PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between SaioG Snake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Kurakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). SaioG Snake has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Snake
vs
Kurakov

200 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, SaioG Snake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pavel Kurakov!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kurakov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Snake looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kurakov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kurakov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kurakov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Snake.
Kurakov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kurakov lands a high kick!
Kurakov is looking to clinch but Snake is avoiding it.
Kurakov slips a jab and a cross from Snake.
Kurakov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Snake takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kurakov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Snake moves into the clinch.
Kurakov looking to throw knees to the head but Snake is blocking nicely.
Snake wants to get back to striking at distance but Kurakov won't allow it.
Snake prevents Kurakov from breaking the clinch.

Kurakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kurakov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurakov misses with a head kick.
Kurakov is looking to clinch.
Snake looks to land a combination but Kurakov avoids it well.
Kurakov stuffs the takedown.
Snake swats away the attempt to clinch by Kurakov.

Kurakov pushes Snake up against the cage in a clinch.

Kurakov breaks from the clinch.
A cross from Kurakov lands.
Kurakov throws a head kick but Snake moves out of range.
Nice cross by Kurakov.
Pavel Kurakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kurakov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kurakov tries a head kick but it misses.
Snake avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Snake takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kurakov tries to clinch

and Snake moves into the clinch.

Snake breaks the clinch.
Kurakov misses with a head kick.
Kurakov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Snake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kurakov pinned against the cage. Kurakov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for SaioG Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurakov is looking to land body kicks.

Kurakov closes the distance and pushes Snake back into the cage.
Kurakov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kurakov tries to break free but Snake pushes him back against the cage.

Snake manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurakov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kurakov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No luck for Snake with that takedown attempt.
Snake tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kurakov moves into the clinch.
Kurakov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Snake taking a breather.
Snake wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kurakov has him pressed against the cage.
Kurakov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kurakov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kurakov tries to land a knee to the head but Snake blocks with his arms.
Snake just leaning against Kurakov, taking a breather.
Snake throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kurakov blocks it with crossed arms.
Snake has Kurakov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kurakov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kurakov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Snake has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Snake trying to land knees to the body.
Snake tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kurakov smiles and moves away.
Snake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Kurakov lands but Snake takes it in his stride.
Snake throws a sloppy head kick
and Kurakov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Snake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kurakov has Snake up against the cage in a clinch.
Snake throws an elbow that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kurakov.
Kurakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Snake leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kurakov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kurakov tries to clinch up but Snake circles away and keeps his distance.
Kurakov thows a body kick. Snake tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kurakov throws a body kick the misses
and Snake counters with a nice uppercut.
Snake fails with a takedown attempt.
Kurakov lets loose with a powerful body kick. Snake will feel that in the morning.
Kurakov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurakov wants to clinch.
SaioG Snake is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kurakov gets a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Snake breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurakov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Snake takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A jab from Snake does it's job there.
Snake moves in looking to clinch but Kurakov pushes him off.
Kurakov scores with a nice body kick.
Snake shoots in but Kurakov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Snake takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kurakov clinches but Snake breaks the clinch
and Snake counters with a left and a right that stings Kurakov.
Snake blocks a head kick by Kurakov.
Snake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Snake takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Snake misses with a takedown attempt
and Kurakov counters with a head kick. That will keep Snake thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for SaioG Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice takedown defense from Kurakov. No joy for Snake on that attempt.
Snake tries to clinch up.
Kurakov tries a head kick but it misses.
Snake fails with the takedown.
Kurakov throws a sloppy head kick and Snake moves out of range easily.
Snake keeps the fight on the outside.
Snake fails with a takedown attempt.
Kurakov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Snake gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Kurakov drives through and clinches with Snake against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurakov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Snake's efforts to push away.
Snake stops a takedown attempt from Kurakov.
Kurakov is trying to break the clinch but Snake is controlling him.
Snake wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kurakov looking to slow down the pace here.
Snake is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kurakov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Snake's efforts to push away.
Snake looking for a takedown.
Kurakov tries to pull guard but Snake won't allow it.
Kurakov working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kurakov breaks the clinch.
Kurakov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Snake fails with the takedown
and Kurakov counters with a head kick.
Kurakov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kurakov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pavel Kurakov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Snake tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kurakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Snake or perhaps it was just good defense by Kurakov which made him look bad.
Kurakov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Kurakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Snake tries for a takedown but Kurakov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Kurakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Snake's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Snake shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kurakov sprawls well. Kurakov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Snake gets slowly back to his feet.

Kurakov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Snake is pressed up against the cage. Kurakov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Snake down to the mat. Snake avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kurakov moves in looking to clinch but Snake pushes him off.
Snake shoots in but no luck this time.
Snake closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kurakov is looking to clinch but Snake is avoiding it.
Kurakov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Snake dodges the punch combination from Kurakov.
Kurakov throws a sloppy head kick

and Snake counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kurakov is looking to get back to full guard here but Snake has managed to pass to side control instead.
Snake looking to ground and pound but Kurakov is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurakov is looking to escape.
Snake lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kurakov is squirming around, avoiding Snake's attempts to control the action.

Snake is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kurakov tries to clinch

and Snake counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Snake manages to break the clinch.
Kurakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Snake counters with a stiff right hand.
Snake tries to clinch up but Kurakov circles away and keeps his distance.
Snake circles away from the clinch attempt.

Snake scores a takedown into full mount!
Snake can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kurakov is looking to escape.
Kurakov is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurakov is squirming around, avoiding Snake's attempts to control the action.

Snake gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Kurakov is looking to clinch but Snake is avoiding it.
Snake lands a slapping body shot.
Kurakov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Snake gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kurakov counters with a three punch combo that has Snake backing up. Snake nods at Kurakov to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for SaioG Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snake blocks a head kick by Kurakov.
Kurakov throws a head kick but Snake moves out of range.
Kurakov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Snake's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kurakov tries a head kick but it misses.
Snake throws a head kick that half lands.
Kurakov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Snake counters by moving into the clinch.
Kurakov tries to circle away but Snake has him pinned against the cage.
Kurakov looking to slow down the pace here.
Snake lands a knee to the head.

Kurakov breaks the clinch.

Kurakov pushes Snake up against the cage in a clinch.
Snake tries to pull guard but Kurakov won't allow it.

Snake drags the fight down to the ground.
Kurakov wants to stand but Snake has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
SaioG Snake has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pavel Kurakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Snake keeping full guard, as Kurakov tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
SaioG Snake showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kurakov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Kurakov!