't break Reading's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Reading has his feet on Kormov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kormov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Reading moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Reading shoots and misses
and Kormov counters with a left and a right that stings Reading.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taylor Reading. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reading shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kormov sprawls well. Kormov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Reading gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good shot there by Reading.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kormov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Reading gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kormov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kormov throws an elbow that misses. Reading uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kormov's guard. Nice move by Reading!
Kormov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kormov keeping moving, preventing Reading from controlling successfully.
Kormov looking to control but Reading passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reading trying to control the action but Kormov is working from the bottom.

Reading is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kormov sees it coming and defends easily.
Kormov is trying to get back to full guard.
Reading content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kormov is not content to let Reading control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reading wants to work for an arm triangle but Kormov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kormov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reading is working away from the top position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reading takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Reading is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danila Kormov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Reading's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kormov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kormov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sloppy strikes there by Kormov.
Reading gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Reading slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Reading will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kormov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Reading holds on and takes a little breather.
Reading keeping full guard, as Kormov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reading trying to control the position.
Kormov looking to pass the guard.
Reading controls Kormov momentarily but Kormov frees himself.
Kormov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Kormov gets to his feet - Reading follows without any prompting.
Reading tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kormov swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reading shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kormov but Kormov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kormov clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reading fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taylor Reading. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reading changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kormov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kormov lands with a nice combination. Reading backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Taylor Reading has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kormov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Reading is trying to stand up here but Kormov is controlling him well.
Kormov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kormov is keen to just control but Reading is a slippery customer.
Reading avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kormov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kormov wants to take a breather but Reading is having none of it.
Kormov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kormov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Reading with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Reading looking for submissions off his back.
Kormov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kormov stalling away here and it's allowed Reading to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Kormov looking to pass the guard.
Kormov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kormov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reading manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kormov manages to get himself to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kormov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kormov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kormov trying to keep a closed guard but Reading is proving a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kormov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Reading manages to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danila Kormov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kormov 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danila Kormov!