PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Kulik (ranked 1687 p4p, 2575 weight class) and Aidamir Salim (ranked 231 p4p, 343 weight class). Aidamir Salim has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vasiliy Kulik's chin.

Kulik
vs
Salim

200 cm
25
195
8 - 5 - 0

187 cm
27
202
6 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

The Stuff
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Savage Fightwear

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasiliy Kulik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Aidamir Salim!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulik gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Salim counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kulik ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good exchange - Kulik coming out on top.
Kulik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salim misses with an uppercut. Kulik saw that one coming.
Kulik works the jab nicely.
Salim walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kulik.
Salim avoids a punch combination nicely.
Salim thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salim ducks under a wild hook from Kulik.
Kulik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kulik lands a right hook to the body.
Salim throws a sloppy head kick and Kulik moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kulik moves away.
Kulik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salim takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Some wild striking there from Kulik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik misses with a few strikes there.
Kulik really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Salim takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Salim tries a head kick but it misses.
Kulik tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Salim was well out of range. Poor timing from Kulik.
Kulik throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kulik takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Salim thuds a left hand into Kulik's body.
Salim throws a head kick but Kulik moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kulik darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kulik avoids the head kick by Salim.
Kulik throws a head kick that misses.
Salim walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Salim throws a sloppy head kick and Kulik moves out of range easily.
Salim moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Salim fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kulik.
Kulik throws a nice looking combination but Salim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Salim has Kulik up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulik wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Salim looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Salim lands a body punch.
Salim fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salim prevents Kulik from breaking the clinch.
Salim has Kulik pressed against the cage, preventing Kulik from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Salim misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salim tries to pull guard but Kulik forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Salim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Salim fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kulik, pushing him back against the cage.

Kulik breaks the clinch.
Kulik scores with a head kick.
Kulik lands a high kick!
Salim looks for the body kick but Kulik saw that one coming.
Kulik falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salim connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salim throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kulik defending well as Salim loads up on a big left hand.
Kulik throws a sloppy head kick
and Kulik takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Kulik is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Salim misses.
Kulik throws a head kick but Salim moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salim.
Kulik looks to land a combination but Salim avoids it well.
A little jabbing left from Salim on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kulik lands with a nice body punch.
Vasiliy Kulik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kulik throws a right hand that Salim ducks under and follows up with a left that Salim also avoids with ease.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kulik.

Salim clinches.
Kulik has had enough of the clinch but Salim keeps him there for the moment.
Salim tries to pull guard but Kulik forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Kulik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kulik lands with a hook. Salim tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kulik with a jab.
Kulik lands with a right hand.
Kulik lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kulik takes one to the side of the head.
Oh Kulik is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kulik is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kulik misses with a wild combination.
Kulik seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kulik.
Kulik misses with a hook

and Salim counters with a right hand that sends Kulik tumbling to the canvas! Can Salim finish him? He dives into Kulik's guard looking to do just that!

Kulik throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kulik is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kulik keeping moving, preventing Salim from controlling successfully.

Salim thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Salim trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kulik will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kulik tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Salim working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vasiliy Kulik will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kulik looks to land a combination but Salim avoids it well.
Kulik tries to land a front kick but Salim steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kulik is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kulik looks for the body kick but Salim saw that one coming.
Kulik misses with a body kick.
Salim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kulik with a hook.
Kulik connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kulik looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A left and a right from Kulik both land. Nice combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kulik manages to break the clinch.
Salim tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasiliy Kulik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kulik will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kulik uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Salim has time to react.
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!
Kulik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kulik smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kulik is looking to counter punch.
Kulik throws a head kick that misses
and Salim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kulik tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salim walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Salim throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salim connects with a leg kick.
Kulik swats away the attempt to clinch by Salim.
Kulik fails to land with a series of punches.
Kulik slips a straight right by Salim.
Kulik misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kulik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salim throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kulik swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kulik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Salim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Salim tries to clinch but Kulik is having none of it.
Salim throws a looping overhand right but Kulik ducks down to avoid it.
Kulik blocks a head kick by Salim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salim misses with a hook. Kulik ducked under it nicely.
Salim misses with a body punch
and Kulik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kulik throws out a leg kick but Salim moves out of range and Kulik only half commits.
Kulik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vasiliy Kulik is winning the standup battle so far.
Salim staying out of range there.
Salim is looking to clinch but Kulik is avoiding it.
A good leg kick by Salim.
Kulik lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Salim circles away quickly and effectively.
Salim drops his hands momentarily and Kulik takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Salim lands with a thumping leg kick.

Salim darts in and clinches Kulik up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salim.

Kulik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Salim slips under a jab from Kulik.
Salim misses with an uppercut. Kulik saw that one coming.
Kulik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Salim.
Salim throws a hook to the side of Kulik's head but Kulik sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Kulik. That snapped Salim's head back.
Kulik cracks a nice hook into Salim's ribs.
Salim thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kulik ducks right into an uppercut from Salim.
Kulik displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Salim just misses with a punch to the body.
Salim blocks a head kick by Kulik.
Salim throws out a counter right but Kulik avoids it with no problem.
Kulik tries a head kick but it misses.
Kulik takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salim scores with a nice body kick.
Kulik throws a sloppy head kick and Salim moves out of range easily.

Salim knocks Kulik to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kulik sneaks back into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Salim is looking for a kimura here.

Salim seems to be working for a kimura but Kulik defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salim works his way into full mount!
Kulik is trying to escape the mount.

Salim working for a submission but Kulik is keeping him at bay.

Salim looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Salim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kulik is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kulik sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kulik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vasiliy Kulik will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kulik works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Salim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Salim.
Salim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kulik.
Kulik scores with a kick to the midsection.
Salim missing with a left hand there. Kulik was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A counter left hand to the body from Kulik misses its target.
A solid body kick from Kulik.
Kulik takes a swing at Salim's ribcage but misses.
Kulik misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut lands for Kulik. That snapped Salim's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salim pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salim takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kulik avoids the body shot from Salim.
Nice jab there from Kulik.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Salim takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Salim has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Kulik lands a nice looking kick to the body. Salim takes a step back to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik misses with a looping left.
Kulik comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kulik throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kulik on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Salim just misses with a punch to the body.
Kulik swinging wildly here.
Kulik misses with a double jab.
Kulik connects with a right hand. Salim shakes it off.
Kulik looks for the body kick but Salim saw that one coming.
Kulik just misses with a punch to the body.
Kulik moves out of range as Salim strikes.
Kulik uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Salim.
Kulik throws a big shot that misses.
Kulik bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Salim misses with an attempted mid kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Kulik misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Salim misses.
Kulik scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Kulik misses.
Kulik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salim manages to avoid it.
Kulik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salim misses with a looping right.
Kulik misses the jab.
Salim misses with a kick to the body.
Salim scores with a sloppy right hand. Kulik should have avoided that one.
Kulik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kulik tries a head kick but it misses.
Salim throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from Salim.
Kulik throws a lazy head kick
and Salim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A swing and a miss from Salim.
Salim takes a swing at Kulik's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salim tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kulik is able to avoid easily.
Kulik is looking to counter punch.
Kulik lands a jab to Salim's midsection.
Kulik lands a jab-cross combination.
Kulik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Salim uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kulik.
Salim wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Salim shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Salim lands a jab.
Salim tries to clinch but Kulik moves out of range.
Kulik takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kulik ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salim moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Salim! But no joy.
A left lands for Kulik.
Salim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kulik was well out of range. Poor timing from Salim.
Kulik pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Salim back to the cage. Kulik follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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!
Salim blocks a head kick by Kulik.
Kulik throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salim scores with a body shot.
Kulik misses with a hook. Salim ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Kulik misses.
Salim keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Salim throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It looked like Kulik wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kulik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Salim looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A head kick misses from Kulik.
Salim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Salim throws a head kick but Kulik moves out of range.
Kulik throws a combination. Salim tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kulik throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like Salim was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A big left from Kulik misses.
Aidamir Salim has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasiliy Kulik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kulik scores with a jab to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasiliy Kulik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kulik, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasiliy Kulik!
The defeated Aidamir Salim had this to say: 'CRUNCHITIZE ME CAP'N!'.