PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nyrkki Rauta (ranked 1321 p4p, 529 weight class) and Alexander Korolev (ranked 182 p4p, 73 weight class). Rauta's entrance music is Right On- Showcore. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Korolev's choice of entrance music: Holding Out For A Hero (EuroMash). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rauta
vs
Korolev

185 cm
32
180
28 - 6 - 0

180 cm
30
176
19 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 28 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nyrkki Rauta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Korolev!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rauta throws a jab when Korolev was well out of range.
Rauta is looking to clinch.
Rauta throws a lazy right hand but Korolev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good shot there by Rauta.
Rauta jabs at Korolev's body.
Rauta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rauta misses with a straight left.
Rauta tries to clinch but Korolev moves away
and Korolev counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A low kick lands for Korolev.
Rauta connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Alexander Korolev has been cut.
Korolev avoids the head kick by Rauta.
Rauta on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Korolev. Korolev obviously looking to wear him down.
Korolev lands with a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korolev looks to score with a jab to the body but Rauta is just out of range.
Korolev lands with a shot to the body.
Korolev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Nyrkki Rauta has been cut.
Rauta fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev misses with a leg kick
letting Rauta counter with a right hand.
Korolev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Korolev lands a nice looking body shot.
Korolev scores with a jab.
Korolev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rauta moves out of range of the body kick.
Rauta throws a nice outside leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Korolev finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rauta misses with a wild body shot.
Korolev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rauta wants to land a leg kick but Korolev is out of range.
Rauta moves away from the strike by Korolev.
Korolev wants to land a leg kick but Rauta is out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice inside leg kick there by Korolev. That's going to slow Rauta down.
Rauta darts in trying to clinch
and Korolev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Korolev gets tackled into the cage by Rauta. Rauta maintains the clinch.
Rauta scores with a nice hook to the head.
Korolev avoiding damage as Rauta throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Korolev.

Korolev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rauta throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rauta misses with a series of wild punches.
Rauta blocks a low kick nicely.

Rauta rushes Korolev and presses him up against the cage.
Korolev lands a left hand.
Rauta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Korolev blocks a body shot from Rauta.
Rauta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Korolev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rautas head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korolev misses with some punches.
Rauta swings wildly with an uppercut but Korolev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Korolev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauta misses with a punch to the body.
Korolev throws a head punch that misses.
Korolev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Rauta fails to land.
Rauta misses with a punch to the body.
Korolev tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Korolev lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Nyrkki Rauta's cut is getting worse.
Rauta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Korolev blocks an uppercut.
Rauta is trying to stall.
Korolev misses with a punch on the inside.
Rauta dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korolev tries to throw a body punch but Rauta avoids it by throwing Korolev back against the cage.
Korolev lands with a short shot to the head.
Rauta throws a punch but it's blocked by Korolev.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Korolev throws a punch but it's blocked by Rauta.
Rauta can't find room to land a body shot as Korolev controls the action.
Korolev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rauta lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korolev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Rauta tries a body shot but Korolev blocks it.
Korolev lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.
Korolev digs a right hand into Rauta's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rauta's gas tank.
Korolev misses with a body punch.
Rauta swings wildly with an uppercut but Korolev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Korolev is struggling to control the position.
Rauta swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rauta cracks Korolev with a right hand to the side of the head.
Korolev throws a body shot but no joy.
Korolev misses the jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rauta checks a leg kick.
Korolev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Korolev connects with an inside leg kick.
Rauta fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Korolev on the side of the head.
Rauta pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rauta backing away here, and Korolev unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Rauta scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Korolev there.
Korolev throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Korolev.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Rauta misses.
Korolev connects with a solid leg kick.
Rauta throws a hook but Korolev blocks it.
Korolev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rauta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korolev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rauta is out of range and Korolev settles back down.
Rauta was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big right from Rauta misses.
Korolev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Korolev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rauta takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rauta lands a nice shot that snaps Korolev's head back.
Left hook, right uppercut from Korolev.
Rauta lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Korolev connects with a leg kick.
It looks like Rauta has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Rauta sizes up Korolev with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Korolev scoring well with a low kick there.
Korolev looks to land a combination but Rauta avoids it well.
Korolev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Nyrkki Rauta's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Korolev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rauta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev with the inside leg kick.
Korolev looks to land a right hand but Rauta moved out of range.
Korolev misses with a leg kick
and Rauta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Korolev misses with an uppercut
and Rauta counters with a stiff right hand.
Korolev misses with a hook. Rauta ducked under it nicely.
Rauta tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Korolev is able to avoid easily.

Rauta clinches with his opponent.
Korolev misses with a punch to the body.
Rauta lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Korolev.
Rauta controlling the action here for a moment.
Rauta takes a shot to the head.
Rauta softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Korolev misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauta stalling.
Rauta wants to stall.
Korolev misses with a short punch on the inside.
Korolev misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Korolev misses with a punch on the inside.
Korolev lands with a left to the head.
Rauta pressing his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Korolev.
Rauta blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rauta working aggressively here.
Alexander Korolev seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Korolev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Korolev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rauta swings wildly with an uppercut but Korolev uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korolev can't find room to land a body shot as Rauta controls the action.
Korolev lands a right hand.
Korolev digs a right hand underneath Rauta's ribcage. Rauta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Korolev throws a punch but it's blocked by Rauta.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauta.
Korolev misses with the head strike.
Korolev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rauta misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Korolev creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rauta stalling.
A right hook to the body lands for Korolev.
Korolev lands a left hand.

Jeez, Nyrkki Rauta's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Korolev blocks a body shot from Rauta.
Korolev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Korolev works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rauta looking to slow down the pace here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Korolev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Korolev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nyrkki Rauta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A shot to the liver by Korolev. Beautiful body shot.
Rauta wants to clinch up but Korolev keeps it at a distance.
Korolev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rauta shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Korolev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rauta fires out a quick counter leg kick but Korolev just manages to avoid it.
Korolev scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheers as Korolev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rauta doesn't seem phased though.
Rauta displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rauta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Korolev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Korolev lands a nice looking body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rauta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Korolev.
Korolev fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rauta.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Korolev misses with a body punch
enabling Rauta to counter with a crisp jab.
Rauta with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Korolev to score with a decent uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauta moves out of range as Korolev throws a body kick.
Korolev lands a leg kick that knocks Rauta off balance momentarily.
Korolev slips under a jab.
Korolev lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rauta on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Korolev.
Rauta is looking to clinch but Korolev is avoiding it.
Alexander Korolev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Korolev lands with a nice body kick.

Rauta gets a clinch.
Korolev blocks an uppercut.
Rauta misses with the head strike.
Korolev lands with a short shot to the head.
Rauta is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Korolev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Korolev misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korolev blocks an uppercut.
Rauta's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Korolev blocking some punches.
Korolev lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rauta backwards.

Korolev manages to break the clinch.
Korolev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Alexander Korolev!
A victorious Alexander Korolev thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.