PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Husejn Gradascevic (ranked 4715 p4p, 428 weight class) and Alexander Kokorin (ranked 4763 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.

Gradascevic
vs
Kokorin

188 cm
25
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Husejn Gradascevic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Kokorin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kokorin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gradascevic might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kokorin gets to his feet - Gradascevic follows without any prompting.

Kokorin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gradascevic is trying to escape back to his feet but Kokorin uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Gradascevic is trying to get back to half guard.
Gradascevic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Gradascevic wants to improve his position but Kokorin is controlling well.
Gradascevic is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kokorin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gradascevic's head.
Kokorin trying to control from half guard but Gradascevic is working away.
Gradascevic wants to improve his position but Kokorin is controlling well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are battling for position here. Gradascevic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gradascevic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kokorin has hold of Gradascevic's hands but Gradascevic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kokorin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gradascevic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gradascevic in particular looking to stall.
Gradascevic landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kokorin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kokorin is trying to maintain the position but Gradascevic is very close to passing his half guard.
Gradascevic scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gradascevic perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Gradascevic is looking for a kimura but Kokorin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gradascevic to get the leverage.
Gradascevic working the head and body with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kokorin can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kokorin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gradascevic lands a nice short elbow.
Gradascevic seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gradascevic winds up and cracks Kokorin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kokorin is looking to improve his position.
Kokorin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kokorin tries to roll over but Gradascevic keeps him under control.
Gradascevic lands strikes from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kokorin is looking for a sweep. Gradascevic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gradascevic is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kokorin defends it well.
Kokorin throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Well, if Gradascevic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kokorin wants to control but Gradascevic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gradascevic connects with a nice short shot to Kokorin's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gradascevic looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kokorin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gradascevic drops an elbow to the side of Kokorin's head.
Kokorin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gradascevic scores with a couple of nice shots.

Kokorin is rocked!
Gradascevic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gradascevic is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kokorin is still in real trouble! Can Gradascevic finish him?
Gradascevic lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Kokorin quite badly. Kokorin pulls Gradascevic in close trying to recover. Gradascevic postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Kokorin on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Kokorin doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Husejn Gradascevic!