PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Kukuczka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sansom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukuczka comes to the cage accompanied by J.O.D. - Musica Knockout. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sansom's choice of entrance music: PUBLIC DOMAIN - Operation Blade. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kukuczka
vs
Sansom

188 cm
20
235 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

190 cm
23
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Daniel Kukuczka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Sansom!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sansom slaps away a takedown attempt from Kukuczka, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kukuczka feints and as Sansom raises his hands in defense, Kukuczka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kukuczka is in close to Sansom's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kukuczka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kukuczka is looking to work some ground and pound but Sansom has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukuczka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kukuczka postures up.
Sansom throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kukuczka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kukuczka landing some decent shots from guard.
Kukuczka trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sansom's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sansom can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sansom has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kukuczka off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukuczka shoots in looking for a takedown. Sansom tries to sprawl out of it but Kukuczka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sansom manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukuczka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sansom's waist but Sansom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kukuczka off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Kukuczka. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kukuczka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sansom was covering up waiting for the punch and Kukuczka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kukuczka with a nice head shot there.
Sansom is controlling Kukuczka's posture.
Kukuczka thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukuczka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sansom is trying to keep Kukuczka in close.
Kukuczka passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kukuczka working away.
Kukuczka works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sansom struggling a bit here.
Kukuczka has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kukuczka scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sansom to see if he's OK.
Kukuczka with the ground and pound but Sansom regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sansom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sansom trying to control but Kukuczka postures up.
Kukuczka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sansom tries to get to full guard but Kukuczka has control of the leg.
Sansom looks gassed!
Kukuczka is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sansom blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kukuczka.
Kukuczka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kukuczka throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sansom controlling the position well.
Kukuczka lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kukuczka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sansom defending well though.
Kukuczka is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kukuczka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sansom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kukuczka escapes and gets back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sansom!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Kukuczka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukuczka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sansom paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sansom tries to bum rush Kukuczka with a series of wild strikes but Kukuczka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sansom will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sansom fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Kukuczka scores a takedown into full mount!
Kukuczka is landing with some decent strikes but Sansom is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kukuczka lands a heavy elbow.
Kukuczka scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sansom?
Kukuczka postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sansom looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Kukuczka.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sansom wants to control but Kukuczka is having none of it.
Daniel Kukuczka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sansom in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kukuczka landing strikes from the mount and Sansom is in trouble!
Kukuczka landing strikes from the mount and Sansom is in trouble!
Kukuczka lands a heavy elbow.
Kukuczka cracks Sansom with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kukuczka raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kukuczka raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sansom is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sansom is in a horrible position here. Kukuczka smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kukuczka looking to finish Sansom with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sansom!
Kukuczka fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kukuczka with shots to the head and body - Sansom looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sansom is working to get back to half guard.
Kukuczka raining down shots from the mount!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kukuczka scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukuczka scoring with strikes but Sansom is staying in there.
Kukuczka putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kukuczka with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BOOM! Kukuczka connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kukuczka landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kukuczka has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sansom's face.
Kukuczka scoring with strikes but Sansom is staying in there.
Kukuczka working the ground and pound effectively.
Kukuczka lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Kukuczka connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sansom holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kukuczka tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kukuczka is landing with some decent strikes but Sansom is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kukuczka landing shots from mount.
Sansom holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kukuczka tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sansom blocking the ground and pound.
Kukuczka misses with a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Kukuczka dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sansom circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sansom counters by clinching up.
Sansom tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kukuczka smiles and moves away.
Kukuczka misses with a takedown

and Sansom counters with a shoot takedown. Kukuczka fights it but they end up in guard.
Kukuczka lands some strikes from the bottom.
Sansom stands up over Kukuczka, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sansom chips away with some ground and pound.

Kukuczka pushes Sansom off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kukuczka with a lazy takedown attempt

and Sansom counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kukuczka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kukuczka tries to buck Sansom off but Sansom is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sansom decides to stand back up.
Sansom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kukuczka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sansom sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kukuczka somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Kukuczka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukuczka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sansom shoots in and drives through. Kukuczka sprawls well.
Daniel Kukuczka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sansom avoids the head kick by Kukuczka.

Sansom has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kukuczka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sansom shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kukuczka's guard.
Sansom's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kukuczka lands a good elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kukuczka pushes Sansom off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sansom shoots in for a double leg but Kukuczka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sansom fails with the takedown
and Kukuczka counters with a nice kick to the body.
Kukuczka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sansom but Sansom pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kukuczka tries to clinch but Sansom moves out of range.
Kukuczka dodges the punch combination from Sansom.
Kukuczka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sansom will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kukuczka fails with the takedown

and Sansom counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kukuczka trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukuczka striking off his back but it's not causing Sansom any problems.
Kukuczka throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kukuczka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kukuczka throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kukuczka tries to strike from the bottom.
Sansom tries to stand but Kukuczka is controlling from the bottom.
Kukuczka doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Kukuczka scores with a nice shot.
Kukuczka trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kukuczka is looking to stand up but Sansom isn't so interested in that idea.
Kukuczka trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kukuczka wants to get back to his feet but Sansom is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sansom preventing the sweep.
Kukuczka keeping moving, preventing Sansom from controlling successfully.
Kukuczka tries to strike from the bottom.
Kukuczka wants to get back to his feet but Sansom is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kukuczka tries to strike from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukuczka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sansom.
James Sansom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sansom thows a big elbow that misses.
Daniel Kukuczka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sansom trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Sansom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kukuczka has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Kukuczka!