PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Victor Stroev (ranked 4259 p4p, 426 weight class) and Ivan Koloff (ranked 7334 p4p, 574 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Koloff's choice of entrance music: We Will Rock You. Ivan Koloff will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Stroev
vs
Koloff

175 cm
26
156 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

181 cm
24
163 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Stroev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Koloff!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stroev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Koloff struggling a bit here.
Koloff sneaks back into half guard.
Stroev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Stroev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koloff trying to hold on to Stroev's head to control him but Stroev postures up.
Stroev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Koloff connects with a solid leg kick.
Stroev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koloff tries to keep at a distance but Stroev has taken the fight into the clinch.
Koloff struggles to land a body shot inside as Stroev controls his hands.
Koloff lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stroev backwards.

Stroev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stroev takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Stroev dives in and scores a takedown into Koloff's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Stroev gets to his feet. Koloff looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Koloff thuds his shin into the meat of Stroev's side.
Stroev fails to land the takedown.
Koloff lands a jab to Stroev's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stroev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Koloff being controlled here, momentarily.
Stroev postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stroev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stroev's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Stroev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Koloff scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Koloff throws a series of punches but Stroev avoids them all with ease.
Stroev throws a counter high kick but Koloff was just alert enough to avoid it.
Stroev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koloff.
Stroev throws a big counter combination but Koloff scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stroev closes the distance and clinches up with Koloff, looking for a takedown. Stroev pushes Koloff against the cage but Koloff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stroev takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Koloff throws a quick inside leg kick.
Stroev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Koloff throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stroev's head.
Koloff throws a head kick that Stroev semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koloff moves out of range of the body kick.
Koloff lands with a slapping head kick.
Koloff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Stroev does no damage.
Koloff changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Koloff has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Koloff gets tackled into the cage by Stroev. Stroev maintains the clinch.

Stroev pulls Koloff into guard.
Stroev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stroev tries to get out of the position.
Stroev is adopting a defensive guard.
Stroev keeping moving, preventing Koloff from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Koloff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Stroev working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Koloff has passed into half guard!
Stroev has his hands clasped together around Koloff's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stroev looking for submissions off his back.
Koloff prevents Stroev from standing back up.
Koloff not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Koloff is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stroev defends it well.
Koloff thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stroev's head.
Koloff is looking to take a break and control but Stroev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koloff.
Stroev is concentrating on defense, preventing Koloff from advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Koloff scoring well with a low kick there.

Stroev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Stroev drops an elbow to the side of Koloff's head.
Stroev working Koloff over with strikes.
Stroev wants to free his trapped foot but Koloff is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stroev lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stroev is looking for submissions but instead, Koloff has regained full guard.
Koloff avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stroev looking to pass the guard.
Stroev is working hard here to advance position.
Stroev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Koloff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Stroev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Koloff's half guard.
Stroev is looking to pass Koloff's guard but actually Koloff recovers to full guard.
Stroev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koloff wants to sweep here but Stroev controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koloff preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stroev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroev wants to pass the guard but Koloff is keeping the position.
Stroev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stroev dives in and grabs Koloff's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koloff pushes down on Stroev's head and hops out.
Koloff steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Stroev.
Stroev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stroev blocks a head kick by Koloff.
A nice leg kick lands there from Koloff.

Stroev clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stroev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Koloff uses from the top position.
Stroev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Koloff stands and throws Stroev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Koloff trying to control the action but Stroev is working from the bottom.
Koloff throws an elbow but Stroev slips to the side and avoids it well.
Stroev is trying to control Koloff's posture but Koloff avoids it.
Stroev tries to buck Koloff off but Koloff is having none of it.
Stroev defending against the ground and pound.
Stroev is not content to let Koloff control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koloff in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Koloff throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Stroev is looking to regain half guard here but Koloff keeps moving and retains side control.
Koloff working away.

Koloff wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stroev, who protects the arm well.
Stroev is trying to get back to his feet.

Koloff working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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.
Stroev wants to control but Koloff postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Stroev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koloff wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stroev holding on.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Koloff wants to break free but Stroev has control.
We've been informed that Koloff has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Stroev tries to pull guard but Koloff forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Koloff.
I think Koloff has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Koloff!
A victorious Ivan Koloff thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.