PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denis Kurlaev (ranked 7366 p4p, 638 weight class) and Zuillnic Canto (ranked 2448 p4p, 336 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kurlaev
vs
Canto

185 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

190 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Kurlaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zuillnic Canto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Canto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kurlaev avoids the body shot from Canto.

Kurlaev rushes Canto and presses him up against the ropes.
A short left from Kurlaev.
Kurlaev prevents the takedown attempt.
Canto fails to pull guard.
Denis Kurlaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zuillnic Canto.

Canto jumps guard and drags Kurlaev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kurlaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Canto is pulling down on Kurlaev's head. It's preventing any offense from Kurlaev, at least for the moment.
We've been hearing good reports from Kurlaev's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kurlaev wants to control from the top but Canto keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Canto controlling Kurlaev's posture.
Kurlaev with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurlaev wants to stand but Canto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Canto is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Canto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kurlaev's guard.

Kurlaev 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.
Canto looking to pass the guard.
Kurlaev wants to stand and escape but Canto is having none of it.
Canto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Canto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kurlaev controls Canto momentarily but Canto frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto trying to control but Kurlaev is working from the bottom.
Canto controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Denis Kurlaev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Canto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kurlaev moves away.
Canto misses with a hook. Kurlaev ducked under it nicely.
Kurlaev misses with a hook.
Kurlaev tries to clinch but Canto moves out of range.
Kurlaev scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kurlaev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Canto.
A quick step to the side and Kurlaev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Canto ducks under a wild hook from Kurlaev.
A swing and a miss from Kurlaev.
Canto comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kurlaev throws a hook to the side of Canto's head but Canto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev misses with a straight right.
Kurlaev lands with a good body shot.
Kurlaev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Canto.
A jab from Canto misses.
A cross from Kurlaev lands.
Canto misses with an uppercut. Kurlaev saw that one coming.
Kurlaev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Canto throws a hook to the side of Kurlaev's head but Kurlaev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kurlaev loads up on a big right hand but Canto slips the punch.
Kurlaev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Canto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kurlaev to the mat! Kurlaev manages to get full guard.
Canto trying to control the position from guard on top but Kurlaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Canto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kurlaev is retaining full guard.
Kurlaev keeping moving, preventing Canto from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A big right from Kurlaev misses.
Canto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kurlaev manages to avoid it.
Kurlaev misses with a looping left.
Canto fails with the takedown.
A big left from Kurlaev misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Canto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Kurlaev as Canto shoots in.
Kurlaev was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Canto lands an overhand right.
Kurlaev throws a hook to the side of Canto's head but Canto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Canto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Canto shoots in for a takedown but Kurlaev shows good takedown defense.
Canto throws a jab but it's blocked by Kurlaev.
Canto lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kurlaev uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Canto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kurlaev's half guard.
Still in half guard, Canto seems content to control.
Canto is trying to control the action in half guard but Kurlaev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Canto controlling the action here.
Kurlaev gets back to full guard.
Canto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Canto pushes down on Kurlaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kurlaev is trying to get back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Canto trying to pass the guard but Kurlaev defending well.
Kurlaev is looking to improve his position.
Canto trying to mount his opponent but Kurlaev defends it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Canto wants to control but Kurlaev is keeping him busy.
Kurlaev wants to improve his position but Canto is controlling well.
Kurlaev manages to get to full guard.
Canto is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Canto wants to pass the guard but Kurlaev is keeping the position.
Canto passes into half guard.

That's eight 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.
Canto tries to pass to full mount but Kurlaev defends it.
Kurlaev looks like he's trying to stand up.
Canto is pressing down on Kurlaev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kurlaev is holding on for now.
Canto is trying to control the action in half guard but Kurlaev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kurlaev wants to control but Canto is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice jab there from Canto.
Canto connects with a jab.
Kurlaev misses with a straight right.
Canto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kurlaev.
An attempted straight right counter from Kurlaev misses the target.
Canto ducks under a wild hook from Kurlaev.
Canto looks to score with a jab to the body but Kurlaev is just out of range.
Canto looks to land a right hand but Kurlaev moved out of range.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Canto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kurlaev was covering up waiting for the punch and Canto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Canto stops Kurlaev from standing up.
Canto wants to control from the top but Kurlaev keeps moving.
Canto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kurlaev's guard.
Canto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kurlaev keeps working.
Kurlaev is trying to stand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Canto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Canto tries to pass to full mount but Kurlaev defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zuillnic Canto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Canto misses with a body shot.
Canto misses with an uppercut. Kurlaev saw that one coming.
Kurlaev misses with a straight right.

Canto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Canto tries to pass to full mount but Kurlaev defends it.
Kurlaev wants to control but Canto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kurlaev is refusing to be controlled, as Canto sits in half guard.
Canto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Canto seems to be working for a kimura but Kurlaev defends the submission attempt.
Kurlaev tries to kick Canto off but Canto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurlaev won't allow Canto to pass to mount.

Canto wants to work for an arm triangle but Kurlaev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Canto seems to be looking for submissions.

Canto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kurlaev sees it coming and defends easily.

Canto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kurlaev wants to improve his position but Canto is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Canto is looking to advance position but Kurlaev won't allow it.

Canto is trying to work for a kimura but Kurlaev is defending well.
Kurlaev trying to control here.
Canto prevents Kurlaev from improving his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Canto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Canto is stalling here. Kurlaev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Canto seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kurlaev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Canto managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kurlaev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canto manages to get back to half guard.

Canto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kurlaev wants to get back to his feet.
Canto works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kurlaev wants to control from the top but Canto keeps moving.
Canto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kurlaev throwing strikes from guard but Canto blocks nicely.
Kurlaev postures up in Canto's guard and throws a big left but Canto blocks it.

Canto working for a triangle but Kurlaev defends it easily.
Kurlaev wants to stand and escape but instead Canto has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Canto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kurlaev is keeping the position for now.
Canto keeps trying to improve his position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Canto advances position into side control!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

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

Canto is trying to get an arm triangle but Kurlaev is defending well.

Canto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kurlaev, who protects the arm well.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev is trying to work for a sweep but Canto has mounted him!
Zuillnic Canto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Canto fails to take his opponent's back.
Canto looking to control but Kurlaev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Canto looking for a guillotine from mount but Kurlaev is having none of it.
Canto controlling his opponent.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Canto is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kurlaev can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Canto working for a guillotine from mount but Kurlaev is in no mood to give up.
Kurlaev wants to control but Canto is having none of it.
Kurlaev is trying to reverse the position but instead Canto has taken his back - oops!
Kurlaev is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Canto working for a choke but Kurlaev is defending well.

Canto working for the choke.
Denis Kurlaev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Canto is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Canto controlling well, preventing Kurlaev from escaping the position.

Canto is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kurlaev has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Kurlaev prevents Canto from getting a body triangle.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kurlaev trying to control but not successfully.

Canto is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kurlaev knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kurlaev for a finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Canto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Canto is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kurlaev is defending well though. Canto let's go of the attempt for now.
Canto is trying to stick to Kurlaev's back but Kurlaev is turning into Canto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Canto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kurlaev.
Zuillnic Canto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurlaev throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zuillnic Canto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Canto 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Zuillnic Canto!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Zuillnic Canto!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Zuillnic Canto!

Zuillnic Canto wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Zuillnic Canto rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.