PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Filip Mirkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kuklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivan Kuklin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mirkovic
vs
Kuklin

190 cm
27
217 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
217 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Filip Mirkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Kuklin!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuklin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mirkovic.
Filip Mirkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mirkovic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mirkovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuklin.
Kuklin loads up on a big right hand but Mirkovic slips the punch.
Mirkovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mirkovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mirkovic cracks Kuklin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kuklin misses with a hook.
Mirkovic feinted with a counter takedown.
Kuklin misses with the combination.
Kuklin throws a jab but it's blocked by Mirkovic.
A jab from Kuklin misses.
Kuklin misses the shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuklin misses with a looping left.
It looked like Mirkovic was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mirkovic scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Ivan Kuklin has been cut.
Kuklin tries to close the distance and clinch but Mirkovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Mirkovic. Those never looked like landing.
Mirkovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Mirkovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuklin circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Mirkovic with that takedown attempt.
Kuklin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Mirkovic has closed the distance and engaged Kuklin in a clinch.
Kuklin tries to throw a body punch but Mirkovic avoids it by throwing Kuklin back against the cage.
Kuklin tries to throw a body punch but Mirkovic avoids it by throwing Kuklin back against the cage.
Kuklin misses with some punches.

Kuklin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Mirkovic swinging wildly here.
Kuklin misses with a straight left.
Mirkovic throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kuklin counters with a two punch combo.
Mirkovic misses with a body kick.

Kuklin feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Mirkovic sprawling to the canvas! Mirkovic rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Kuklin finish him?!

Mirkovic is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirkovic looks to land a combination. Kuklin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Oh Mirkovic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mirkovic tries to clinch but Kuklin is having none of it.
No joy there for Mirkovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mirkovic seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovic tries to land a leg kick but Kuklin saw it coming and moves away.
A nice side step and Kuklin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mirkovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuklin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mirkovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mirkovic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Mirkovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A lazy left from Kuklin finds it's target.

It looks like Filip Mirkovic has been cut.
Kuklin misses the shot to the body.
Kuklin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kuklin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Kuklin rushes Mirkovic and presses him up against the cage.
Mirkovic looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kuklin misses with the head strike.
Kuklin working aggressively here.
Kuklin tries a body shot but Mirkovic blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Kuklin fails to land.

Kuklin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mirkovic works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuklin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Mirkovic shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kuklin eats them both and turns towards Mirkovic to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kuklin lands with a jab that stuns his opponent. Mirkovic is looking to close the distance but Kuklin sees it coming and throws a beautiful knee! Mirkovic crumbles to the mat and that's all she wrote! Let's hope Mirkovic is OK because that was naaaaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:13 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Ivan Kuklin!