PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kuzma Kuzmich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piugnu Kopo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuzma Kuzmich had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Piugnu Kopo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kuzmich
vs
Kopo

182 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
26
165 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kuzma Kuzmich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piugnu Kopo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kopo closes the distance and clinches.
Kopo prevents Kuzmich from breaking the clinch.

Kopo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kuzmich has managed to clinch.

Kopo breaks the clinch.
Kuzmich throws a leg kick but Kopo checks it.
Kopo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A combination from Kuzmich does no damage.

Kuzmich moves into the clinch.
Kopo misses with an elbow over the top.
Kopo trying to stall but Kuzmich improves his position.

Kopo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kopo tries to clinch but Kuzmich moves out of range.
Kopo tries to clinch up but Kuzmich circles away and keeps his distance.

Kuzmich darts in and clinches Kopo up against the ropes.
Kuzmich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kopo's efforts to push away.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kopo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmich has had enough of the clinch but Kopo keeps him there for the moment.
Kopo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuzmich is keeping busy.
Kopo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kuzmich is trying to force a seperation but Kopo has the dominant position.
Kuzmich tries to circle away but Kopo has him pinned against the ropes.
Kuzmich wants to break free but Kopo has control.

Kuzmich has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kopo is trying to keep an underhook but Kuzmich manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kopo moves into full guard.

Kopo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuzmich is aware though and is defending well.
Kuzmich wants to get up but he can't break Kopo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kopo has his foot on Kuzmich's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuzmich works his way back into a safe position though.

Kopo working for a triangle but Kuzmich defends it easily.
Kuzmich wanted to stand there but Kopo had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kuzmich!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kopo with the ground and pound from mount.
Kopo 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.
Kopo 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.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kopo lands a nice shot to the head.
Kuzmich is breathing heavily.
Kopo with good strikes from the mount here!
Kopo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kuzmich blocking the ground and pound.
Kopo lands a big shot there that rocks Kuzmich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kopo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuzmich is looking to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kopo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kuzmich is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kopo pulls Kuzmich in to control the position.
Kopo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kopo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Kopo controls Kuzmich momentarily but Kuzmich frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kopo manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Kuzmich keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice straight punches there by Kopo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kopo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kopo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kuzmich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kopo lands a nice hook to Kuzmich's body. Kuzmich takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kuzma Kuzmich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kopo darts in trying to clinch

and Kuzmich holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kopo tries to break the clinch but Kuzmich is controlling the position.
Kuzmich tries to circle away but Kopo has him pinned against the ropes.
Kuzmich is trying to force a seperation but Kopo has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Kopo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kopo prevents Kuzmich from breaking the clinch.
Kuzmich has had enough of the clinch but Kopo keeps him there for the moment.

Kuzmich has hold of one of Kopo's legs. Kopo is fighting the takedown attempt but Kuzmich gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kopo trying to keep a closed guard but Kuzmich is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kopo is on top in guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kopo chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kopo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuzmich manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kopo has Kuzmich in his guard.
Kopo working a defensive guard here.
Kuzmich wants to stand but Kopo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kopo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kuzmich avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kopo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuzmich's head.
Kopo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kuzmich on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kopo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kopo lands with a punch from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kopo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kopo decides to stand and escape the position.
Kopo has a takedown stuffed.
Kopo wants to clinch.
Kopo blocks the body kick.
Kopo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kopo doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzmich circles away.
Kopo moves in looking to clinch but Kuzmich pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kopo drives through and clinches with Kuzmich against the ropes.
Kuzmich is trying to push Kopo away but Kopo has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kopo lands an elbow that stopped Kuzmich in his tracks for a moment.

Kuzmich wants the takedown. Kopo is fighting it off but Kuzmich persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kopo's guard against the ropes.

Kuzmich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kopo trying to keep a closed guard but Kuzmich is proving a slippery customer.
Piugnu Kopo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kopo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

Kopo pushes Kuzmich off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kopo doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuzmich circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piugnu Kopo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kopo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuzmich.
Kuzmich keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuzmich thows a leg kick but Kopo checks it
and Kopo counters with a low kick, right behind Kuzmich 's knee.
Kopo is looking to clinch but Kuzmich is avoiding it.
Kuzmich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kopo misses with the combination.
Kopo is looking to clinch.
Kopo tries to clinch there but Kuzmich circles away.
Kuzmich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kopo wants to clinch

and Kuzmich counters by clinching up.

Kuzmich is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Kopo can't fight it off and eventually Kuzmich manages to take the fight to the floor. Kopo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kuzmich is looking to stand up but Kopo won't let him.
Kuzmich knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kopo on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kopo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kopo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kopo landing strikes from the mount.
Kuzmich avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kopo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kopo raining down hammerfists from mount.
BOOM! Kopo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kuzmich on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kuzmich tries to get out of the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kopo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kopo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kopo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Kuzmich is rocked!
Kopo loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Kuzmich scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Kopo land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Kopo stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Piugnu Kopo!