PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Somsak Jiam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kuznecov
vs
Jiam

178 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuri Kuznecov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Somsak Jiam!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jiam just misses with a punch to the body.

Kuznecov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jiam is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuznecov is keeping busy.
Jiam goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kuznecov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuznecov wants a takedown.
Kuznecov tries a body shot but Jiam blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuznecov breaks the clinch.
Kuznecov blocks the body kick.
Somsak Jiam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuznecov fails to land the takedown.
Jiam swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jiam's waist but Jiam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kuznecov off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuznecov tries to clinch but Jiam moves out of range.
Jiam lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kuznecov will feel that in the morning.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jiam.
Kuznecov blocks the body kick.
Jiam misses with a kick to the body.
Kuznecov wants to clinch.
Jiam stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jiam wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kuznecov shoots in but no luck this time.
Jiam tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kuznecov was well out of range. Poor timing from Jiam.
Jiam misses with a hook.
Somsak Jiam is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jiam throws a body kick that misses.
Jiam misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuznecov avoids the head kick by Jiam.
Jiam lands a nice looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jiam tries to bum rush Kuznecov with a series of wild strikes but Kuznecov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jiam misses with the combination.
Jiam lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jiam throws a sloppy head kick and Kuznecov moves out of range easily.
Jiam swinging wildly here.

Jiam gets caught flat footed, as Kuznecov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kuznecov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jiam is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kuznecov is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov lands a nice shot to the head.
Kuznecov controlling from the full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jiam throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuznecov.
Jiam looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jiam misses with a low kick as Kuznecov jumps back.
Kuznecov tries for a takedown but Jiam sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jiam has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kuznecov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jiam throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuznecov avoids the head kick by Jiam.
Jiam jabs at Kuznecov's body.
Somsak Jiam seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov tries to clinch up.
Jiam throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yuri Kuznecov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jiam misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuznecov tries to close the distance and clinch but Jiam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jiam jabs at Kuznecov's body.
Jiam misses the jab.
Kuznecov dives in for a single leg takedown but Jiam sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jiam wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kuznecov has him pressed against the cage.
Jiam is trying to force a seperation but Kuznecov has the dominant position.
Jiam lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov is pushing Jiam up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jiam trying to control the position but instead, Kuznecov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jiam into the cage.
Jiam is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuznecov has double underhooks.

Kuznecov drags the fight down to the ground.

Jiam avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuznecov controlling Jiam's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Kuznecov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jiam off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jiam lands a front kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Jiam.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jiam misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuznecov.
Kuznecov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jiam is fending him off so far but Kuznecov persists. Nope, Jiam circles away and we're back to standing.
A punch combination from Jiam misses.
A left and a right from Jiam both land. Nice combination.
Jiam fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuznecov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jiam moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jiam comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crunch! Jiam slams his shin into Kuznecov's torso.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jiam throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kuznecov shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Somsak Jiam 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jiam throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A nice combination there by Jiam.

Kuznecov shoots in and bounces Jiam off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kuznecov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuznecov controlling from the top position.
Jiam looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuznecov is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznecov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov passes Jiam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jiam is looking for a sweep. Kuznecov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jiam is trying to maintain the position but Kuznecov is very close to passing his half guard.
Jiam wants to control but Kuznecov passes into side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kuznecov stands up.
Jiam thows a body kick. Kuznecov tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Kuznecov pushes Jiam up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznecov throws an elbow but misses.
Jiam is trying to push Kuznecov away but Kuznecov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuznecov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jiam wants to break free but Kuznecov has control.
Jiam is looking to control Kuznecov's arms but Kuznecov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jiam has his back to the cage.
Kuznecov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jiam gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jiam trying to control the position but instead, Kuznecov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jiam into the cage.
Jiam misses with the head strike.
Kuznecov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Jiam is trying to stall.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kuznecov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Kuznecov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuznecov lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuznecov controlling from the top position.
Somsak Jiam is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuznecov passes Jiam's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Kuznecov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jiam has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Somsak Jiam!
A very excited looking Somsak Jiam made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.