PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dale Fernhart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Kukushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukushkin has chosen Shufutinsky - White roses as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fernhart
vs
Kukushkin

190 cm
25
220 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

191 cm
33
224 lbs
16 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dale Fernhart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alex Kukushkin!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernhart on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kukushkin throws a body punch but Fernhart moves out of range.
Kukushkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kukushkin punishes Fernhart's body with a nice straight punch.
Kukushkin connects with a crisp jab.
Kukushkin misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Kukushkin.
Fernhart throws a jab when Kukushkin was well out of range.
Fernhart shoots in for a takedown but Kukushkin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernhart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Fernhart misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukushkin throws a body punch but Fernhart moves out of range.
Kukushkin misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukushkin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kukushkin lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kukushkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fernhart manages to avoid it.
Kukushkin just misses with a punch to the body.
Alex Kukushkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukushkin throws a right hand that misses
and Fernhart counters with a three punch combo that has Kukushkin backing up. Kukushkin nods at Fernhart to acknowledge the strikes.
Fernhart on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fernhart blocks a jab.
Fernhart throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kukushkin's waist but Kukushkin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernhart off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukushkin looks to land a right hand but Fernhart moved out of range.
Fernhart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukushkin.
Kukushkin misses with an uppercut.
Fernhart lands with a slapping head kick.
Kukushkin tries to bum rush Fernhart with a series of wild strikes but Fernhart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fernhart keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukushkin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin 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.
Alex Kukushkin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kukushkin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fernhart takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fernhart tries a head kick but it misses.
Fernhart just misses with a punch to the body.
Kukushkin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fernhart showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kukushkin.
Kukushkin throws a hook to the side of Fernhart's head but Fernhart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kukushkin misses with a wild body shot.
Kukushkin looks to land a combination. Fernhart sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kukushkin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kukushkin works Fernhart's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart misses with a hook.
Fernhart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kukushkin.
Fernhart moves away from the strike by Kukushkin.
Kukushkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kukushkin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fernhart on the side of the head.
Kukushkin throws a hook but Fernhart avoids it easily.
Kukushkin throws a right hand that Fernhart ducks under and follows up with a left that Fernhart also avoids with ease.

Fernhart manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kukushkin on his heels. He'll look to pass Kukushkin's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Fernhart stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukushkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fernhart passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kukushkin is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukushkin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Fernhart.
Kukushkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fernhart. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fernhart slows the pace down.

Fernhart wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kukushkin, who protects the arm well.
Fernhart wants to control but Kukushkin is keeping him busy.
Kukushkin is being controlled here.
Fernhart scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin tries to escape but Fernhart is in control.
Fernhart throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fernhart working the head with strikes.
Fernhart throws an elbow but Kukushkin slips to the side and avoids it well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kukushkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kukushkin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Fernhart scores with punches from side control.
Fernhart content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kukushkin wants to get back to his feet but Fernhart drags him back down.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Fernhart stalls from top position.
Fernhart trying to control the action but Kukushkin is working from the bottom.
Kukushkin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernhart is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kukushkin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Fernhart is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kukushkin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fernhart controlling from side mount.
Kukushkin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fernhart has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernhart landing a few strikes.
Fernhart taking a breather here.
Fernhart cracks Kukushkin with a big right hand but Kukushkin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Fernhart trying to control the position but Kukushkin is working away.
Fernhart taking a breather here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart prevents Kukushkin from escaping the position.

Fernhart tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Fernhart tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fernhart has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dale Fernhart will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fernhart misses with an uppercut.
Kukushkin throws a hook but Fernhart blocks it.

Fernhart changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kukushkin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kukushkin wants to get back to his feet but Fernhart drags him back down.
Fernhart just content to control the position.
The strikes coming from Fernhart are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sloppy strikes there by Fernhart.
Fernhart is staying tight to Kukushkin's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukushkin is not content to let Fernhart control the position.
Fernhart working the head and body with strikes.
Fernhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukushkin keeps working.
The ground and pound from Fernhart seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kukushkin dodges the ground and pound from Fernhart.
Kukushkin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Fernhart asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Fernhart lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart just content to control the position.

Fernhart working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fernhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukushkin keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kukushkin defending against the ground and pound.
Fernhart lands some shots froms side control.

Kukushkin bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Fernhart takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fernhart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fernhart closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kukushkin circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fernhart decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Fernhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukushkin keeps working.
Fernhart seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fernhart has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kukushkin is refusing to be controlled, as Fernhart sits in half guard.

Kukushkin pushes Fernhart off and gets back to his feet.
Fernhart ducks under a wild hook from Kukushkin.
Kukushkin misses with a body shot.
Kukushkin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, jab by Kukushkin - just one landing.
Fernhart closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Good shot there by Kukushkin.
Fernhart will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alex Kukushkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A combination from Kukushkin does no damage.
Fernhart throws a combination that misses
and Kukushkin counters with a stiff right hand.
Kukushkin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fernhart looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Fernhart shoots in and drives through. Kukushkin sprawls well.
Kukushkin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Fernhart scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukushkin tries to kick Fernhart off but Fernhart keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Fernhart sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kukushkin pushes Fernhart off but Fernhart dives into side control.
Kukushkin is trying to escape the position but Fernhart is controlling the position.
Kukushkin is trying to get back to his feet.
Fernhart takes a little break here. Kukushkin wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Fernhart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukushkin keeps working.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Fernhart is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kukushkin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fernhart trying to control the action but Kukushkin is working from the bottom.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fernhart in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dale Fernhart overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fernhart throws an elbow but Kukushkin slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin is trying to buck Fernhart off.
Check out the look on Fernhart's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Fernhart has hold of Kukushkin's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Kukushkin tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Fernhart cranks the arm and Kukushkin screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Kukushkin, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Dale Fernhart!
A relieved looking Dale Fernhart thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.