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WP 71 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 43 wins and 57 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 46 wins and 30 losses; Vasiliy Kulik!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Kulik moves into the clinch.
Kulik pulls Balkan into guard.
Kulik keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Kulik has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balkan is looking to advance position but Kulik has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Balkan (0) vs (4) Kulik
Kulik tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan is in all sorts of trouble here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulik trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
Balkan is looking to get to half guard.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kulik wants to take his opponent's back but Balkan doesn't allow it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to lock up and control but Kulik gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kulik trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Balkan is trying desperately to improve position.
Kulik tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan tries to lock up and control but Kulik gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balkan is looking to escape.
Kulik prevents Balkan from getting the reversal.
Balkan controls the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Balkan is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to hold on but Kulik postures up.
Balkan is looking to improve his position but Kulik isn't that keen on the idea.
Kulik can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balkan is looking to escape.
Balkan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (4) Kulik
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to pass the guard.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Kulik keeps moving.
Balkan looking to pass the guard.
Balkan is pushing down on Kulik's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kulik is fighting to maintain full guard but Balkan has managed to sneak the leg through.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to advance to full mount but Kulik doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kulik keeping full guard, as Balkan tries to pass.
Kulik seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kulik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Balkan advances to half guard.
Balkan is keen to just control but Kulik is a slippery customer.
Balkan is thwarting Kulik's attempts to control the position.
Kulik is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've been hearing good reports from Balkan'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.
Balkan 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.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Balkan is keen to just control but Kulik is a slippery customer.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kulik is trying to maintain the position but Balkan is very close to passing his half guard.
Balkan trying to mount his opponent but Kulik defends it.
Kulik has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balkan is working away from the top position though.
Balkan is controlling the pace.
Balkan prevents Kulik from improving his position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Kulik is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balkan is controlling the pace.
Balkan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kulik knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik trying to control from the bottom.
Balkan is trying to control the action in half guard but Kulik is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balkan is thwarting Kulik's attempts to control the position.
Balkan is looking for a kimura but Kulik is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Balkan to get the leverage.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Kulik still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Kulik has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Balkan (2) vs (8) Kulik
Kulik controlling from side mount.
You can see the frustration on Balkan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik tries to move to mount but Balkan blocks the move with his legs.
Kulik wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
Balkan stops Kulik from passing to mount.
Kulik working away.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Balkan is trying to control Kulik's posture but Kulik avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan is looking to regain half guard here but Kulik keeps moving and retains side control.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kulik wins on points by 8 to 2.
A relieved looking Vasiliy Kulik thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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