PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hao Sawamura (ranked 1246 p4p, 2858 weight class) and Alexander Korolev (ranked 191 p4p, 375 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sawamura
vs
Korolev

197 cm
22
190
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
196
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

New Standard
Carnage Clothing

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hao Sawamura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Korolev!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sawamura misses with a looping right.
Korolev lands a lovely overhand right.
Korolev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Korolev throws a body punch but Sawamura moves out of range.
Korolev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sawamura counters with a nice low kick that buckles Korolev's knee momentarily.
Sawamura dodges the punch combination from Korolev.
Sawamura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sawamura was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alexander Korolev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Korolev misses with a wild body shot.
Korolev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Korolev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sawamura feinted there with a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korolev throws a series of punches but Sawamura avoids them all with ease.
Korolev takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Sawamura slips under a jab.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sawamura counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korolev lunges at Sawamura with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sawamura's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sawamura makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Some wild striking there from Korolev.
Sawamura tried to counter with a leg kick but Korolev avoided it.
Sawamura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Korolev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sawamura.
Korolev throws a series of strikes that have Sawamura backpedaling.
Sawamura defending well as Korolev loads up on a big left hand.
Sawamura throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Korolev.
Sawamura gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Korolev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sawamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Korolev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sawamura uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korolev.
Sawamura quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Korolev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korolev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sawamura really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sawamura lands a right hook to the body.
Sawamura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sawamura throwing a counter right hand but Korolev manages to avoid it.
Sawamura avoids the body shot from Korolev.
Korolev scores with a jab.
Sawamura displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Korolev throws out the jab.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Sawamura's shoulder, as Sawamura tries to avoid the shot.
Sawamura throwing a counter right hand but Korolev manages to avoid it.
Korolev misses with a series of wild punches.
A quick step to the side and Sawamura tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Korolev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sawamura moves away.
Korolev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Sawamura's shoulder, as Sawamura tries to avoid the shot.
Korolev misses with a combination
and Sawamura counters with a nice uppercut.
Sawamura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Korolev throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawamura defending well as Korolev loads up on a big left hand.
Korolev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good leg kick by Sawamura.
Korolev throws a series of strikes that have Sawamura backpedaling.
Korolev lands a head shot.
Jab from Korolev.
Sawamura ducks under a wild hook from Korolev.
Sawamura is looking to counter punch.
Korolev scores with a one two! Sawamura had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Korolev misses.
Sawamura throwing a counter right hand but Korolev manages to avoid it.
Sawamura connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Korolev's hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sawamura looks to throw the jab but Korolev is out of range.
Korolev throws an overhand right that lands on Sawamura's shoulder, as Sawamura tries to avoid the shot.
A quick step to the side and Sawamura tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sawamura cracks Korolev with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That has opened up Alexander Korolev's cut even more.
Korolev throws a sloppy body shot
and Korolev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Korolev swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawamura jabs at Korolev's body.
Korolev throws a nice looking combination but Sawamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sawamura half committed to a counter leg kick.
Korolev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A solid body kick from Sawamura.
Korolev misses with an uppercut.
The crowd cheers as Sawamura lands an impressive looking overhand right. Korolev doesn't seem phased though.
Sawamura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sawamura thuds his right hand into Korolev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Korolev on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Korolev is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sawamura.

The cut above Alexander Korolev's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sawamura fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Korolev looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Korolev looks winded!
Korolev throws a series of punches but Sawamura moves out of range.
Korolev misses with a looping left.
Sawamura appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Korolev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Korolev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sawamura is looking to land body kicks.
Sawamura has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Korolev misses the jab.
Korolev misses with a hook.
Sawamura lands a slapping body shot.
Korolev throws a nice looking combination but Sawamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That kick from Sawamura tenderised Korolev's leg. Korolev is trying to keep his angry face on.
A telegraphed right hand from Korolev misses the target.
Korolev swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sawamura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sawamura gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Korolev misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sawamura lands with a cross.
Sawamura moves out of range of the strikes.
Sawamura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sawamura is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Korolev throws a right and a left that Sawamura avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev scores with a jab to the body.
Alexander Korolev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sawamura defending well as Korolev loads up on a big left hand.
Korolev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Korolev misses the shot to the body.
Korolev misses with an uppercut. Sawamura saw that one coming.
Sawamura half committed to a counter leg kick.
Korolev checks a leg kick nicely.
Korolev swings widly with a right hand
and Sawamura counters with a straight right hand.

Alexander Korolev's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Korolev comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Korolev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sawamura throws a quick counter kick to the body but Korolev avoids it.
Nice defenses there by Sawamura.
Korolev throws a jab when Sawamura was well out of range.
Sawamura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Korolev moves forwards but Sawamura connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Korolev as he connects with a hook.
Alexander Korolev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Korolev misses with a body shot
and Sawamura counters with an inside leg kick.
Sawamura throws a sloppy head kick and Korolev moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Korolev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sawamura throws a quick counter kick to the body but Korolev avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korolev cracks Sawamura with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Korolev throws a lazy uppercut
and Sawamura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Hao Sawamura!
A victorious Hao Sawamura thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.