PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm MacKay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roma Kucherov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MacKay's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Blood Of A Young Wolf - Buck 65. Kucherov has chosen The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

MacKay
vs
Kucherov

188 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

150 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Technique MMA

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Malcolm MacKay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roma Kucherov!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kucherov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching MacKay on his heels. He'll look to pass MacKay's guard now, I'm sure.
Kucherov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kucherov trying to control but MacKay is working from the bottom.
Kucherov throws a strike but MacKay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
MacKay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kucherov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MacKay being controlled here momentarily.
Kucherov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
MacKay is fighting to break Kucherov's control of his arms but Kucherov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roma Kucherov.

Kucherov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. MacKay is trying to defend but Kucherov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kucherov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. MacKay defending well though.
MacKay wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov wants to control but MacKay is keeping him busy.
MacKay flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

MacKay actively working from the bottom here.
Kucherov wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacKay keeps working.
MacKay is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

MacKay looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
MacKay is pressing down on Kucherov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov throws a strike but MacKay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kucherov wants to sweep but no luck.
Kucherov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
MacKay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kucherov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
MacKay wants to control from the top but Kucherov keeps moving.
Kucherov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kucherov, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kucherov is adopting a defensive guard.
Kucherov keeping moving, preventing MacKay from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
MacKay looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kucherov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Kucherov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MacKay shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than MacKay was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

MacKay jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kucherov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kucherov and MacKay has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kucherov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kucherov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Roma Kucherov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kucherov pulls MacKay in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucherov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for MacKay!
MacKay tries to hold on but Kucherov pushes him away.
MacKay is looking to improve his position but Kucherov isn't that keen on the idea.
MacKay tries to hold on but Kucherov postures up.
MacKay tries to reverse the position but Kucherov maintains control.
MacKay is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacKay gets back to half guard.
Kucherov passes into side control, despite MacKay's attempt to control the position.
MacKay is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kucherov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
MacKay is trying to get back to full guard.
Kucherov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacKay trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacKay wants to control but Kucherov passes into side.
MacKay tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kucherov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
MacKay manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kucherov's best efforts.
MacKay is trying to get back to full guard.
MacKay trying to control here.
MacKay tries to roll over but Kucherov keeps him under control.
MacKay trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed MacKay's head.
MacKay trying to hold on to Kucherov's head to control him but Kucherov postures up.
Kucherov is keen to just control but MacKay is a slippery customer.
MacKay is looking to control Kucherov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacKay avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Malcolm MacKay has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kucherov shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm MacKay dominated that second round.
That's time! MacKay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

MacKay throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kucherov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. MacKay is in Kucherov's guard.
Kucherov is pulling down on MacKay's head to control his posture.
MacKay wants to control from the top but Kucherov keeps moving.
MacKay throws a big elbow that misses.

MacKay postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kucherov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of MacKay, into his guard.
MacKay looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacKay throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
MacKay keeping moving, preventing Kucherov from controlling successfully.
MacKay has momentary wrist control but Kucherov slips an elbow through the middle.
MacKay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
MacKay is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kucherov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

MacKay working for submissions but it's allowed Kucherov to get to half guard.
Kucherov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
MacKay is looking to control Kucherov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacKay avoid being mounted?
MacKay wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but MacKay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
MacKay trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kucherov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
MacKay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kucherov dominating with strikes here.
MacKay is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Kucherov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
MacKay tries to hold on but Kucherov pushes him away.
Kucherov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacKay is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kucherov landing shots from mount.
MacKay tries to hold on but Kucherov postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kucherov working MacKay over with strikes here.
Kucherov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roma Kucherov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kucherov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roma Kucherov!
A pretty intense looking Roma Kucherov took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.