PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Korolev (ranked 2159 p4p, 2633 weight class) and Macka Briggs (ranked 308 p4p, 360 weight class). Briggs is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Stepping Razor by Peter Tosh. Alexander Korolev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Korolev
vs
Briggs

180 cm
21
196
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
21
195
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Korolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Macka Briggs!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Korolev.
Korolev swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Briggs.
Briggs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Korolev.
Korolev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Korolev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korolev throws a right hand that misses
and Briggs counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Korolev misses with a hook.
Korolev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Briggs.
Korolev loads up on a big right hand but Briggs slips the punch.
Briggs takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Briggs throws a right and a left that Korolev avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Briggs throws a right and a left that Korolev avoids nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Korolev.
Korolev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Korolev throws an off balance right hand
and Briggs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jab by Korolev.
Korolev lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev throws a hook but Briggs blocks it.
Korolev throws a poor cross that misses
letting Briggs counter with a right hand.
Briggs looks to land a combination but Korolev avoids it well.
Korolev throws a looping overhand right but Briggs ducks down to avoid it.
Korolev lands a jab to the head.
Briggs tries to move into range but Korolev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Briggs takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Briggs blocks a jab.
Korolev missing with a left hand there. Briggs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Korolev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Korolev there as he acknowledges the shot.
A combination from Korolev does no damage.
Korolev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Briggs.
Briggs looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Korolev throws a body shot but no joy.
Briggs let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Korolev misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korolev connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Briggs's hands.
Briggs gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A big right from Briggs misses.
Korolev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Briggs.
Briggs lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Korolev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Briggs.
Briggs lands a slapping body shot.
Korolev throws a body punch but Briggs moves out of range.
Korolev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Briggs counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Korolev does no damage.
Briggs slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Korolev.
Good standup being displayed there by Briggs as he connects with a hook.
Korolev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheers as Briggs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Korolev doesn't seem phased though.
Alexander Korolev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korolev throws a hook but Briggs blocks it.
Briggs looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Briggs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev throws an off balance right hand
and Briggs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Alexander Korolev's cut is getting worse.
Korolev swings away with a body shot that misses
and Briggs cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Korolev throws the left hand but Briggs avoids the punch easily.
Briggs ducks right into an uppercut from Korolev.
Briggs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Briggs throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Korolev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Korolev lands with a nice body punch.
Korolev misses with an uppercut.
Briggs slips a jab from Korolev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Briggs there as he acknowledges the shot.
Korolev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Korolev misses with a hook. Briggs ducked under it nicely.
Briggs misses with a wild combination.
Korolev misses with a hook to the body
enabling Briggs to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice shot by Korolev.
Briggs has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Korolev dodges the punch combination from Briggs.
A swing and a miss from Briggs.
Korolev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Briggs misses with a looping left.
Korolev connects with the punch.
Briggs takes a swing at Korolev's ribcage but misses.
Good shot there by Korolev.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Korolev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Korolev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Macka Briggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Korolev lands a slapping body shot.
Briggs fails to land with a series of punches.
Korolev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Korolev lands a lovely overhand right.
Korolev misses with a jab to the body
letting Briggs counter with a right hand.
Korolev scores with a decent looking hook.
Korolev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Korolev throws a poor cross that misses
and Briggs counters with a nice uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Korolev there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Briggs throws a right hand that misses
and Korolev counters with a right hand to the body.
Briggs misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Korolev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Korolev.
Briggs has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Briggs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Korolev circles away quickly and effectively.
Korolev connects with a single shot there.
Korolev lands a nice looking body shot.
Korolev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Briggs can do to turn this around?
Briggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Korolev lands a body shot.
Briggs slips under a jab from Korolev.
Briggs slips a straight right by Korolev.
Briggs takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Korolev just misses with a punch to the body.
Briggs looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Korolev misses with a hook.
It seemed like Briggs was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev misses with a looping left.
A countering left hand to the body from Briggs misses.
Briggs punishes Korolev's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korolev throws a series of punches but Briggs avoids them all with ease.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Korolev!
Briggs slips a straight right by Korolev.
Briggs throws a hook to the side of Korolev's head but Korolev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Briggs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Briggs throws a looping overhand right but Korolev ducks down to avoid it.
Korolev misses the body punch
and Korolev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Alexander Korolev's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Korolev throws a series of punches but Briggs moves out of range.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Korolev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Korolev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The fighters circling - Korolev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Korolev with a jab.
Nice shot by Briggs.

Jeez, Alexander Korolev's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Korolev misses the jab.
Korolev throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Briggs counters with a nice right hand that sends Korolev toppling to the canvas! Korolev scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Briggs finish him?!

Korolev is rocked!

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Alexander Korolev's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Macka Briggs!
Macka Briggs seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.