PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yury Kulikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fujii Yusuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kulikov
vs
Yusuke

183 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

TKO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yury Kulikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fujii Yusuke!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulikov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yusuke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kulikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Yusuke circles away.
Kulikov slaps away a takedown attempt from Yusuke, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kulikov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Yusuke fails with an attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Kulikov.
Yusuke is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kulikov lands a slapping body shot.

Yusuke has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kulikov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Yusuke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kulikov dodges an elbow strike from Yusuke.
Kulikov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kulikov is trying to push Yusuke away but Yusuke has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kulikov leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulikov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Kulikov has Yusuke pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kulikov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Yusuke tumbling to the mat - Kulikov dives into Yusuke's guard.

Yusuke has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kulikov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yusuke working a defensive guard here.
Yusuke wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulikov is looking to stand up but Yusuke won't let him.
Yusuke controls Kulikov momentarily but Kulikov frees himself.
Kulikov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Yusuke wants to sweep here but Kulikov controlling him for the moment.
Yusuke is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yusuke throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Yusuke looking for a guillotine here but Kulikov defends easily.
Kulikov pushing down on Yusuke's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Yusuke has a hand on Kulikov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kulikov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Yusuke tries to lock up and control but Kulikov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Yusuke is squirming around, avoiding Kulikov's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulikov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Yusuke wants to control but Kulikov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kulikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Yusuke is looking to escape.
Yusuke tries to hold on but Kulikov postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kulikov throws some wild stikes that Yusuke manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yury Kulikov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kulikov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yusuke to the mat! Yusuke manages to get full guard.
Yusuke lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yusuke trying to control but Kulikov is working from the bottom.
Kulikov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Kulikov is trying to keep Yusuke in close.
Yusuke passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yusuke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kulikov trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulikov wants to get back to full guard.
Kulikov is positioning himself well to prevent Yusuke advancing to mount.
Yusuke is looking to take a break and control but Kulikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Yusuke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kulikov is refusing to be controlled, as Yusuke sits in half guard.
Yusuke passes to full mount!
Kulikov tries to lock up and control but Yusuke gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Yusuke jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kulikov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kulikov is looking to regain half guard here but Yusuke keeps moving and retains side control.
Kulikov is working hard here to advance position.
Kulikov parries the strikes from Yusuke easily there. Yusuke is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kulikov to escape.
Kulikov trying his best to control but Yusuke has mounted him.
Kulikov is squirming around, avoiding Yusuke's attempts to control the action.
Kulikov wants to control but Yusuke is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulikov is trying desperately to improve position.
Yusuke thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kulikov is squirming around, avoiding Yusuke's attempts to control the action.
Kulikov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yusuke on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kulikov really wants to buck Yusuke off and get back to his feet.
Yusuke misses with a head shot.

Yusuke looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kulikov tries to buck Yusuke off but he can't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yusuke is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kulikov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Yusuke looking to ground and pound but Kulikov is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fujii Yusuke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kulikov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Kulikov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Yusuke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kulikov somewhat.

Kulikov closes the distance and clinches.
Yusuke has Kulikov pressed against the cage, preventing Kulikov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kulikov jumps guard and drags Yusuke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yusuke sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kulikov's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yusuke trying to control from half guard but Kulikov is working away.
Fujii Yusuke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Yusuke prevents Kulikov from standing back up.
Yusuke missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yusuke seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Yusuke works his way into side control.
Yusuke is looking to take a break and control but Kulikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kulikov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yusuke wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yusuke misses with the ground and pound.
Kulikov is not content to let Yusuke control the position.
Yusuke tries to stand but Kulikov is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Yusuke throws an elbow but Kulikov slips to the side and avoids it well.

Yusuke tries for a kimura but Kulikov is defending well.
Yusuke trying to control the position but Kulikov is working away.
Kulikov struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yusuke tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Yusuke is looking to take a break and control but Kulikov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Yusuke is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kulikov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yusuke tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four 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.
Yusuke has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kulikov!
Kulikov has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Yusuke's lack of action.
Yusuke moves into full mount! Kulikov won't be happy about that!
Yusuke throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kulikov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Yusuke throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kulikov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fujii Yusuke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yusuke 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fujii Yusuke!