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WP 122 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 66 wins and 73 losses; Strega Notturna! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 74 wins and 50 losses; Vasiliy Kulik! The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Kulik darts in and clinches Notturna up against the cage. Kulik is looking to take this one to the mat.
Notturna pulls Kulik into guard.
Notturna has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance. Kulik not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up. Notturna seems keen to control Kulik's posture. Kulik won't allow Notturna to sweep him here. Kulik looking to control the position here, rather than advance. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/1.gif) That's one minute gone in the round. Notturna is looking to sweep but instead, Kulik has passed into half guard.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but Notturna defending well. Notturna trying to control from the bottom.
Kulik prevents Notturna from improving his position. Kulik wants to pass the guard but Notturna is defending well. Kulik stalling. Notturna is looking to control Kulik's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Notturna avoid being mounted?
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/2.gif) That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking to work for a kimura from the bottom. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Kulik takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position. Notturna trying to control from the bottom.
Notturna wants to get back to full guard. Kulik with a momentary lay and pray from half guard. Kulik prevents Notturna from improving his position. 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.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/3.gif) That's three minutes gone in the round. Notturna is trying to maintain the position but Kulik is very close to passing his half guard. Kulik tries to pass to full mount but Notturna defends it. Kulik takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position. The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Let's hope that Kulik has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/4.gif) That's four minutes gone in the round. Notturna tries to roll over but Kulik keeps him under control. Notturna trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kulik manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Notturna (0) vs (3) Kulik The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily. Kulik looking to control and managing it successfully. Notturna is looking to improve his position but Kulik isn't that keen on the idea. Kulik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/5.gif) That's five minutes gone in the round. Notturna tries to get back to half guard but can't. Notturna is squirming around, avoiding Kulik's attempts to control the action. Notturna keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kulik content just to control the position here. Notturna is working to get back to half guard.
Notturna might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground. Notturna holds of for dear life.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/6.gif) That's six minutes gone in the round. Kulik controlling from the full mount. Notturna is trying to reverse the position but instead Kulik has taken his back - oops! Score +3 for taking back: Notturna (0) vs (6) Kulik Kulik trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Notturna doesn't escape. Notturna is trying to break free.
Kulik avoiding Notturna 's attempts to control his hands. Notturna tries to escape but Kulik has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/7.gif) That's seven minutes gone in the round. Kulik biding his time, controlling Notturna. Notturna looking to control the position. Notturna breaks Kulik's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Notturna (2) vs (6) Kulik Kulik keeping moving, preventing Notturna from controlling successfully. Kulik seems keen to control Notturna's posture.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/8.gif) That's eight minutes gone in the round. Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kulik swivels though and keeps the full guard. Kulik is trying to keep Notturna in close.
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Notturna is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kulik is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him. Notturna not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/9.gif) That's nine minutes gone in the round. Kulik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent. Kulik tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Notturna 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! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Notturna (2) vs (8) Kulik Kulik won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/10.gif) That's ten minutes gone in the round. Kulik is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long. Notturna trying to keep a closed guard but Kulik is proving a slippery customer.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet. Kulik trying to control but Notturna is working from the bottom. Kulik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two. Notturna is trying to hold Kulik in close to prevent damage but Kulik has managed to pass into half guard.
Kulik wants to pass the guard but Notturna is defending well.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/11.gif) That's eleven minutes gone in the round. Kulik moves into full mount! Notturna won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Notturna (2) vs (11) Kulik Notturna sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Notturna actively working from the bottom here. Notturna wants to get back to full guard. Kulik trying to control the pace.
Notturna looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/12.gif) That's twelve minutes gone in the round. Notturna is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment. Notturna works his way to full guard. Good work.
Notturna has an active guard here but Kulik has managed to pass into half guard.
Kulik is controlling the pace.
Notturna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/13.gif) That's thirteen minutes gone in the round. Kulik sitting and controlling from the half guard. Notturna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kulik is working away from the top position though. Notturna is looking to get back to full guard here but Kulik has managed to pass to side control instead. Score +3 for passing guard: Notturna (2) vs (14) Kulik
![](https://www.mmatycoon.com/images/fight/14.gif) That's fourteen minutes gone in the round. Notturna is trying to improve his position. Notturna is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kulik is one step ahead and moves to full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Notturna (2) vs (16) Kulik Notturna is trying desperately to improve position. Notturna is just holding on here. Kulik manages to take his back.
Score +3 for taking back: Notturna (2) vs (19) Kulik Notturna tries to escape but Kulik has the hooks in and won't let him break free. Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! Notturna trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble. Notturna turns into Kulik and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Notturna (4) vs (19) Kulik Notturna not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that's the end of the fight! Kulik wins on points by 19 to 4. Vasiliy Kulik decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
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