PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Kulik (ranked 829 p4p, 398 weight class) and Harry Winston (ranked 118 p4p, 53 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Winston's choice of entrance music: The Lost Boy. Vasiliy Kulik could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Harry Winston's chin.

Kulik
vs
Winston

200 cm
26
195
11 - 5 - 0

178 cm
40
200
34 - 29 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Gatoroids
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasiliy Kulik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Winston!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Winston misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Kulik does no damage.
Winston looks to score with a jab to the body but Kulik is just out of range.
Kulik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Winston thuds a left hand into Kulik's body.
Kulik really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Winston's corner calls for a 1-2. Winston obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kulik takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Winston takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A big left from Kulik misses.
Kulik throws a right hand that Winston ducks under and follows up with a left that Winston also avoids with ease.
Kulik sizes up Winston with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Winston looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kulik!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Winston avoids the strikes from the bottom by Kulik.

Winston working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Winston landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik is looking for a sweep.
Winston lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kulik down.
Kulik regains half guard, as Winston was trying to land strikes.
Kulik is trying to maintain the position but Winston is very close to passing his half guard.

Kulik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Winston looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Winston is working for a kimura but Kulik is defending it quite comfortably.

Kulik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Winston pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulik tries to get to full guard but Winston has control of the leg.
We've been hearing good reports from Kulik'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.
Kulik manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Winston cracks Kulik with a solid left hand.
Kulik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Winston is looking to work some ground and pound but Kulik has wrist control.
Winston controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kulik is on top in guard.

Kulik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Winston has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kulik has managed to get both his arms back between Winston's legs - danger averted.
Winston is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kulik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Winston pulls his head out easily.
Winston is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kulik works his way to full guard. Good work.
Winston trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kulik is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Winston is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Winston not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Winston postures up and lands a big shot to Kulik's brow.
Winston working some strikes from top position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Winston working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Winston with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winston throws a strike but Kulik rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Winston looking for a guillotine here but Kulik defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Winston keeping full guard, as Kulik tries to pass.
Kulik trying to control but Winston is working from the bottom.
Winston looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kulik is one step ahead there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Winston dominated that round.
That's time! Kulik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kulik takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kulik throws a nice looking combination but Winston bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Winston lands a nice hook to Kulik's body. Kulik takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Winston is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kulik rather than just go for the knockout.
Kulik uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Winston.
Kulik misses with a two punch combination.
Winston fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kulik manages to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Kulik on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kulik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Winston feints the counter takedown.
A telegraphed right hand from Kulik misses the target.
Winston is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulik misses with an uppercut.
Winston takes a swing at Kulik's ribcage but misses.
Kulik takes one to the side of the head.
Kulik throws a sloppy head kick and Winston moves out of range easily.
Winston takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Winston has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winston works Kulik's body with a nice hook.

Winston feints and as Kulik raises his hands in defense, Winston changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kulik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Winston's guard.

Kulik works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Winston slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kulik being controlled here momentarily.

Winston is looking for a triangle but Kulik pushes his legs off easily.

Winston working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kulik doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kulik manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kulik stays in close to Winston's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Winston looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Winston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kulik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Winston looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Winston bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kulik's guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Winston avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kulik is pulling down on Winston's head to control his posture.

Kulik looking for a guillotine here but Winston defends easily.
Winston has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Winston is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winston scoring with punches to the head and body.

Kulik throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Winston lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Winston lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Winston lands a couple of elbows.
Winston scoring with some ground and pound.

Kulik is rocked!

Kulik is looking for a triangle but Winston pushes his legs off easily.
Oh Kulik is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Winston pushing down on Kulik's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kulik seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winston has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Winston.
Winston controlling his opponent.
Winston dominating with strikes here.
Kulik tries to lock up and control but Winston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kulik slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kulik looking for submissions off his back.
Winston is nestled in close to Kulik, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Harry Winston showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Winston. Those never looked like landing.
Kulik rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Winston moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Winston throws a hook but Kulik blocks it.
Winston avoids the head kick by Kulik.
Kulik bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Winston lands a jab to Kulik's midsection.
Winston slips a jab and a cross from Kulik.
Winston moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Winston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kulik was well out of range. Poor timing from Winston.
Kulik throws a body shot but no joy.
Kulik keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kulik plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Some wild striking there from Kulik.
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!
A swing and a miss from Kulik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Winston lands a body shot.
Winston swings for the body but Kulik moves out of range.
Kulik throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Winston fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kulik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Winston manages to avoid it.
Kulik getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kulik on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Kulik gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Winston throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kulik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kulik had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Winston defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Winston's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winston missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Winston wants to control from the top but Kulik keeps moving.

Kulik looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Winston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Winston lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Winston postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Winston wants to pass the guard but Kulik is keeping the position.
Kulik avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Harry Winston has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik trying to control the position.
Winston chips away with some ground and pound.
Kulik will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Winston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Winston is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Winston lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Winston landing with the ground and pound.
Kulik avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Winston stands up over Kulik, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Winston working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kulik is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Winston is aware though and is defending well.
Winston with a nice head shot there.
Winston trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kulik escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Winston gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Winston is working Kulik over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Winston scoring with some ground and pound.
Winston postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Kulik covers up, he's hurt! Winston keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Winston and the ref steps in to end the fight! Winston can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harry Winston!
Harry Winston really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Voodoo Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.