PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shefki Kuqi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Prince Vasquel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vasquel's choice of entrance music: The Brazilian National Anthem . Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kuqi
vs
Vasquel

172 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

180 cm
31
185 lbs
18 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

GR Design - Top quality, from $10 to $150 !

ĄFFĄKĘTIΘN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shefki Kuqi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Prince Vasquel!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Vasquel.
A combination from Kuqi does no damage.

Kuqi gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Vasquel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vasquel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vasquel controlling the position for now.
Kuqi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kuqi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vasquel to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuqi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Vasquel looking for a guillotine here but Kuqi defends easily.
Vasquel keeping moving, preventing Kuqi from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vasquel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuqi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vasquel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel looking to control but Kuqi passes into half guard.
Vasquel has hold of Kuqi's hands but Kuqi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kuqi winds up and cracks Vasquel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kuqi controlling the action here.
Vasquel trying to hold on to Kuqi's head to control him but Kuqi postures up.
Kuqi thows a huge punch but Vasquel dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel taking some punishment here, with Kuqi in his half guard.
Kuqi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kuqi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kuqi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuqi drops an elbow to the side of Vasquel's head.
Vasquel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kuqi.
Kuqi slips a nice elbow through Vasquel's hands, connecting with Vasquel's forehead.
Kuqi slows the pace down in half guard.
Kuqi is trying to control. Vasquel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel is looking for a sweep. Kuqi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vasquel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuqi scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vasquel is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuqi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasquel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kuqi content to control rather than advance.
Kuqi working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice takedown defense from Vasquel. No joy for Kuqi on that attempt.
Kuqi blocks a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vasquel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuqi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vasquel is fending him off so far but Kuqi persists. Nope, Vasquel circles away and we're back to standing.
Vasquel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vasquel throws a body punch but Kuqi moves out of range.
Vasquel throws a one two combo.
Vasquel lands an overhand right.
Kuqi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Vasquel misses the jab.
Vasquel tries to score with a low kick but Kuqi moves his leg out of the way.
Vasquel looks to land a right hand but Kuqi moved out of range.
Vasquel throws a right and a left that both miss.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kuqi checks a leg kick.
Kuqi throws a right and a left that Vasquel avoids nicely.
Kuqi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vasquel.
Kuqi slips a jab from Vasquel.
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vasquel as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shefki Kuqi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquel looks to throw the jab but Kuqi is out of range.
Kuqi misses with a takedown attempt - Vasquel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown but Vasquel shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuqi shoots for a double leg takedown but Vasquel sprawls well. He's pushed Kuqi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kuqi jabs Vasquel to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Vasquel throws a hook but Kuqi avoids it easily.
Vasquel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuqi misses with a few strikes there.
Kuqi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Prince Vasquel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquel just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuqi doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A slow jab from Vasquel misses its intended target.
A jab from Vasquel does it's job there.
The fighters circling - Vasquel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vasquel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vasquel counters with a thumping low kick.
Vasquel blocks a jab.
Kuqi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vasquel closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kuqi throws a series of punches but Vasquel avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuqi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A slow jab from Vasquel misses its intended target.
Shefki Kuqi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuqi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vasquel throws a big shot that misses.
Vasquel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some wild striking there from Kuqi.
Vasquel loads up on a big right hand but Kuqi slips the punch.
Kuqi moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasquel.
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Prince Vasquel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquel looks to land a left hand but Kuqi moved out of range nicely.
Kuqi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vasquel.
Kuqi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vasquel circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Kuqi misses.
Vasquel loads up on a big right hand but Kuqi slips the punch.
Vasquel connects with a single shot there.
Vasquel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Kuqi closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vasquel's guard.
Vasquel wants to get back to his feet but Kuqi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Kuqi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vasquel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuqi has managed to get both his arms back between Vasquel's legs - danger averted.

Vasquel working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuqi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuqi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi trying to control but Vasquel is working from the bottom.
Shefki Kuqi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuqi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vasquel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasquel has momentary wrist control but Kuqi slips an elbow through the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuqi looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Prince Vasquel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab by Vasquel.
Kuqi takes a swing at Vasquel's ribcage but misses.
Vasquel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vasquel misses with a double jab.
Kuqi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vasquel throws an overhand right that lands on Kuqi's shoulder, as Kuqi tries to avoid the shot.
Prince Vasquel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuqi throws a head kick that misses.
Kuqi looks to land a combination but Vasquel avoids it well.
Vasquel lands an overhand right.
Kuqi shoots in for a double leg but Vasquel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice body punch from Vasquel.
Vasquel works the jab nicely.
Kuqi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
An inside leg kick lands from Vasquel.
Kuqi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shefki Kuqi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuqi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquel takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vasquel looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuqi is just out of range.
A cross from Vasquel lands.
A shot to the liver by Vasquel. Beautiful body shot.
Vasquel throws a right hand that Kuqi ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuqi also avoids with ease.
Vasquel scores with a hook to the body. Kuqi takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kuqi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vasquel stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuqi. Kuqi gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice uppercut there from Vasquel.
Kuqi shoots in looking for a takedown. Vasquel tries to sprawl out of it but Kuqi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vasquel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuqi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vasquel missing with a left hand there. Kuqi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuqi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vasquel can pounce on him.
Vasquel lands a nice shot that snaps Kuqi's head back.
Kuqi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Vasquel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Vasquel.
Vasquel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuqi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasquel chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Kuqi gets a double leg takedown into Vasquel's guard.

Vasquel looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Kuqi is defending well. Vasquel quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Kuqi has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Vasquel celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Prince Vasquel!
Prince Vasquel thanked the fans post fight for their support.