PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam McCullen (ranked 2761 p4p, 355 weight class) and Zsiga Venczel (ranked 935 p4p, 152 weight class). McCullen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Coming Home . Sam McCullen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McCullen
vs
Venczel

195 cm
30
215 lbs
15 - 12 - 1

192 cm
32
220 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Sam McCullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zsiga Venczel!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from McCullen.

It looks like Zsiga Venczel has been cut.
McCullen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Venczel.
McCullen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Venczel in his tracks.
McCullen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Venczel tries to clinch up but McCullen circles away and keeps his distance.
McCullen throws a big counter combination but Venczel scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Venczel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McCullen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
McCullen is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at London MMA Club that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Venczel tries to free his leg and advance position but McCullen is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Venczel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
McCullen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Venczel is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McCullen is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venczel working a defensive guard here.
McCullen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Venczel wants to sweep here but McCullen controlling him for the moment.
Venczel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Venczel has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Kaptajnernes Træningscenter. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Venczel holds on and takes a little breather.
Venczel is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.
McCullen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Venczel is trying to keep McCullen in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McCullen ducks under a wild hook from Venczel.
McCullen missing with a left hand there. Venczel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sam McCullen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Venczel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCullen.
Venczel looks to land a right hand but McCullen moved out of range.
Venczel scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Sam McCullen has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Venczel crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from McCullen - the referee stops the clock and Venczel gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says McCullen. Venczel manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
McCullen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCullen throws a shot from downtown. Venczel moves away and avoids it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Venczel! But no joy.
McCullen throws a low kick, looking for Venczel's leg but Venczel calmly moves out of range.
Venczel let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
McCullen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Venczel finds it's way round the side to connect with McCullen's head.
McCullen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A big right from McCullen misses.
A lazy body kick from McCullen

and Venczel counters with a takedown into side control.
Venczel throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Venczel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venczel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Venczel tries to score with some ground and pound. McCullen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCullen is trying to get back to half guard.
Venczel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
McCullen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Venczel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Venczel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McCullen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Venczel.
Venczel is looking to take a break and control but McCullen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 Sam McCullen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McCullen misses with a body kick.
McCullen takes a jab right on the kisser.
A jab from Venczel does it's job there.
Zsiga Venczel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCullen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Venczel.
McCullen is looking for a counter combo.
Venczel moves out of range of the body kick.
McCullen keeps Venczel at a distance using the push kick.

Venczel forces McCullen back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Venczel.
Venczel drops down looking for an ankle pick but McCullen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Venczel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McCullen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Venczel thinking.
A head kick by Venczel misses
and McCullen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCullen moves out of range of the strikes.
McCullen lands a jab.
Venczel wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
McCullen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Venczel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCullen.
Venczel scores with a jab. McCullen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
McCullen lands a jab.
Venczel misses with a wild combination.
McCullen is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Venczel connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Venczel blocks a low kick nicely.
A nice side step and Venczel releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Venczel checks the leg kick.
McCullen scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCullen with a hook.

Venczel is rocked!

That has opened up Zsiga Venczel's cut even more.
Sam McCullen is winning the standup battle so far.
McCullen throws a low kick, looking for Venczel's leg but Venczel calmly moves out of range.
Venczel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McCullen defends it well.
A lazy body kick from Venczel
and McCullen counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venczel throws a leg kick
and Venczel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Venczel is still on wobbly legs! Can McCullen finish him?
McCullen looks to throw the jab but Venczel is out of range.
Venczel seems to have recovered his senses.
McCullen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Venczel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McCullen counters with a head kick that crumples his opponent - he's in a world of trouble! McCullen looks at the referee who does nothing so McCullen lands a crushing right that sends Venczel to the floor! This time the ref steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam McCullen!
During a confident post fight interview, Sam McCullen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.