PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Johnson (ranked 4816 p4p, 3584 weight class) and Iov Kuzmin (ranked 552 p4p, 481 weight class). Iov Kuzmin acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Johnson
vs
Kuzmin

198 cm
18
205
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
212
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daniel Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iov Kuzmin!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuzmin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Johnson on his heels. He'll look to pass Johnson's guard now, I'm sure.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuzmin on the ground.
Kuzmin chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuzmin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kuzmin throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin working some strikes from top position.
Johnson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuzmin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Kuzmin is looking to work some ground and pound but Johnson has wrist control.
Kuzmin postures up in Johnson's guard and throws a big left but Johnson blocks it.
Kuzmin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuzmin lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuzmin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kuzmin connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuzmin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kuzmin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kuzmin lands a couple of elbows.
Kuzmin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Kuzmin chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuzmin throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuzmin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kuzmin landing some decent shots from guard.
Kuzmin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuzmin throwing strikes from guard but Johnson blocks nicely.
Kuzmin stands up over Johnson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuzmin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuzmin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin distracts Johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuzmin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Johnson is rocked!
Kuzmin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kuzmin postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Johnson covers up, he's hurt! Kuzmin keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Kuzmin and the ref steps in to end the fight! Kuzmin can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iov Kuzmin!