PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Jr (ranked 4869 p4p, 5917 weight class) and Andrey Kuznetsov (ranked 404 p4p, 452 weight class). Kuznetsov has chosen SABINA feat. Timaro - Dagestan (Remix) as his entrance music. George Jr had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Jr
vs
Kuznetsov

180 cm
26
155
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
29
143
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kuznetsov quickly recovers to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kuznetsov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Kuznetsov actively working from the bottom here.

Kuznetsov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jr controlling the action here.
Kuznetsov wants to get back to full guard.

Kuznetsov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jr scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, if Jr is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Kuznetsov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jr pulls his head out easily.
Jr trying to control the action but Kuznetsov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov wants to improve his position but Jr is controlling well.

Kuznetsov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jr is controlling the pace.

Kuznetsov with the active half guard here but Jr passes nicely into side control.
Kuznetsov looks winded!

Jr is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuznetsov is defending well.
A lull in the action here as Jr stalls from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jr wants to stand but Kuznetsov is controlling his arm.
Kuznetsov tries to improve position but can't.
Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuznetsov keeps working.
Kuznetsov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jr wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jr trying to control the position but Kuznetsov is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuznetsov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuznetsov is not content to let Jr control the position.
Jr advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jr prevents Kuznetsov from getting the reversal.
Jr trying to control but Kuznetsov is having none of it.
Kuznetsov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jr. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jr lands a heavy elbow.
Jr scoring with strikes but Kuznetsov is staying in there.
Jr wants to control the pace but Kuznetsov is squirming around nicely.
Jr looking to finish Kuznetsov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kuznetsov!

Jr is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kuznetsov has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Jr with shots to the head and body - Kuznetsov looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jr with shots to the head and body - Kuznetsov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Jr with shots to the head and body - Kuznetsov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuznetsov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jr is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Jr scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kuznetsov?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Jr cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jr wants to control the pace but Kuznetsov is squirming around nicely.
Jr is really struggling to control Kuznetsov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Jr dominated that round.
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.

Jr goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Kuznetsov shoots in and bounces Jr off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kuznetsov postures up.
Kuznetsov landing with the ground and pound.
Kuznetsov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
George Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuznetsov is in close to Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov connects with a couple of short punches.
Jr seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow that misses. Jr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kuznetsov's guard. Nice move by Jr!

Kuznetsov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kuznetsov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuznetsov is looking for a triangle but Jr pushes his legs off easily.
Jr sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kuznetsov has a closed guard, preventing Jr from standing up.
Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Jr from controlling successfully.
Jr works over Kuznetsov with some ground and pound from guard.
Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Jr from controlling successfully.

Kuznetsov looking for a guillotine here but Jr defends easily.
Jr wanted to stand there but Kuznetsov had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jr postures up in Kuznetsov's guard and throws a big left but Kuznetsov blocks it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

Kuznetsov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jr slips nicely into half guard.

Jr is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kuznetsov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jr.
Kuznetsov wants to improve his position but Jr is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Jr jumps into side control!
Jr is looking to take a break and control but Kuznetsov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jr wants to stand but Kuznetsov is controlling his arm.
Kuznetsov looking for a sweep but Jr has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Jr fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kuznetsov is squirming around, avoiding Jr's attempts to control the action.
Jr with shots to the head and body - Kuznetsov looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jr landing punches.
Jr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kuznetsov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kuznetsov is squirming around, avoiding Jr's attempts to control the action.

Jr jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kuznetsov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Jr trying to control the action but Kuznetsov is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jr wants to stand but Kuznetsov has his arm trapped.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

George Jr dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Jr doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuznetsov circles away.
Kuznetsov with the counter takedown but Jr avoids it easily.

Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Jr can't get the takedown.
Kuznetsov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jr wants to take the fight to the mat but Kuznetsov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kuznetsov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Jr manages to break the clinch.

Jr shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kuznetsov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuznetsov can do to turn this around?
Jr advances to full mount.
Kuznetsov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kuznetsov tries to get to full guard but Jr has control of the leg.
Jr is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuznetsov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jr wants to control but Kuznetsov is keeping him busy.

Kuznetsov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kuznetsov actively working from the bottom here.
Kuznetsov has hold of Jr's hands but Jr slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jr passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kuznetsov!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuznetsov is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Jr.
Jr wants to control the pace but Kuznetsov is squirming around nicely.
Jr lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jr has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kuznetsov's face.
Jr can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuznetsov is looking to escape.
Kuznetsov looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Jr is looking to control Kuznetsov but Kuznetsov is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Kuznetsov tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jr is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Jr is looking to control Kuznetsov but Kuznetsov is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Jr is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Kuznetsov with him. Kuznetsov is trying to defend but Jr has an arm under the chin now! Kuznetsov grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). George Jr!
In defeat, Andrey Kuznetsov stepped up to the mic, saying 'Tough loss but I will make comeback.'.