PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Davido Monto (ranked 2261 p4p, 2270 weight class) and Vasiliy Kulik (ranked 317 p4p, 320 weight class). Vasiliy Kulik will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Monto
vs
Kulik

182 cm
31
195
16 - 15 - 0

200 cm
30
195
14 - 13 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
New Standard

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 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Davido Monto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasiliy Kulik!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulik throws a head kick that misses.
As Kulik tries to get set, Monto tries to push him back and clinch up but Kulik manages to avoid the attempt.
We've been informed that Kulik 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 throws a head kick but Monto moves out of range.
Kulik throws a body kick that misses

and Monto counters with a shoot takedown. Kulik fights it but they end up in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kulik doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Monto with a flurry of punches that miss.

Monto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kulik is trying to keep Monto in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Monto's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Monto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Monto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Monto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Monto throwing strikes from guard but Kulik blocks nicely.
Monto in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik wants to sweep here but Monto controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Monto drops back looking for a leg! Kulik is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kulik manages to kick Monto off! Monto jumps back into Kulik's guard.
Monto stands and throws Kulik's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Monto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kulik knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Monto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kulik manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kulik sees it coming and defends easily.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Monto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Monto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kulik defending well though.
Kulik gets full guard.
Monto throwing strikes but missing.
Monto is pushing down on Kulik's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kulik is fighting to maintain full guard but Monto has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kulik is trying to get back to full guard.

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

Monto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kulik is just riding it out for now. Monto eventually gives up the hold.

Monto seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik has a hand on Monto's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Monto takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Monto avoids the attempt from Kulik to control.
Kulik bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kulik passes Monto's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Monto is looking to improve his position.

Kulik is working for a kimura but Monto is defending it quite comfortably.
Kulik prevents Monto from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kulik is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Monto sees it coming and defends easily.

Monto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Monto is refusing to be controlled, as Kulik sits in half guard.

Kulik is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Monto is just riding it out for now. Kulik eventually gives up the hold.
Kulik is trying to control the action in half guard but Monto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Monto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kulik looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Monto tries to get to full guard but Kulik has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Davido Monto dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kulik throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Vasiliy Kulik is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kulik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Monto counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kulik won't be happy with that.
Kulik is trying to improve his position.

Monto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kulik is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Monto off and has taken his back!
Monto tries to escape but Kulik has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Kulik doesn't have the hooks in and Monto manages to turn into his guard.
Monto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kulik can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kulik is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kulik has escaped and now he's on top!

Monto looking for a guillotine here but Kulik defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Monto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kulik is aware though and is defending well.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Davido Monto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Monto keeping moving, preventing Kulik from controlling successfully.

Kulik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Monto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kulik has managed to get both his arms back between Monto's legs - danger averted.
Kulik looking to pass the guard.
Kulik preventing the sweep.
Kulik sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Monto's guard.
Kulik passes to full mount!
Kulik looking to control but Monto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Monto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Kulik is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Monto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kulik.

Monto looking for submissions off his back.
Kulik moves nicely into side control.
Kulik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Monto striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Monto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Monto is looking to improve his position.
Kulik wants to lay and pray for a moment but Monto keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kulik is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Kulik is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Monto defends it well.

Monto actively working from the bottom here.
Monto is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at London MMA Club, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kulik is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Monto!
Monto is squirming around, avoiding Kulik's attempts to control the action.

Kulik has isolated one of Monto's arms. Monto looking to fight him off but Kulik twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vasiliy Kulik!