PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tomasz Dabrowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roma Kucherov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dabrowski comes into the arena with Adema - Planets blaring out of the sound system. Kucherov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Tomasz Dabrowski has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dabrowski
vs
Kucherov

180 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

150 cm
29
183 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tomasz Dabrowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roma Kucherov!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dabrowski misses with a takedown attempt

and Kucherov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dabrowski!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Dabrowski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kucherov trying to control but Dabrowski is having none of it.
Dabrowski is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dabrowski throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kucherov lands a nice shot to the head.
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!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kucherov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dabrowski is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dabrowski is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucherov controlling the pace for now.
Kucherov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dabrowski is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dabrowski is squirming around, avoiding Kucherov's attempts to control the action.
Dabrowski wants to hold on but Kucherov pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski 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.
Kucherov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dabrowski looks a forlorn figure.
Dabrowski tries to reverse the position but Kucherov maintains control.
Dabrowski sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Dabrowski trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kucherov seems content to control.
Dabrowski trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dabrowski is looking to get to half guard.
Kucherov landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski is looking to get to half guard.
Kucherov landing punches.
Kucherov with shots to the head and body - Dabrowski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kucherov looking to control but Dabrowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dabrowski regains half guard.
Dabrowski manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dabrowski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dabrowski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kucherov trying to control from the bottom.

Dabrowski is looking for a kimura here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kucherov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Kucherov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dabrowski misses with a takedown attempt - Kucherov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Dabrowski scores with a takedown into Kucherov's guard.
Kucherov controlling Dabrowski's posture.
Dabrowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kucherov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dabrowski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabrowski looking to pass the guard.
Dabrowski is working hard here to advance position.
Dabrowski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kucherov is proving hard to escape from.
Kucherov has his hands on Dabrowski's head, controlling the position.
Dabrowski postures up in Kucherov's guard and throws a big left but Kucherov blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski trying to control but Kucherov is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Tomasz Dabrowski wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dabrowski with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kucherov counters with a takedown into side control.
Kucherov working away.
Dabrowski taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dabrowski is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Dabrowski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Kucherov is looking for a kimura here.
Kucherov working over Dabrowski with some ground and pound. Dabrowski looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski trying to control from the bottom.
Kucherov working over Dabrowski with some ground and pound. Dabrowski looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dabrowski throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kucherov is pressing down on Dabrowski's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dabrowski is holding on for now.
Dabrowski trying to control but Kucherov postures up.
Dabrowski is looking for a sweep. Kucherov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dabrowski is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Dabrowski wants to hold on but Kucherov pushes him away.
Dabrowski squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Dabrowski tries to hold on but Kucherov postures up.
Kucherov working the ground and pound effectively.
Dabrowski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roma Kucherov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Dabrowski shoots and misses

and Kucherov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kucherov throws a big elbow that misses.
Kucherov connects with a couple of short punches.
Kucherov is looking to work some ground and pound but Dabrowski has wrist control.
Dabrowski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dabrowski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kucherov being controlled here momentarily.
Kucherov looking to pass the guard.
Dabrowski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kucherov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kucherov trying to control but Dabrowski is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roma Kucherov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kucherov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dabrowski is out of range and Kucherov settles back down.
Dabrowski has his takedown stuffed

and Kucherov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dabrowski's guard.
Dabrowski looking for a sweep. Not yet Dabrowski, not yet.
Kucherov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dabrowski keeping moving, preventing Kucherov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabrowski throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kucherov postures up and lands a big shot to Dabrowski's brow.
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kucherov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kucherov wants to control from the top but Dabrowski keeps moving.
Kucherov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kucherov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kucherov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Dabrowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov stops Dabrowski from getting back to his feet.
Dabrowski trying to control here.
Dabrowski manages to get to full guard.
Kucherov trying to control but Dabrowski is working from the bottom.
Tomasz Dabrowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kucherov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dabrowski is on top in guard.
Kucherov wants to sweep here but Dabrowski controlling him for the moment.
Dabrowski looking to pass the guard.
Dabrowski wants to control from the top but Kucherov keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dabrowski throws a strike but Kucherov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roma Kucherov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kucherov 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roma Kucherov!
A victorious Roma Kucherov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.