PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Merle Hyde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ignas Kucinskas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ignas Kucinskas will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hyde
vs
Kucinskas

154 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

183 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Merle Hyde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ignas Kucinskas!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kucinskas scores with a takedown into Hyde's guard.
Hyde is looking to stand up but Kucinskas isn't so interested in that idea.
Kucinskas sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kucinskas trying to control the position from guard on top but Hyde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hyde avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kucinskas tries to free his leg and advance position but Hyde is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hyde keeping moving, preventing Kucinskas from controlling successfully.
Kucinskas wanted to stand there but Hyde had control of the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hyde looking for a sweep. Not yet Hyde, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ignas Kucinskas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kucinskas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hyde did well to prevent Kucinskas getting side control.
Hyde really is a fat lump.
Kucinskas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kucinskas prevents Hyde from standing back up.
Hyde is trying to get back to full guard.
Hyde is looking to escape.
Hyde on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kucinskas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kucinskas thows a huge punch but Hyde dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hyde manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Hyde has managed to clinch.

Kucinskas breaks the clinch.

Kucinskas darts in and clinches Hyde up against the cage.
Hyde tries to pull guard but Kucinskas holds him up against the cage and eventually Hyde drops back down to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kucinskas manages to pull guard.
Kucinskas is trying to keep Hyde in close.
Kucinskas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyde throwing strikes from guard but Kucinskas blocks nicely.
Hyde lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hyde in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kucinskas isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hyde stacks Kucinskas on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hyde!
Hyde lands an elbow.
Kucinskas is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hyde connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucinskas tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Kucinskas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hyde lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kucinskas hang on?
Kucinskas has given up his back here.
Kucinskas is really stuck here.

Hyde has the hooks in. Kucinskas is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Hyde passes his arm under Kucinskas's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Kucinskas taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Merle Hyde!