PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Pletnev (ranked 4220 p4p, 2433 weight class) and Lev Kuznetsov (ranked 0 p4p, 320 weight class). The key to victory for Nikolay Pletnev has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pletnev
vs
Kuznetsov

184 cm
25
191
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
25
194
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nikolay Pletnev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lev Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Kuznetsov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pletnev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuznetsov on the ground.
Kuznetsov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pletnev is keeping the position for now.
Pletnev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuznetsov chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuznetsov pushing down on Pletnev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kuznetsov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Pletnev blocking the ground and pound.
Kuznetsov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kuznetsov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Pletnev's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov landing shots from mount.
Kuznetsov with the ground and pound from mount.
Kuznetsov with the ground and pound from mount.
Kuznetsov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov with a couple of short strikes.
Kuznetsov working Pletnev over with strikes here.

Pletnev is rocked!
Kuznetsov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kuznetsov postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Pletnev badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Kuznetsov around the waist but Kuznetsov pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Kuznetsov is the winner by TKO! Kuznetsov jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lev Kuznetsov!