PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Korolev (ranked 1308 p4p, 1016 weight class) and KO Jacckson (ranked 178 p4p, 146 weight class). Korolev comes to the cage accompanied by Holding Out For A Hero (EuroMash). Alexander Korolev is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Korolev
vs
Jacckson

180 cm
30
176
17 - 12 - 0

177 cm
26
178
11 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

30th Century Beer Store
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Korolev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, KO Jacckson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jacckson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Korolev's guard.
Jacckson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Korolev wants to control but Jacckson passes easily into half guard.
Korolev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jacckson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jacckson is pressing down on Korolev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Korolev is holding on for now.
Jacckson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Jacckson there.
Jacckson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Korolev's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korolev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jacckson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jacckson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jacckson throwing shots but Korolev is blocking nicely.
Jacckson throwing shots but Korolev is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Jacckson there.
Jacckson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Korolev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Korolev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jacckson.

Jacckson wants to work for an arm triangle but Korolev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jacckson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jacckson stalling away here and it's allowed Korolev to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Korolev has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Jacckson tries to free his leg and advance position but Korolev is retaining full guard.
Jacckson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jacckson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Korolev keeping moving, preventing Jacckson from controlling successfully.
Jacckson tries to free his leg and advance position but Korolev is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jacckson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jacckson throws a big right hand that misses.
Korolev is trying to control the position but Jacckson postures up.
Jacckson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jacckson tries to free his leg and advance position but Korolev is retaining full guard.
Jacckson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jacckson is working Korolev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Korolev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jacckson trying to control the position from guard on top but Korolev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson lands with a good body shot.
Korolev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jacckson.
Jacckson lands a right hook to the body.
Jacckson throws a head kick that misses.
Korolev lands a leg kick that knocks Jacckson off balance momentarily.
Korolev is looking to slow Jacckson down with leg kicks.
Korolev lands a leg kick that knocks Jacckson off balance momentarily.
Korolev misses with a leg kick.
Korolev throws a leg kick
and Jacckson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Korolev throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Jacckson counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson lands with an uppercut that bounces Korolev off the cage and back into range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jacckson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jacckson checks a low kick from Korolev.
Jacckson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Korolev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Korolev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Jacckson dives in and grabs Korolev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Korolev pushes down on Jacckson's head and hops out.
Korolev attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Jacckson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Korolev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jacckson just misses with a punch to the body.
Korolev half committed to a counter leg kick.
Korolev does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Korolev attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Jacckson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Jacckson shoots in and drives through. Korolev sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

KO Jacckson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Korolev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Korolev connects with a solid leg kick.
Korolev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jacckson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Korolev connects with a looping right hand.
Korolev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Korolev swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alexander Korolev is winning the standup battle so far.
Korolev misses with a looping right.
Jacckson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Korolev.
Korolev lands a nice looking kick to the body. Jacckson takes a step back to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jacckson lands with an uppercut that bounces Korolev off the cage and back into range.
Jacckson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Korolev defends well and Jacckson ends up having to push Korolev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Korolev fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body kick there by Korolev.
Korolev misses the shot to the body.
Jacckson misses with a body shot.
Jacckson wants to clinch.
Korolev works Jacckson's body with a nice hook.
Korolev throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev throws a solid leg kick but Jacckson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Korolev.
Jacckson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Korolev.
Korolev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jacckson misses with a hook
and Korolev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Korolev chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Korolev throws a low kick but Jacckson avoids it.

Jacckson drives through and clinches with Korolev against the cage.
Jacckson is trying to drag Korolev to the mat but Korolev just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jacckson misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jacckson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jacckson working aggressively here.
Korolev lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson is trying to pull guard but Korolev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Alexander Korolev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of KO Jacckson.
Jacckson working aggressively here.
Jacckson misses with a punch to the body.
Jacckson misses with a punch on the inside.
Jacckson blocks a body shot from Korolev.
Nice body punch from Jacckson.
Jacckson has a couple of punches blocked by Korolev.
Jacckson can't find room to land a body shot as Korolev controls the action.
Korolev has a couple of punches blocked by Jacckson.
Jacckson working aggressively here.
Korolev prevents a body shot from Jacckson.
Jacckson scores with a shot to the side of Korolev's head.

Korolev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Korolev tried to score with a low kick but Jacckson checks it.
Korolev misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Jacckson does no damage.
A combination from Jacckson does no damage.
Korolev staying out of range there.
Korolev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jacckson checks it well.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Jacckson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Korolev struggling a bit here.
Korolev taking a bit of punishment here - Jacckson scoring with strikes.
Korolev is not content to let Jacckson control the position.

Jacckson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Korolev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Korolev scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Korolev thumps Jacckson with a low kick.
Korolev bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Korolev throws a body punch but Jacckson moves out of range.
Jacckson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Korolev thumps Jacckson with a low kick.
Jab from Korolev.
Jacckson throws a lazy head kick
and Korolev counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A solid leg kick lands there for Korolev.
Korolev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jacckson.

Jacckson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jacckson wants to take the fight to the mat but Korolev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Korolev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Korolev lands a right hand.
Korolev has a couple of punches blocked by Jacckson.
Korolev can't find room to land a body shot as Jacckson controls the action.
Jacckson lands a body shot.
Korolev misses with a hook to the ribs.
Korolev misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jacckson.
Jacckson misses with a body punch.
Jacckson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jacckson has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Korolev seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Jacckson can turn it around.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jacckson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Korolev to keep the fight standing.
Korolev misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Korolev.
Korolev blocking some punches.
Jacckson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Jacckson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Korolev.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jacckson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Korolev lands with a left to the head.
Jacckson tries to pull guard but Korolev holds him up against the cage and eventually Jacckson drops back down to his feet.
Alexander Korolev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of KO Jacckson.

Jacckson has Korolev pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jacckson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Korolev tumbling to the mat - Jacckson dives into Korolev's guard.
Jacckson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jacckson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Korolev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jacckson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Korolev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jacckson advances position into side control!
Korolev can't do much from the bottom here.
Jacckson trying to control the position but Korolev is working away.

Jacckson is trying to get an arm triangle but Korolev is defending well.
Korolev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Jacckson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Korolev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jacckson throws a strike aimed at the side of Korolev's head but Korolev avoids it well.
Check out the look on Jacckson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Jacckson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Korolev tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alexander Korolev.
I think Korolev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexander Korolev!
During a confident post fight interview, Alexander Korolev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.