PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Kulik (ranked 1467 p4p, 2468 weight class) and John Makres (ranked 226 p4p, 340 weight class). Makres comes into a darkened arena with his song building. SABATON - Coat of Arms kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kulik
vs
Makres

200 cm
29
195
13 - 10 - 0

190 cm
30
195
12 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Conquer

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasiliy Kulik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Makres!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulik misses with a double jab.
Makres looks to land a combination but Kulik avoids it well.

Kulik clinches up with Makres and pushes him back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Kulik.
We've been informed that Makres has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kulik tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Makres's elbow.
Kulik is working Makres over against the cage.
Kulik swings wildly with an uppercut but Makres uses good head movement to avoid it.
Makres is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kulik lands a body punch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulik trying to stall but Makres improves his position.
A short left from Kulik.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kulik lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Kulik manages to break the clinch.
Makres fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makres is looking to clinch.
Kulik lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kulik swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Makres has managed to clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Kulik.
Stalling in the clinch from Kulik.
Makres digs a right hand into Kulik's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kulik's gas tank.
Kulik struggles to land a body shot inside as Makres controls his hands.
Kulik is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kulik blocks a body shot from Makres.
A short right from Makres.
Kulik lands a hook that snaps the head of Makres backwards.
Kulik prevents a body shot from Makres.
Kulik throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Makress head.
Kulik blocks a body shot from Makres.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Makres.
Makres misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makres lands a body punch.
Makres blocks a body shot from Kulik.
Makres misses with a hook to the ribs.
Makres scores with a hook to the body.
Kulik scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kulik is trying to push Makres away but Makres has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kulik scores with a shoulder strike.
Makres lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kulik.
Makres lands a body punch.
Kulik tries to break free but Makres pushes him back against the cage.
Makres misses with a punch to the body.
Kulik stalling in the clinch.
Kulik lands with a short shot to the head.
Makres misses with a punch on the inside.
Makres lands a hook to the side of the head.

Kulik manages to break the clinch.

Makres fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kulik, pushing him back against the cage.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kulik tries to throw a body punch but Makres avoids it by throwing Kulik back against the cage.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik is looking to control Makres's arms but Makres gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kulik has his back to the cage.
Kulik lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kulik breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Makres misses the target.
Makres is looking to clinch but Kulik is avoiding it.
Makres tries to close the distance and clinch but Kulik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kulik seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Kulik fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Makres, pushing him back against the cage.
Makres tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kulik misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Kulik.
Kulik stalling.
Kulik looking to slow down the pace here.

Kulik breaks from the clinch.
Kulik lands a nice shot that snaps Makres's head back.

Makres pushes Kulik up against the cage in a clinch.
Kulik looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Makres as Kulik tries to tie him up.
Kulik can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makres blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kulik.
Kulik leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kulik pushes Makres back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kulik misses with a punch to the body.
Kulik is struggling to control the position.
Kulik taking a breather.
Makres lands a right hand.
A hook to the body from Makres.
Makres lands a shoulder strike.
Kulik trying to control the position but instead, Makres has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kulik into the cage.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Kulik dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A head kick from Makres lands but Kulik takes it in his stride.

Makres closes the distance and clinches.
Makres makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kulik blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Makres prevents a body shot from Kulik.
Makres scores with a hook to the body.
Kulik taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Makres - that landed with a thud.
Kulik presses Makres against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kulik blocks a body shot from Makres.
Kulik lands with a right to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Makres.
Makres can't find room to land a body shot as Kulik controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makres tries to work over Kulik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kulik misses with a hook to the ribs.
Makres lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kulik backwards.
Makres misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vasiliy Kulik has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Makres tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Makres misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makres lands a nice uppercut.
Kulik tries to stall but Makres uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Makres misses with a hook to the ribs.
Makres prevents a body shot from Kulik.
Kulik prevents a body shot from Makres.
Makres lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short left from Kulik.
Makres misses with a body punch.
Kulik holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kulik struggles to land a body shot inside as Makres controls his hands.
Kulik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Makres keeps control of Kulik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kulik goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kulik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Kulik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Makres is looking to clinch but Kulik is avoiding it.
Kulik swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kulik bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Makres's head.
Kulik takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makres tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makres doesn't manage to clinch there - Kulik circles away.

Makres rushes Kulik and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kulik tries to work over Makres's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A hook to the body from Kulik.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kulik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Kulik - that landed with a thud.
Makres lands a shot to the body.
Kulik tries a body shot but Makres blocks it.
Makres tries to throw a body punch but Kulik avoids it by throwing Makres back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kulik is looking to control Makres's arms but Makres gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kulik has his back to the cage.
Makres stalling the fight.
Makres misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kulik prevents a body shot from Makres.
Kulik lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Makres lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kulik breaks from the clinch.
Kulik throws a body shot but no joy.

Makres clinches up against the cage.
Makres tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Makres.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kulik wants to stall.

Kulik manages to break the clinch.
Makres throws a body kick that misses.

Makres clinches with his opponent.
Kulik tries to throw a body punch but Makres avoids it by throwing Kulik back against the cage.
Makres misses with a body punch.
Makres blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kulik managing to block the knees to the body from Makres.
Makres tries to throw a body punch but Kulik avoids it by throwing Makres back against the cage.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik tries to throw a body punch but Makres avoids it by throwing Kulik back against the cage.
Makres works on Kulik's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kulik.
Makres leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kulik throws a head punch that misses.
Makres throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kuliks head.
Stalling in the clinch from Kulik.
Makres goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Makres lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kulik backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kulik is struggling to control the position.
Kulik throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Kulik.
Makres is working Kulik over against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kulik.
Makres lands an uppercut.
Makres works on Kulik's body with a couple of short punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The referee is keeping an eye on Makres - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Makres receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Makres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Makres fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kulik throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Makres.
Kulik throws a nice looking combination but Makres bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Makres tries to close the distance and clinch but Kulik swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Makres wants to clinch.
Makres moves away from the strike by Kulik.
Makres tries to clinch up but Kulik circles away and keeps his distance.
Kulik avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vasiliy Kulik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kulik breaks the clinch.

Makres closes the distance and clinches.
Kulik wants to break free but Makres has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Makres.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makres misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Makres.
Kulik misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Makres doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Makres lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kulik misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Kulik.
Makres throws a head punch that misses.
Makres lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kulik backwards.

Kulik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Makres clinches with his opponent.
Makres tries to work over Kulik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kulik is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kulik digs a right hand into Makres's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Makres's gas tank.
Makres struggles to land a body shot inside as Kulik controls his hands.
Kulik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulik blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Makres fails to land.
Kulik is trying to force a seperation but Makres has the dominant position.
Kulik lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Makres.
Still in the clinch, Kulik scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makres lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makres struggles to land a body shot inside as Kulik controls his hands.
Makres can't find room to land a body shot as Kulik controls the action.
Kulik tries to stall but Makres uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short right from Makres.
Kulik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Makres landing knees to the body.
Makres misses with a punch to the body.

Kulik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kulik swats away the attempt to clinch by Makres.

Makres moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kulik blocks a body shot from Makres.
Makres 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 doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulik wants to get back to striking at distance but Makres won't allow it.
Makres lands a body shot.
Kulik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kulik can't break the clinch.
Kulik wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Makres.
Kulik tries a body shot but Makres blocks it.

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

Makres pushes Kulik up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulik tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Makres's elbow.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Makres.
Makres digs a right hand underneath Kulik's ribcage. Kulik let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Makres prevents a body shot from Kulik.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Makres obliges.
Makres lands a right hand.
Makres throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Makres working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Makres lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kulik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Makres 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.
Makres lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kulik backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kulik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Makres is struggling to control the position.
Kulik wants to get back to striking at distance but Makres won't allow it.
Kulik blocks a body shot from Makres.
Makres gets through Kulik's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Makres can't find room to land a body shot as Kulik controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Makres comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Makres 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Makres!
John Makres was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.