PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Greg Talley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Kuleshov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexei Kuleshov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Talley
vs
Kuleshov

175 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

160 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Greg Talley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Kuleshov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuleshov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Talley was covering up waiting for the punch and Kuleshov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuleshov won't allow Talley to get back to his feet.
Kuleshov trying to control the position from guard on top but Talley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talley trying to control the position.

Talley is looking for a triangle but Kuleshov pushes his legs off easily.

Talley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Talley wants to stand up but Kuleshov is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuleshov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Talley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuleshov has managed to get both his arms back between Talley's legs - danger averted.
Talley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuleshov is one step ahead there.
Talley will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Talley looking to control.
Kuleshov content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kuleshov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Talley is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talley is not content to let Kuleshov control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuleshov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Talley wants to get back to his feet.
Talley tries to get to full guard but Kuleshov has control of the leg.
Talley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Talley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuleshov is controlling him.
Kuleshov won't allow Talley to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuleshov stays in close to Talley's body and controls the position.
Talley wants to stand up but Kuleshov is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Talley is on top in guard.

Kuleshov working a defensive guard here.
Kuleshov wants to stand up but Talley is controlling him.
Talley stays in close to Kuleshov's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Talley seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kuleshov for as long as he can get away with.

Talley decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick from Talley lands but Kuleshov takes it in his stride.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kuleshov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Talley throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
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 Greg Talley will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Talley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kuleshov steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Talley tries to clinch up
letting Kuleshov counter with a right hand.

Talley is rocked!

It looks like Greg Talley has been cut.

Kuleshov forces Talley back against the cage and clinches.
Oh Talley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Kuleshov breaks from the clinch.
Talley seems to have got his legs back now.

Kuleshov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Talley's guard.
Kuleshov looking to sit in guard and control but Talley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuleshov working for a triangle but Talley defends it easily.
Talley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kuleshov is proving hard to escape from.
Talley is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuleshov has wrist control.

Talley gets to his feet. Kuleshov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Talley shoots in and gets a takedown into Kuleshov's guard.
Kuleshov being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talley wants to get up but he can't break Kuleshov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Talley prevents Kuleshov from getting back to his feet.

Kuleshov has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Talley has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Kuleshov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kuleshov manages to end up in side control.
Talley sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuleshov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Talley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kuleshov as he jumps to the side.

Kuleshov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Talley wants to control but Kuleshov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuleshov blocks the strikes from Talley.
Talley pushes Kuleshov off looking to stand but Kuleshov dives back in and keeps control.
Talley throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Talley is trying to stand up here but Kuleshov is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuleshov.

Talley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Kuleshov feints and as Talley raises his hands in defense, Kuleshov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kuleshov stops Talley from standing up.
Talley trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Talley will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuleshov trying to control but Talley is working from the bottom.
Kuleshov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Talley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Greg Talley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Talley wants to stand but Kuleshov is controlling the position.
Kuleshov wants to control from the top but Talley keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexei Kuleshov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Greg Talley's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuleshov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Talley did well to prevent Kuleshov getting side control.
Talley is looking to escape.
Kuleshov works his way into full mount!
Talley bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Talley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuleshov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Talley has picked Kuleshov up and slammed him! Kuleshov can't keep hold of the triangle and Talley manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talley wants to control but Kuleshov is keeping him busy.

Talley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Talley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kuleshov tries to escape but Talley is in control.
Kuleshov is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Kuleshov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Talley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Talley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kuleshov wants to get back to his feet but Talley is dominant here and he's now got Kuleshov's back!
You can see the frustration on Kuleshov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Talley has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuleshov is trying to get back to his feet but Talley has full control of the position and if anything, Kuleshov has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four 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.

Kuleshov is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Talley off. It looks like it's working - Talley slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Kuleshov displaying calm under pressure there.
Talley tries to clinch up.

Kuleshov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kuleshov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Talley managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kuleshov.
Talley wants to control but Kuleshov postures up.

Kuleshov stands up and beckons Talley to his feet.
Kuleshov throws a series of punches but Talley avoids them all with ease.
Talley tries to counter by clinching up but Kuleshov breaks away and moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuleshov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Talley lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Kuleshov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuleshov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kuleshov kicks Talley off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Kuleshov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuleshov 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Kuleshov!