PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Kulakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kulakov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Lube-Shparu. Thomas Watson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kulakov
vs
Watson

184 cm
45
185 lbs
50 - 48 - 1

179 cm
44
175 lbs
29 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 50 - 48 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viktor Kulakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Watson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Watson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Watson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kulakov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Watson. Watson obviously looking to wear him down.
Watson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kulakov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kulakov. Watson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kulakov throws a nice looking combination but Watson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Watson tries to clinch up.
Kulakov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Watson counter with a right hand.
Kulakov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Watson.
Watson ducks under a wild hook from Kulakov.
Kulakov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Watson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kulakov throws out the jab.
Watson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nice straight punches there by Watson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Watson.
Kulakov lands a glancing blow to the side of Watson's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kulakov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Watson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kulakov.
Kulakov throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Watson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kulakov throws a shot from downtown. Watson moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kulakov. Watson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Watson drives through and clinches with Kulakov against the cage.
Watson is leaning against Kulakov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Watson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kulakov's elbow.
Watson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Watson tries to throw a body punch but Kulakov avoids it by throwing Watson back against the cage.
Kulakov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watson lands a nice shot to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Watson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kulakov is trying to break free.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Watson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kulakov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Watson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Watson lands a nice uppercut.

Kulakov manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Watson misses the body punch
and Kulakov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kulakov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Watson prevents Kulakov from breaking the clinch.
Kulakov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Watson backwards.
Kulakov lands a hook that snaps the head of Watson backwards.

Kulakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Watson's hands.
Watson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kulakov.
Watson wants to counter the offense by Kulakov and move into the clinch position.
Kulakov lands a glancing blow to the side of Watson's head.
Watson moves in looking to clinch but Kulakov pushes him off.
Kulakov throws an off balance right hand
and Watson counters with a solid body kick.
Watson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Watson closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Watson.
Watson pushes Kulakov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Watson has a couple of punches blocked by Kulakov.
Watson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kulakov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kulakov backwards.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kulakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Watson - that landed with a thud.
Watson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulakovs head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Watson scores with a nice hook to the head.

Kulakov is rocked!
Kulakov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oh Kulakov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Watson prevents Kulakov from breaking the clinch.
Watson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kulakovs head.
Kulakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Watson has double underhooks.
Watson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kulakov or not.
Watson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kulakov.
Kulakov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kulakov seems to have got his legs back now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Watson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Watson just leaning against Kulakov, taking a breather.
Watson can't find room to land a body shot as Kulakov controls the action.
Kulakov working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Watson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Watson misses with a head kick.
Kulakov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kulakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Watson counters with a straight right hand.
Watson lands with an overhand left.
Watson walks into a left hand.
Kulakov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kulakov misses with a hook to the body
and Watson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Watson thuds his right hand into Kulakov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab lands there for Kulakov.
Viktor Kulakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kulakov looks to land a left hand but Watson moved out of range nicely.
Watson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some wild striking there from Kulakov.
Watson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Watson clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson just leaning against Kulakov, taking a breather.
Kulakov lands a hook that snaps the head of Watson backwards.
Watson stalling in the clinch but Kulakov improves position.
Watson tries to work over Kulakov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Watson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kulakov wants to break free but Watson has control.
Watson misses with a body punch.

Kulakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Watson.
Kulakov misses with an uppercut. Watson saw that one coming.
Watson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Watson moves into the clinch.
Kulakov can't break the clinch.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Watson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kulakov backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov takes a shot to the head.
Watson lands a hook that snaps the head of Kulakov backwards.
Watson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kulakov up against the cage.
Watson taking a breather.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kulakov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watson misses with a punch on the inside.
Kulakov is trying to force a seperation but Watson has the dominant position.
Kulakov wants to break free but Watson has control.
Watson stalling in the clinch but Kulakov improves position.
Watson lands a shoulder strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thomas Watson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Watson lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Watson lands a shoulder strike.
Kulakov is trying to force a seperation but Watson has the dominant position.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kulakov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Watson wants to clinch up but Kulakov keeps it at a distance.
Kulakov went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Watson ducks under a wild hook from Kulakov.
Kulakov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kulakov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Watson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Watson tries to counter with a clinch but Kulakov shakes him off and moves away.
Viktor Kulakov is winning the standup battle so far.
Watson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kulakov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Watson moves into the clinch.
Kulakov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Watson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kulakov can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson has Kulakov pressed against the cage, preventing Kulakov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Watson misses with some punches.
Watson misses with a punch on the inside.
Watson taking a breather.
Watson tries to throw a body punch but Kulakov avoids it by throwing Watson back against the cage.
Kulakov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Watson throws a punch but it's blocked by Kulakov.

Kulakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kulakov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Watson rushes Kulakov and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kulakov.
Watson lands an uppercut.
Kulakov can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Watson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kulakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Watson slows down the pace here.
Kulakov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Watson has him pressed against the cage.

Kulakov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Watson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kulakov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Kulakov both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Thomas Watson has been cut.
Kulakov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulakov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Watson counters with a nice body shot.
Kulakov misses with a left hand

and Watson moves into the clinch.
Watson can't find room to land a body shot as Kulakov controls the action.
Watson lands a shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Watson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulakov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Watson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Watson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kulakov backwards.
Kulakov blocks a body shot from Watson.
Watson keeps control of Kulakov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Watson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kulakov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Watson tries a head kick but it misses.

Watson closes the distance and clinches.
Kulakov wants to break free but Watson has control.
Kulakov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watson has a couple of punches blocked by Kulakov.
Watson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Watson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watson scores with a nice hook to the head.

Kulakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Watson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kulakov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Watson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kulakov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Watson.
Kulakov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Watson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kulakov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Watson throws a head punch that misses.
Watson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kulakov is trying to force a seperation but Watson has the dominant position.

Watson connects with a big uppercut there that sends Kulakov tumbling to the ground! Watson follows him down into his guard.
Watson throwing strikes from guard but Kulakov blocks nicely.
Kulakov keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov wants to get back to his feet but Watson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kulakov keeping moving, preventing Watson from controlling successfully.
Watson connects with a couple of short punches.

Kulakov has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Watson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Kulakov tries to break the clinch but Watson is controlling the position.

Kulakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Watson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Watson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kulakov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulakov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Viktor Kulakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Watson scores with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kulakov. Watson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kulakov misses with a looping right.

Watson gets a clinch.

Kulakov tumbles to the floor! Watson threw a big shot that dropped him and now Watson is on top looking to finish! Kulakov has guard but can he survive?!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kulakov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Watson manages to pass to side control.
Watson is looking to take a break and control but Kulakov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kulakov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Watson manages to mount him!
Viktor Kulakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Watson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kulakov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Watson!