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WP 36 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 27 wins and 16 losses; Vasiliy Kulik! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 22 wins and 33 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Andrew Berry.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Kulik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Notturna with the counter takedown but Kulik avoids it easily.
Notturna shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kulik but Kulik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kulik has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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.
Kulik leaves Notturna with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kulik rushes Notturna and presses him up against the cage.
Kulik is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Notturna is defending well.
Notturna tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vasiliy Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Strega Notturna.
Notturna has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kulik uses from the top position.
Kulik 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.
Notturna seems keen to control Kulik's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kulik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Notturna has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kulik has managed to get both his arms back between Notturna's legs - danger averted.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Notturna looking for a guillotine here but Kulik defends easily.
Notturna looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kulik is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Notturna is trying to control the position from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kulik wants to pass the guard but Notturna is keeping the position.
Notturna is trying to control the position but Kulik postures up.
Kulik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Notturna looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kulik will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Notturna is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Notturna is trying to control the position but Kulik postures up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping full guard, as Kulik tries to pass.
Kulik postures up.
Notturna looking to control but Kulik passes into half guard.
Kulik wants to free his trapped foot but Notturna is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Notturna wants to get back to full guard but Kulik has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Kulik (3) vs (0) Notturna
Kulik is looking to take a break and control but Notturna is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna tries to improve position but can't.
Notturna wants to control but Kulik postures up.
Kulik just content to control the position.
Notturna tries to bench press Kulik off him but Kulik keeps the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kulik gets to mount! Notturna was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Kulik (5) vs (0) Notturna
Kulik fails to advance to Notturna's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notturna working to try and regain half guard.
Kulik fails to advance to Notturna's back.
Notturna tries to reverse the position but Kulik maintains control.
Notturna holds on to Kulik as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Notturna wants to hold on but Kulik pushes him away.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kulik tries to control but Notturna wriggling away.
Kulik prevents Notturna from getting the reversal.
Notturna reaches up to try and control the position but Kulik seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Notturna rolls and tries to escape and now Kulik has his back!
Score +3 for taking back: Kulik (8) vs (0) Notturna
Notturna tries to escape the position.
Notturna looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Notturna tries to break free.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Notturna right now.
Notturna turns into Kulik and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kulik (8) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kulik dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kulik (10) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kulik puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Notturna gets full guard.
Notturna being controlled here, momentarily.
Kulik wants to pass the guard but Notturna is keeping the position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Kulik from controlling successfully.
Notturna has an active guard here but Kulik has managed to pass into half guard.
Notturna trying to control but Kulik postures up.
Notturna tries to roll over but Kulik keeps him under control.
Notturna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kulik is working away from the top position though.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Kulik content to control rather than advance.
Notturna looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kulik trying to control the pace.
Notturna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kulik is working away from the top position though.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik stalling.
Kulik passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Kulik (13) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kulik (13) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kulik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Notturna drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kulik looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kulik looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kulik! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Kulik (17) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna being controlled for a moment.
Notturna is looking for a sweep.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik trying to control the action but Notturna is working from the bottom.
Notturna tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kulik wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kulik controls the position.
Notturna is looking for a sweep.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna prevents Kulik from improving position.
Notturna tries to improve position but can't.
Kulik tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kulik staying calm.
Notturna is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kulik is one step ahead and moves to full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Kulik (19) vs (4) Notturna
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Notturna working to try and regain half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kulik takes the fight on points by 19 to 4.
An out of breath Vasiliy Kulik thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
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