PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Kulakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Grice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kulakov comes to the cage accompanied by Lube-Shparu. Grice is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by GZA - Shadowboxin'. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kulakov
vs
Grice

184 cm
41
186 lbs
40 - 33 - 1

184 cm
31
188 lbs
12 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Vikai Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 33 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viktor Kulakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Grice!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulakov misses with a two punch combination.
Kulakov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Kulakov. Those never looked like landing.
Kulakov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Grice with a nice cross.
Grice throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Grice throws a leg kick but Kulakov moved away.
Kulakov throws a right hand that misses
and Grice counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Grice punishes Kulakov's body with a nice straight punch.
Kulakov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Grice to score with a decent uppercut.
Grice tries to land a front kick but Kulakov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kulakov is looking to counter punch.
Kulakov connects with the punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Grice misses with a kick to the body.
Kulakov connects with the punch.
Kulakov throws a body punch but Grice moves out of range.
Grice throws out a leg kick but Kulakov moves out of range and Grice only half commits.
Grice sizes up Kulakov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Grice has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grice lands an uppercut.

Kulakov breaks from the clinch.
Grice with a jab.

Kulakov is rocked!
Kulakov checks a leg kick.
Oh Kulakov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Grice avoids the body shot from Kulakov.
Kulakov seems to have got his legs back now.
A slow jab from Grice misses its intended target.
Kulakov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grice.
And Grice responds with a good body kick, but Kulakov manages to step out the way in time.
A clash of legs there as Kulakov blocks the low kick.
As Grice looks to move away, Kulakov throws a big counter combo bu Grice just gets out of the way.
Grice fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Grice keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kulakov.
Grice jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Grice tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Kulakov does no damage.
Grice appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kulakov throws a body punch but Grice moves out of range.
Kulakov misses with a body shot
and Grice cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grice throws a leg kick
and Kulakov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kulakov takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Grice waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Kulakov. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Kulakov to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Grice stops Kulakov from standing up.
Grice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grice trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulakov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grice is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kulakov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Grice off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Grice scores with a push kick.
Grice scores with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice connects with a solid leg kick.
Kulakov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kulakov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grice wants to counter with a clinch but Kulakov pushes him away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Grice. Kulakov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kulakov throws a nice looking combination but Grice bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kulakov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Grice with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
No joy there for Kulakov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Grice with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kulakov checks a low kick from Grice.
Kulakov misses with a hook
and Grice makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Grice slips a jab and a cross from Kulakov.
Despite the aggression on Grice's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
An inside leg kick from Grice misses.
A little feinted left hand from Kulakov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kulakov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Kulakov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grice buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kulakov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Grice.
A swing and a miss from Kulakov.
Kulakov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kulakov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Grice scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kulakov needs to keep his hands up - Grice had a free shot at his head there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kulakov. Grice does a little dance to reset his feet.
Grice goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kulakov is looking to counter punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Grice.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Grice, as that shot connected.
Kulakov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Grice connects with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grice takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kulakov swings widly with a right hand
and Grice counters with a nice body shot.
Grice throws the kick towards the body but Kulakov avoids it.
Kulakov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A slow jab from Kulakov misses its intended target.
Kulakov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Grice lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kulakov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Grice scores with a jab.
Grice fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kulakov.
Grice misses with a hook. Kulakov ducked under it nicely.
Gary Grice seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grice misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Grice.
Kulakov misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Kulakov.
Grice looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Grice misses with a hook
enabling Kulakov to counter with a crisp jab.
Grice with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kulakov to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grice pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Grice. That's going to slow Kulakov down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grice blocks a jab.
An inside leg kick from Grice misses.
Grice has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kulakov moves out of range as Grice throws a body kick.
Grice is looking to slow Kulakov down with leg kicks.
Grice misses with a body shot.
Grice misses with a left hand
and Kulakov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Grice thinking.
Nice shot lands for Grice.
Kulakov swings for the body but Grice moves out of range.
Grice lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kulakov at a distance.
Kulakov looks to land a combination but Grice avoids it well.
Grice cracks Kulakov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Grice misses the shot to the body.
Grice lands with a shot to the body.
Grice misses with a body kick.
Kulakov throws the left hand but Grice avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grice listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kulakov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Grice back to the cage. Kulakov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Grice ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grice throws a body kick that misses.
Kulakov takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Viktor Kulakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grice misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Grice.
Kulakov connects with a single shot there.
Kulakov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
It seemed like Grice was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kulakov misses with a right hand
and Grice counters with a thumping low kick.
A combination from Kulakov does no damage.
Kulakov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Grice tries to land a front kick but Kulakov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kulakov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kulakov misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grice lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Grice tries to land a front kick but Kulakov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Grice scores with a hook.
Grice moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Grice fails in his attempt to clinch.
Grice throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kulakov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
That kick from Grice tenderised Kulakov's leg. Kulakov is trying to keep his angry face on.

Grice moves into the clinch successfully.

Kulakov breaks from the clinch.

Grice has closed the distance and engaged Kulakov in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Grice fails to land.
Kulakov has had enough of the clinch but Grice keeps him there for the moment.
Grice tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grice misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Grice misses with a body punch.
Grice is looking for a takedown.
Grice working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grice prevents Kulakov from breaking the clinch.
Grice swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kulakov is trying to break the clinch but Grice has him pressed against the cage.

Kulakov breaks the clinch.
Grice displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kulakov throws out the jab.
Grice blocks a jab.
Grice swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kulakov is looking to counter punch.
Good work by Kulakov as he checks the leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kulakov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Grice - the referee stops the clock and Kulakov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Grice. Kulakov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kulakov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Grice throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Grice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Grice scores with a jab. Kulakov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kulakov swings for the body but Grice moves out of range.
Grice moves away from the strike by Kulakov.
Grice was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A jab lands there for Grice.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Grice.
Grice scores with a hook.
Grice uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kulakov.
Kulakov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kulakov missing with a left hand there. Grice was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Grice misses with a low kick.
Kulakov just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulakov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Grice lands a big shot that drops Kulakov! Can he finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grice keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kulakov's head.
Kulakov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grice is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grice wants to control from the top but Kulakov keeps moving.
Grice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Grice in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kulakov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grice with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Grice throwing strikes but missing.
Kulakov keeping full guard, as Grice tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kulakov wants to stand up but Grice is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kulakov misses with a shot to the body

and Grice counters by moving into the clinch.
Grice softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Kulakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grice goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kulakov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Grices jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Grice cracks the inside of Kulakov's front leg.
Grice throws a lazy right hand but Kulakov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kulakov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Grice can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kulakov throws a lazy uppercut
and Grice counters with a stiff right hand.
Kulakov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kulakov duly obliges.
Grice tries to work over Kulakov's front leg with a kick but Kulakov checks it.
It looked like Kulakov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kulakov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A combination from Kulakov does no damage.
Kulakov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Kulakov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Grice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kulakov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kulakov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Grice.
Kulakov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Grice punishes Kulakov's body with a nice straight punch.
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!
Grice tests Kulakov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kulakov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Grice throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Grice and Kulakov goes tumbling to the canvas! Grice follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Grice wants to free his trapped foot but Kulakov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grice scores with a big shot! Kulakov's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Kulakov! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gary Grice!
Gary Grice is the new middleweight champion!
After the fight, Gary Grice was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.