PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koss Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Korobkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Korobkov has chosen Hush - Fired Up as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rivers
vs
Korobkov

168 cm
24
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
167 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Koss Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergei Korobkov!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers tries a head kick but it misses.
Koss Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Rivers.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Korobkov circles away.
Rivers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivers wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Korobkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivers misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rivers lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rivers misses with a hook.

Korobkov feints and as Rivers raises his hands in defense, Korobkov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Korobkov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Korobkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Korobkov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers seems keen to control Korobkov's posture.
Korobkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Korobkov postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Korobkov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Koss Rivers has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivers misses with a wild combination.
Korobkov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Korobkov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to clinch but Korobkov moves out of range.
Korobkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Rivers takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Korobkov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Korobkov is looking to clinch.
Korobkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
Korobkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Korobkov pushes him off.

Korobkov moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rivers throws an elbow but misses.

Korobkov breaks the clinch.
Korobkov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Korobkov moves into the clinch.

Korobkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korobkov avoids the head kick by Rivers.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Korobkov pushes him off.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Korobkov pushes him off.
Korobkov wants to slow Rivers down by chopping away at his legs.
A right-left combo lands from Korobkov.
Rivers fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Korobkov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Korobkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Korobkov circles away.
Korobkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Korobkov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivers sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Rivers rushes Korobkov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Korobkov avoiding damage as Rivers throws knees to the body.
Rivers tries a knee to the head but Korobkov blocks it.
Rivers wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Korobkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivers tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Korobkov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rivers's knee momentarily.
Rivers wants to clinch up but Korobkov keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers misses with a wild combination.
Rivers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Rivers rushes Korobkov and presses him up against the cage.
Rivers lands with a short shot to the head.

Korobkov has clasped his hands together around Rivers's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korobkov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Korobkov cracks Rivers with a big right hand but Rivers just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Korobkov trying to control the position but Rivers is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Korobkov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivers throws a quick inside leg kick.

Rivers drives through and clinches with Korobkov against the cage.
Rivers taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Korobkov breaks the clinch.
Koss Rivers is winning the standup battle so far.

Rivers tries to sprawl but Korobkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Korobkov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rivers is looking for a sweep. Korobkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Korobkov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Korobkov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rivers is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korobkov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rivers wants to improve his position but Korobkov is controlling well.
Korobkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rivers wants to get back to his feet.
Rivers is in trouble now - Korobkov has advanced to mount!
Rivers in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rivers is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Korobkov working Rivers over with strikes here.
Sergei Korobkov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers can't escape the position.
Korobkov looking to control but Rivers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Korobkov controlling from the full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Korobkov avoids the attempt from Rivers to control.

Korobkov looking for a guillotine from mount but Rivers is having none of it.
Korobkov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rivers because Korobkov loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korobkov content just to control the position here.
BOOM! Korobkov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Korobkov working the ground and pound effectively.
Rivers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rivers is bucking up trying to escape but Korobkov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korobkov lands a big shot there that rocks Rivers but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers tries to buck Korobkov off but he can't manage it.
Rivers wants to hold on but Korobkov pushes him away.
Korobkov landing punches.
Korobkov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Korobkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Korobkov controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Korobkov cracks Rivers with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Korobkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Korobkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Korobkov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rivers loads up on a big right hand but Korobkov slips the punch.

Korobkov tries to keep at a distance but Rivers has taken the fight into the clinch.
Korobkov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivers pulls his leg out and moves away.

Rivers gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Korobkov controlling him for the moment.
Korobkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Korobkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers working a defensive guard but Korobkov passes into half guard.
Rivers wants to control but Korobkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rivers is staying active underneath Korobkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Korobkov winds up and cracks Rivers with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Korobkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Korobkov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Korobkov throwing shots but Rivers is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Korobkov controlling the pace.
Korobkov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rivers looks like he's trying to stand up.
Korobkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Korobkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rivers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Korobkov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Korobkov wants to control but Rivers is keeping him busy.
Rivers is trying to escape back to his feet but Korobkov uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to improve position but can't.
Korobkov just content to control the position.
Korobkov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rivers tries to buck Korobkov off but Korobkov is having none of it.
Korobkov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Korobkov working the ground and pound.
Rivers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Rivers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Korobkov controls the position.
Korobkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rivers is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Korobkov lands an elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korobkov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rivers is avoiding damage well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The ground and pound from Korobkov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Koss Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Korobkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Check out the look on Korobkov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Korobkov cracks Rivers with a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Korobkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Korobkov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Korobkov!
Sergei Korobkov really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $150 logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.