PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Kolobnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roma Kucherov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kucherov has chosen The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid as his entrance music. The key to victory for Igor Kolobnev has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kolobnev
vs
Kucherov

179 cm
23
176 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

150 cm
29
183 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Igor Kolobnev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roma Kucherov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kolobnev misses with a series of wild punches.
Kucherov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kolobnev feints a jab promting Kucherov to slip. Kolobnev then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kucherov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Kucherov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kolobnev's waist but Kolobnev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kucherov off to one side.
Kucherov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kolobnev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Igor Kolobnev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roma Kucherov.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kolobnev enables Kucherov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kolobnev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucherov postures up in Kolobnev's guard and throws a big left but Kolobnev blocks it.
Kucherov prevents Kolobnev from getting back to his feet.
Kucherov controlling from the top position.
Kucherov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kolobnev wants to get back to his feet but Kucherov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Igor Kolobnev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kucherov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice uppercut there from Kolobnev.
Kucherov slips a jab and a cross from Kolobnev.
Kucherov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Kolobnev.
Nice shot lands for Kolobnev.
Kolobnev displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kolobnev misses with the combination.

Kucherov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kolobnev's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kucherov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kolobnev!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolobnev wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Kucherov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kolobnev holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kucherov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kolobnev misses with a two punch combination.
Kucherov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kolobnev. Kolobnev obviously looking to wear him down.
Kucherov has his takedown stuffed
and Kolobnev counters with a left to the body.
Kolobnev throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kucherov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolobnev misses with a few strikes there.
Kucherov shoots in for a takedown but Kolobnev shows good takedown defense.
Igor Kolobnev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roma Kucherov.
Kolobnev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kolobnev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kucherov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Igor Kolobnev is winning the standup battle so far.

Kucherov shoots in and bounces Kolobnev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kucherov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kucherov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kolobnev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kolobnev tries to get out of the position.
Kolobnev keeping moving, preventing Kucherov from controlling successfully.
Kolobnev wants to get back to his feet but Kucherov passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov stops Kolobnev from getting back to his feet.
Kucherov is looking to take a break and control but Kolobnev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kucherov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kucherov controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kucherov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kucherov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kolobnev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kolobnev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kucherov on the ground.
Kucherov works his way into full mount!
Kucherov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Kucherov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kolobnev misses with the combination.
Kolobnev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kucherov.
Kucherov fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Kolobnev both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Roma Kucherov has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolobnev lands a head kick. Kucherov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kolobnev checks the leg kick.

Kolobnev lands a big head kick that sends Kucherov tumbling to the mat! Kolobnev takes a step backwards and waves Kucherov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Kucherov is rocked!
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!
Kucherov shoots in looking for a takedown. Kolobnev tries to sprawl out of it but Kucherov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kolobnev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kucherov is still on wobbly legs! Can Kolobnev finish him?
Igor Kolobnev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roma Kucherov.
Kolobnev feints a jab and as Kucherov dips his head, Kolobnev unleashes a brutal head kick that catches Kucherov right on the jaw! Timbeeer! Kucherov falls backwards in slow motion, only propped up by the cage! Kolobnev smiles a psychotic smile as he stares down his unconscious opponent. That is a scary man.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Igor Kolobnev!
Igor Kolobnev thanked the fans post fight for their support.