PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leo Howe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kuznecov's choice of entrance music: Небо Славян. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Howe
vs
Kuznecov

203 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leo Howe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Kuznecov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznecov with a poor takedown
letting Howe counter with a right hand.
Kuznecov has a takedown stuffed.
Howe misses with the combination.
Howe misses with a wild combination.
Kuznecov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Howe counters with a good low kick that Kuznecov was not able to check.
Leo Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Kuznecov.
Some bone on bone action there as Kuznecov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Howe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Howe - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kuznecov successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Howe 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.
Howe throws a big right hand that misses.
Howe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznecov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Howe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Howe connects with a couple of short punches.
Howe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Howe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuznecov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Howe throws a big elbow that misses.
Howe will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Howe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Howe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kuznecov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Howe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Howe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kuznecov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kuznecov has escaped and now he's on top!

Howe working for a triangle but Kuznecov defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kuznecov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Howe, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov shoots in and drives through. Howe sprawls well.
Howe throws a nice outside leg kick.

Howe closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee calls for Howe to work.
Howe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kuznecov after a bit of a struggle.
Kuznecov is pressed up against the cage. Howe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kuznecov down to the mat. Kuznecov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kuznecov throws a head kick that misses.
Howe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kuznecov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Howe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Kuznecov - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Howe breaks the clinch.
Howe dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuznecov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Howe is breathing heavily.
Howe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Howe looking to stall.

Howe is trying to trip Kuznecov. He has hold of a leg but Kuznecov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Howe persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuznecov is looking to stand back up but Howe counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kuznecov.
Howe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuznecov has his hands clasped together around Howe's back. He's all about the action.
Howe is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kuznecov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howe can't get the takedown.
Kuznecov is trying to drag Howe to the mat but Howe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Howe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuznecov wants to clinch.
Kuznecov fails with a takedown attempt.
A chopping leg kick lands by Howe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kuznecov enables Howe to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kuznecov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Howe postures up in Kuznecov's guard and throws a big left but Kuznecov blocks it.
Kuznecov controls Howe momentarily but Howe frees himself.
Howe is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuznecov has wrist control.
Kuznecov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Howe is now in half guard.

Howe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Howe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov is trying to stand up here but Howe is controlling him well.
Kuznecov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Howe.
Ground and pound from Howe.
Howe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Howe lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Howe throwing shots but Kuznecov is blocking nicely.
Kuznecov wants to improve his position but Howe is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howe blocks the strikes from Kuznecov.

Howe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kuznecov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Howe.
Kuznecov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Howe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Howe is working for a submission of some sort.
Leo Howe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kuznecov is defending against the submission attempts here by Howe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov keeping control of the position.

Howe is working for a submission of some sort.
Kuznecov wants to improve his position but Howe is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Howe dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kuznecov dives in for a single leg takedown but Howe sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Howe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuznecov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kuznecov looking for a takedown.
Kuznecov misses with an elbow over the top.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Howe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Howe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kuznecov counters by clinching up.
Kuznecov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howe after a bit of a struggle.
Leo Howe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Kuznecov.
Howe taking a breather.
Kuznecov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Howe has Kuznecov pressed against the cage.
Kuznecov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Howe after a bit of a struggle.
Kuznecov tries to pull guard but Howe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Howe turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Howe.

Howe is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kuznecov is trying to escape and Howe transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kuznecov is forced to tap! Nice work there by Howe! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Leo Howe!