PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dmitry Kulik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackjan Tio (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.

Kulik
vs
Tio

180 cm
23
300 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

219 cm
32
292 lbs
16 - 19 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Kulik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jackjan Tio!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulik leaves Tio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kulik will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kulik throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tio is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kulik lands with a good body shot.
Tio with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kulik counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kulik misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tio.
Kulik tries to land a knee to the head but Tio blocks with his arms.
Tio controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kulik gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dmitry Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackjan Tio.

Kulik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik throws a leg kick but Tio sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Tio wants to counter the offense by Kulik and move into the clinch position.

Kulik shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tio manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kulik trying to control but Tio is working from the bottom.
Tio keeping full guard, as Kulik tries to pass.
Kulik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kulik would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kulik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kulik sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kulik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tio is trying to control the position but Kulik postures up.
Kulik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tio tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tio tries to keep at a distance but Kulik has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kulik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Tio with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tio or perhaps it was just good defense by Kulik, which made it look bad.
Kulik wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Kulik forces Tio back against the cage and clinches.
Kulik pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tio is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kulik is defending well for now.

Kulik has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tio uses from the top position.
Tio is standing up over Kulik. Kulik looks to escape but Tio dives into side control.
Tio tries to stand but Kulik controls the position and pulls Tio into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kulik is looking to stand back up but Tio counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kulik.
Kulik wants to get back to full guard.
Tio is trying to control. Kulik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like Tio is going to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitry Kulik dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tio throws a chopping leg kick but Kulik manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Kulik has Tio up against the cage in a clinch.
Kulik stalling against the cage.
Tio tries to pull guard but Kulik holds him up against the cage and eventually Tio drops back down to his feet.
Kulik is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tio can do to turn this around?
Tio can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tio tries for a takedown but Kulik manages to get underhooks.
Dmitry Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jackjan Tio.

Tio manages to pull guard.
Tio trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tio's head.
Kulik is in close to Tio's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Tio is looking for a triangle but Kulik pushes his legs off easily.
Kulik is in close to Tio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kulik works over Tio with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kulik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kulik distracts Tio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dmitry Kulik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tio trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kulik looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kulik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kulik throws a strike but Tio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tio looking to sit in guard and control but Kulik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tio wants to stand and escape but Kulik is having none of it.
Kulik landing with the ground and pound.
Tio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kulik working some strikes from top position.
Kulik trying to control but Tio is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik looking to pass the guard.
Tio is trying to keep Kulik in close.

Kulik avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tio is pulling down on Kulik's head to control his posture.
Tio is trying to keep Kulik in close.
Kulik sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four 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.

Kulik stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Tio has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Kulik manages to get his head free but now Tio has transitioned to an armbar! Kulik grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Tio! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jackjan Tio!