PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kuklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Roman
vs
Kuklin

180 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
217 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rocco Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Kuklin!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuklin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Roman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kuklin wants to clinch but Roman slips to the side

and Roman counters with a shoot takedown. Kuklin fights it but they end up in guard.
Roman wants to pass the guard but Kuklin is keeping the position.
Kuklin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've been hearing good reports from Roman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Roman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roman works over Kuklin with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuklin is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuklin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roman controls the pace.
Roman trying to control but Kuklin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman content to stall in guard here.
Roman scoring with punches to the head and body.
Roman content to stall in guard here.

Roman 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuklin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Roman controlling from the top position.
Kuklin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Roman has passed into side control.
Kuklin is looking for a sweep.
Kuklin being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Roman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kuklin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kuklin sneaks back into half guard.
Kuklin keeping control of the position.
Kuklin has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Roman is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Kuklin is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rocco Roman!
A relieved looking Rocco Roman thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.