PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 2458 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Koreshkov (ranked 2544 p4p, 0 weight class). Luzhin's entrance music is Lil Baby - Narcs. A fine choice. Alexander Koreshkov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Luzhin
vs
Koreshkov

181 cm
41
191 lbs
36 - 20 - 3

176 cm
36
202 lbs
23 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 36 - 20 - 3, fighting out of New York, Nikolai Luzhin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Koreshkov!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jonathan Paton and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Luzhin coming out on top.

Luzhin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Luzhin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Koreshkov.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Luzhin tries a knee to the head but Koreshkov blocks it.
Koreshkov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Koreshkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Luzhin has closed the distance and engaged Koreshkov in a clinch.
Luzhin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Luzhin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Luzhin manages to break the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Luzhin works over Koreshkov's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Alexander Koreshkov has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice shot by Luzhin.
Luzhin blocks a head kick by Koreshkov.
Luzhin throws a quick counter kick to the body but Koreshkov avoids it.
Koreshkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luzhin.
Luzhin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Koreshkov.
Alexander Koreshkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luzhin clinches up with Koreshkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Luzhin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Koreshkov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees in the clinch landing for Luzhin.
Luzhin gets through Koreshkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Luzhin breaks the clinch.
Luzhin throws a right hand that Koreshkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Koreshkov also avoids with ease.
Koreshkov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Luzhin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koreshkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Luzhin drives through and clinches with Koreshkov against the cage.
Luzhin misses with a punch on the inside.
Luzhin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Koreshkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Luzhin lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin stalling the fight.
Luzhin throws a punch but it's blocked by Koreshkov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Luzhin.
Luzhin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Luzhin connects with a knee to the head.
Koreshkov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Luzhin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Koreshkov avoiding damage as Luzhin throws knees to the body.
Luzhin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Koreshkov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but Koreshkov blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Luzhin lands a knee to the head.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but Koreshkov blocks with his arms.
Luzhin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Koreshkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Luzhin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Luzhin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Koreshkov's face.
Koreshkov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Luzhin after a bit of a struggle.
Nikolai Luzhin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Koreshkov.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Koreshkov goes for a takedown attempt but Luzhin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Koreshkov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Luzhin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Luzhin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nikolai Luzhin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov throws a head kick that misses.
Luzhin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luzhin scores with a hook.
Luzhin tries to bum rush Koreshkov with a series of wild strikes but Koreshkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koreshkov gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Koreshkov is rocked!
Decent striking displayed by Koreshkov there.
Koreshkov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Koreshkov lands a two punch combo.

Luzhin has Koreshkov up against the cage in a clinch.
Luzhin misses with the head strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Luzhin.
Luzhin tries to land a knee to the head but Koreshkov blocks with his arms.
Luzhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koreshkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luzhin tries a knee to the head but Koreshkov blocks it.
Luzhin is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Koreshkov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Koreshkov connects with a single shot there.
Luzhin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Luzhin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nikolai Luzhin is winning the standup battle so far.
Luzhin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koreshkov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Luzhin scores with a head kick.

Luzhin closes the distance and pushes Koreshkov back into the cage.
Luzhin swings wildly with an uppercut but Koreshkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koreshkov wants to take the fight to the mat but Luzhin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Luzhin.
Luzhin controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luzhin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koreshkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Luzhin swings wildly with an uppercut but Koreshkov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin trying to land knees to the body.
Luzhin scores with a knee to the head.
Koreshkov managing to block the knees to the body from Luzhin.
Luzhin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Luzhin working aggressively here.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Luzhin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koreshkov.
Luzhin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Koreshkov backwards.
Nikolai Luzhin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Luzhin.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Luzhin lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Luzhin misses with the head strike.
Koreshkov has Luzhin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Luzhin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Koreshkov is looking for a takedown.
Nikolai Luzhin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Koreshkov.
Luzhin slows down the pace here.
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!
Koreshkov takes a shot to the head.
Luzhin connects with a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Luzhin.
Luzhin is stalling here.
Luzhin gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Luzhin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koreshkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov can't get the takedown.
Luzhin is struggling to control the position.

Luzhin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luzhin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Luzhin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Luzhin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Koreshkov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luzhin counters with a stiff right hand.
Luzhin scores with a head kick.

Luzhin moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Luzhin.
Koreshkov blocking some punches.

Luzhin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Luzhin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Luzhin 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.
Luzhin throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koreshkov lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koreshkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Luzhin throwing a counter right hand but Koreshkov manages to avoid it.
Koreshkov keeps the fight on the outside.
Koreshkov throws a big shot that misses.

Luzhin gets a clinch.
Luzhin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Luzhin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luzhin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Koreshkov throws a lazy right hand but Luzhin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Luzhin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koreshkov, pushing him back against the cage.
Koreshkov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Luzhin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Luzhin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koreshkov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Luzhin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Koreshkov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Luzhin is defending well.
Luzhin swings wildly with an uppercut but Koreshkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luzhin lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Koreshkov's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Luzhin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Luzhin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koreshkov can do to turn this around?
Koreshkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A quick step to the side and Luzhin tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luzhin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Koreshkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Luzhin.
Luzhin connects with a right hand. Koreshkov shakes it off.
A jab lands there for Luzhin.
Koreshkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luzhin throws out the jab.
Koreshkov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Luzhin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Luzhin tries to clinch up.

Luzhin closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koreshkov being controlled against the cage.
Luzhin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Koreshkov's face.
Koreshkov is still on wobbly legs! Can Luzhin finish him?

That has opened up Alexander Koreshkov's cut even more.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin lands an uppercut.
Koreshkov seems to have recovered his senses.
Koreshkov goes for a takedown attempt but Luzhin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Luzhin closes the distance and pushes Koreshkov back into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Luzhin.
Luzhin lands with a right to the head.

Luzhin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koreshkov tries a head kick but it misses.
Luzhin lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Koreshkov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Koreshkov misses with a straight left.
Koreshkov looks to land a right hand but Luzhin moved out of range.
Luzhin with a nice cross.
Luzhin drops Koreshkov with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Koreshkov! Luzhin dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikolai Luzhin!
Nikolai Luzhin decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.