PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Carlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roki Cuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Carlsson
vs
Cuki

187 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
198 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bjorn Carlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roki Cuki!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carlsson fails with a takedown attempt.
Cuki slips a jab and a cross from Carlsson.
Carlsson lands a nice shot that snaps Cuki's head back.
Cuki's corner calls for a 1-2. Cuki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Carlsson blocks a head kick by Cuki.

Carlsson dives in and scores a takedown into Cuki's guard.

Cuki has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Carlsson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Carlsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carlsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Cuki circles away.
Cuki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Carlsson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cuki rushes Carlsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Carlsson lands a hook to the side of the head.

Cuki decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Cuki lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Carlsson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cuki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cuki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cuki stops Carlsson from standing up.
Cuki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cuki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Cuki 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Carlsson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cuki has a takedown stuffed.
Carlsson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cuki. Cuki gets slowly back to his feet.

Carlsson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Cuki explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Carlsson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cuki sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Carlsson somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carlsson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Carlsson tries to counter by clinching up but Cuki breaks away and moves out of range.
Bjorn Carlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roki Cuki.

Carlsson clinches.

Carlsson breaks from the clinch.
Cuki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Cuki tries to sprawl but Carlsson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cuki wants to get back to full guard but Carlsson has passed into side control.
Cuki regains half guard.
Carlsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cuki on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuki has his hands clasped together around Carlsson's back. He's all about the action.
Cuki wants to control but Carlsson is keeping busy.

Cuki pushes Carlsson off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Carlsson.
Carlsson darts in looking for a takedown but Cuki gets double underhooks and turns Carlsson into the cage.
Carlsson stuffs the takedown attempt from Cuki. Cuki gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roki Cuki will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Carlsson delivers a nice body kick.
Carlsson shoots in and drives through. Cuki sprawls well.
Cuki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cuki wants to clinch up but Carlsson keeps it at a distance.

Carlsson moves into the clinch successfully.
Cuki letting Carlsson take a breather here.
Cuki tries to break free but Carlsson pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carlsson manages to break the clinch.
Cuki throws a sloppy head kick

and Carlsson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cuki being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cuki is proving hard to escape from.
Carlsson preventing the sweep.
Cuki has control of Carlsson's left arm, preventing Carlsson from doing any damage.
Carlsson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Carlsson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.
Cuki keeping moving, preventing Carlsson from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Carlsson shoots in and gets a takedown into Cuki's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cuki has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Carlsson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Carlsson gets underhooks to prevent Cuki's takedown attempt.
Cuki is pressed up against the cage. Carlsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Cuki down to the mat. Cuki avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cuki blocks a head kick by Carlsson.
Cuki steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Carlsson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carlsson looks to land a left hand but Cuki moved out of range nicely.
Carlsson lands with a nice combination. Cuki backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cuki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carlsson tries to avoid it but Cuki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carlsson to the ground. Carlsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bjorn Carlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roki Cuki.
Carlsson stuffs the takedown.
Cuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bjorn Carlsson is winning the standup battle so far.
Carlsson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cuki blocks a low kick nicely.
Carlsson just misses with a punch to the body.

Cuki moves into the clinch.
Cuki is working Carlsson over against the cage.
Carlsson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cuki misses with a body punch.
Cuki looking for a takedown.
Cuki is working for takedown but Carlsson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Carlsson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cuki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Carlsson is trying to pull guard but Cuki turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Carlsson misses with a knee to the head.

Carlsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carlsson lands a high kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carlsson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Carlsson closes the distance but Cuki moves to the side
and Cuki counters with a three punch combo that has Carlsson backing up. Carlsson nods at Cuki to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Carlsson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cuki doesn't manage to clinch there - Carlsson circles away.
Cuki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Carlsson counters with a single leg into guard. Cuki didn't expect that.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Cuki manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Carlsson jumps guard and drags Cuki to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cuki throwing strikes but missing.
Cuki won't allow Carlsson to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cuki gets to his feet. Carlsson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cuki closes the distance and clinches up with Carlsson, looking for a takedown. Cuki pushes Carlsson against the cage but Carlsson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carlsson checks a low kick from Cuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carlsson connects with an inside leg kick.
Cuki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Carlsson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carlsson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cuki as he avoids it easily.
Carlsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Carlsson drives through with a takedown into Cuki's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Cuki has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Carlsson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Cuki is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carlsson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bjorn Carlsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roki Cuki.
Cuki lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cuki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carlsson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carlsson goes for a takedown attempt but Cuki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cuki shoots in and drives through. Carlsson sprawls well.
Cuki shoots in looking for a takedown. Carlsson tries to sprawl out of it but Cuki keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carlsson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Carlsson gets a clinch.
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!
Carlsson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Carlsson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Carlsson has Cuki pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cuki pulls Carlsson into guard.
Carlsson wanted to stand there but Cuki had control of the position.
Cuki seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Carlsson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Carlsson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Carlsson trying to control but Cuki is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cuki throws his legs up looking for a submission but Carlsson uses it to pass to side control.
Cuki wants to control but Carlsson postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cuki is defended easily by Carlsson.
Cuki throws a head kick that misses.
Bjorn Carlsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carlsson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Carlsson showed some decent athleticism there.
Carlsson trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjorn Carlsson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Carlsson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bjorn Carlsson!