PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ron Culerovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papa Legba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Culerovich
vs
Legba

180 cm
30
155 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

166 cm
27
147 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ron Culerovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Papa Legba!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Culerovich.
Culerovich waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Legba.
Culerovich getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Legba checks a low kick from Culerovich.
Legba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Culerovich gets caught flat footed, as Legba shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Legba trying to control but Culerovich is working from the bottom.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet but Legba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Legba with a flurry of punches that miss.
Legba advances to half guard.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Legba wants to control but Culerovich is keeping him busy.
Culerovich pushes Legba off but Legba dives into side control.
Culerovich is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Legba asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Legba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Culerovich has escaped the position, nice work there.
Legba throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Culerovich is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Legba has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Legba works to advance to full mount. Culerovich defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba lands a big shot there that rocks Culerovich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Legba misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Legba tries to control but Culerovich wriggling away.
Culerovich in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Culerovich is squirming around, avoiding Legba's attempts to control the action.
Legba won't let Culerovich get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Legba wants to control the pace but Culerovich is squirming around nicely.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
Legba is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Culerovich can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba controlling the position easily from mount.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.

Legba is working for a guillotine from mount but Culerovich frees his head quite easily.
Culerovich wants to try and get back to his feet.
Legba thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Culerovich is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Culerovich is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Culerovich's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Legba thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Culerovich is squirming around, avoiding Legba's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice elbow there by Legba.
Culerovich wants to try and get back to his feet.
Culerovich is squirming around, avoiding Legba's attempts to control the action.
Legba throwing strikes here but Culerovich is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Legba looking to control but Culerovich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Legba throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Culerovich takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Culerovich throws a head kick but Legba moves out of range.
Culerovich takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A head kick misses from Culerovich.
Culerovich throws a leg kick but Legba moved away.
Culerovich misses with a hook
and Legba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Culerovich thinking.
A right-left combo lands from Culerovich.
Culerovich wants to land a leg kick but Legba is out of range.
The fighters circling - Legba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Culerovich throws a leg kick that misses.
Legba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Culerovich.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Legba checks a leg kick.
A head kick by Culerovich misses
and Legba makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Culerovich needs to keep his hands up - Legba had a free shot at his head there.
Culerovich throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Culerovich.
Legba drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Culerovich checks a low kick from Legba.
Culerovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Legba throws a right hand that misses
and Culerovich counters with a leg kick.
Legba digs a good body shot into Culerovich's ribs.
Legba defending well as Culerovich loads up on a big left hand.
Culerovich misses with the body kick
enabling Legba to counter with a crisp jab.
A head kick misses from Culerovich.
Culerovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ron Culerovich is winning the standup battle so far.
Culerovich tries a head kick but it misses.
Culerovich drops his hands momentarily and Legba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Culerovich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Legba throws out the jab.
Legba lands a nice shot that snaps Culerovich's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Legba.

It looks like Ron Culerovich has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Legba scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ron Culerovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Culerovich buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Culerovich throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Legba drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Legba thuds a left hand into Culerovich's body.
Ron Culerovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Culerovich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Legba dips to his left and cracks Culerovich with an uppercut!
Culerovich looks for the body kick but Legba saw that one coming.
Legba throws a body punch but Culerovich moves out of range.
Legba jabs Culerovich to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Culerovich throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Culerovich misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba avoids the head kick by Culerovich.
Legba paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Legba's corner calls for a 1-2. Legba obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Culerovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Legba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Legba blocks a low kick nicely.
Legba throws a big shot that misses.
Legba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Culerovich.
Legba cracks Culerovich with an open hand slap.
Culerovich throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Legba misses with a straight left.
Legba moves out of range of the body kick from Culerovich.
Culerovich takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich throws a body punch but Legba moves out of range.
Culerovich misses with the combination.
Legba swinging wildly here.
Ron Culerovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Legba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Culerovich is fending him off so far but Legba persists. Nope, Culerovich circles away and we're back to standing.
Legba uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Culerovich.
Culerovich misses with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Culerovich takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Legba takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legba lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Culerovich throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Legba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Culerovich lands with a slapping head kick.
Culerovich throws the kick towards the body but Legba avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ron Culerovich's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Legba connects with the punch.
Culerovich throws a low kick but Legba avoids it.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Legba with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Culerovich throws a lazy right hand but Legba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Legba tests Culerovich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Legba with a nice cross.
Culerovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Legba pushes Culerovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Legba is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Culerovich is defending well for now.
Legba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Culerovich.
Legba tries to score a body lock takedown but Culerovich shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Culerovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culerovich lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Legba backwards.
Culerovich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Legba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Culerovich misses with a knee strike.

Legba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Legba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Legba avoids the head kick by Culerovich.
A combination from Culerovich does no damage.
Legba shoots in looking for a takedown but Culerovich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Legba's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Culerovich lands with a slapping head kick.
Legba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Culerovich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Legba's jab looks to have found its range, popping Culerovich under the eye.
Legba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Legba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Culerovich.
Ron Culerovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich tries to land a front kick but Legba steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Culerovich looks to land a right hand but Legba moved out of range.
Legba checks a leg kick nicely.
Culerovich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Legba misses with a double jab.
Culerovich misses with a straight right.
Legba lands with a nice combination. Culerovich backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Culerovich throws a head kick that misses.
Culerovich misses with a head kick.
Culerovich pushes Legba away with a front kick.
Culerovich has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Legba connects with a right hand. Culerovich shakes it off.
Culerovich fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Culerovich on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Culerovich has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Legba.
Culerovich looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Legba lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Culerovich backs up against the cage.
Culerovich avoids a punch combination nicely.
Culerovich throws a push kick but Legba slaps the foot to one side.
Culerovich throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.
Culerovich swings for the body but Legba moves out of range.
Culerovich throws a half hearted mid kick.
Legba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ron Culerovich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Papa Legba.
Legba scores with a crisp jab that stopped Culerovich in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Culerovich.
Legba slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Culerovich plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Legba blocks a leg kick.
Culerovich throws a low kick but it's checked well by Legba.
Culerovich takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Legba with a nice cross.
Jab from Legba.
Legba lands a nice shot to the body.
Legba thows a body kick. Culerovich tries to catch it but that hurt him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Culerovich throws a wild body kick that Legba sees coming a mile off.
Legba tries to clinch but Culerovich moves out of range.
Legba digs a good body shot into Culerovich's ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Legba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Legba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Legba!
After the fight, Papa Legba was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.