PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vasili Kouzmanoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Split (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kouzmanoff
vs
Split

179 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasili Kouzmanoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adam Split!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kouzmanoff is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Split misses with a body shot.

Kouzmanoff fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Split, pushing him back against the cage.
Kouzmanoff throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Split blocks it with crossed arms.

Kouzmanoff jumps guard.
Split pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kouzmanoff is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Split trying to control but Kouzmanoff is working from the bottom.
Kouzmanoff looking to hit a scissor sweep but Split is one step ahead there.
Split tries to free his leg and advance position but Kouzmanoff is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kouzmanoff tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Split works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kouzmanoff is trying to get back to full guard.
Kouzmanoff wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Split fails to land the takedown.

Kouzmanoff has Split up against the cage in a clinch.
Split drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kouzmanoff pulls his leg out and moves away.
Split shoots in and drives through. Kouzmanoff sprawls well.
Vasili Kouzmanoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Split.
Split misses with a takedown attempt - Kouzmanoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kouzmanoff tries to close the distance and clinch but Split swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kouzmanoff closes the distance and clinches.
A knee to the head by Kouzmanoff.
Kouzmanoff landing knees to the head.
Kouzmanoff with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kouzmanoff with a knee to the head.
Split looks gassed!
Split is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kouzmanoff pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Split takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kouzmanoff lands a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Kouzmanoff.
A knee to the head by Kouzmanoff.
Split tries for a takedown. No joy.
Split fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kouzmanoff breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Split misses with a two punch combination.

Kouzmanoff rushes Split and presses him up against the cage.
Split tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kouzmanoff just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kouzmanoff prevents the takedown attempt.
Split goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kouzmanoff prevents it.
Kouzmanoff using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Split has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kouzmanoff landing knees to the body.
Split jumps guard but Kouzmanoff stands there with Split around his waist. Split gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee calls for Kouzmanoff to work.
Kouzmanoff throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Split blocks it with crossed arms.
Kouzmanoff prevents the takedown attempt.
Kouzmanoff tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Split is working for takedown but Kouzmanoff is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kouzmanoff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Split drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kouzmanoff pulls his leg out and moves away.
Split swats away the attempt to clinch by Kouzmanoff.
Split rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kouzmanoff moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kouzmanoff has closed the distance and engaged Split in a clinch.
Split tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kouzmanoff just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kouzmanoff connects with a nasty looking knee right to Split's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Split takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kouzmanoff taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kouzmanoff scores with a knee to the head.
Kouzmanoff stalling the fight.

Kouzmanoff has hold of one of Split's legs. Split is fighting the takedown attempt but Kouzmanoff gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kouzmanoff is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Split is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Split has his foot on Kouzmanoff's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kouzmanoff works his way back into a safe position though.
Kouzmanoff tries to stand but Split is controlling from the bottom.
Kouzmanoff won't allow Split to sweep him here.

Kouzmanoff stands up from Split's guard - Kouzmanoff perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kouzmanoff takes the fight into the clinch.
Kouzmanoff unloads a knee to the mid-section. Split lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kouzmanoff scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kouzmanoff lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Kouzmanoff breaks from the clinch.

Kouzmanoff moves into the clinch.
Split goes for a takedown attempt but Kouzmanoff pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Split or perhaps it was just good defense by Kouzmanoff which made him look bad.
Kouzmanoff fails with an attempt to clinch.
Split shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kouzmanoff pinned against the cage. Kouzmanoff gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Split blocks a head kick by Kouzmanoff.
Split throws a series of punches but Kouzmanoff moves out of range.

Kouzmanoff has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kouzmanoff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Split tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kouzmanoff swivels and escapes.
Kouzmanoff doesn't manage to clinch there - Split circles away.
Adam Split seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Split closes the distance and clinches up with Kouzmanoff, looking for a takedown. Split pushes Kouzmanoff against the cage but Kouzmanoff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kouzmanoff wants to clinch.
Split listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Split tries for a takedown but Kouzmanoff sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Split shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kouzmanoff as he jumps to the side.
Split on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Split avoids the head kick by Kouzmanoff.
Split shoots for a takedown but Kouzmanoff saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vasili Kouzmanoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Split.

Kouzmanoff has managed to clinch.
Kouzmanoff lands an elbow inside that Split shrugs off.
Kouzmanoff with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Split wants a takedown.
Kouzmanoff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Split is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Split jumps guard but Kouzmanoff stands there with Split around his waist. Split gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kouzmanoff throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Split blocks it with crossed arms.
Split can't get the takedown.
Split wants a takedown.
Kouzmanoff tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Split tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kouzmanoff connects with a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Kouzmanoff.
Kouzmanoff with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kouzmanoff landing knees to the head.

Split is rocked!
Split is breathing heavily.

Kouzmanoff breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Split is still on wobbly legs! Can Kouzmanoff finish him?

Split tries to keep at a distance but Kouzmanoff has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kouzmanoff gets underhooks to prevent Split's takedown attempt.
Kouzmanoff connects with a nasty looking knee right to Split's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kouzmanoff connects with a knee right up the middle there - that's rocked Split badly! Split tumbles to the floor and Kouzmanoff stands over him, dominant and satisfied with his glorious KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:09 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vasili Kouzmanoff!