PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iov Kuzmin (ranked 2251 p4p, 2674 weight class) and Juan David Franco (ranked 296 p4p, 336 weight class). Kuzmin comes to the ring accompanied by La Caution - Thé à la Menthe. Franco has chosen Bullet For My Valentine- Tears Don't Fall as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kuzmin
vs
Franco

188 cm
25
225
9 - 4 - 0

188 cm
32
202
23 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iov Kuzmin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juan David Franco!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Darius Henderson and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzmin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kuzmin shoots in looking for a takedown but Franco manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuzmin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A countering left hand to the body from Franco misses.
Kuzmin fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iov Kuzmin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuzmin avoids the head kick by Franco.
Franco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuzmin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Franco sprawls and moves away.

Kuzmin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kuzmin showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kuzmin lands a nice short elbow.
Kuzmin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franco blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuzmin.
Franco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kuzmin slips a nice elbow through Franco's hands, connecting with Franco's forehead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzmin lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kuzmin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Franco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kuzmin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kuzmin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kuzmin with the ground and pound but Franco uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kuzmin with a nice head shot there.
Kuzmin stands up over Franco, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kuzmin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuzmin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
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.
Kuzmin throwing strikes but missing.
Franco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuzmin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuzmin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kuzmin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuzmin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuzmin throws a strike but Franco rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kuzmin has control of Franco's left arm, preventing Franco from doing any damage.
Kuzmin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kuzmin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franco manages to get himself to full guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franco's head.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuzmin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kuzmin 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.
Kuzmin passes Franco's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kuzmin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kuzmin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kuzmin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kuzmin is nestled in close to Franco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kuzmin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franco's head.
Kuzmin working the head and body with strikes.
Kuzmin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuzmin lands with a punch from half guard.

Franco is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Franco is still in real trouble! Can Kuzmin finish him?
Kuzmin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuzmin is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Franco is hurt! He's hurt bad - Kuzmin fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Franco from any more punishment! Congratulations to Kuzmin! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iov Kuzmin!
Iov Kuzmin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.