PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Kuznecov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuznecov
vs
Kuznecov

178 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuri Kuznecov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuri Kuznecov!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fighter A looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fighter B is fending him off so far but Fighter A persists. Nope, Fighter B circles away and we're back to standing.
Yuri Kuznecov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fighter B throws the kick towards the body but Fighter A avoids it.
Fighter A misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fighter B misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fighter B shoots in for a takedown but Fighter A shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fighter B displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fighter A.
Fighter A fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fighter A will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fighter A gets the takedown into side control.
Fighter A working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fighter A trying to control the action but Fighter B is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter B can't do much from the bottom here.

Fighter A working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fighter B trying his best to control but Fighter A has mounted him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Poor strikes thrown by Fighter A there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Fighter B tries to hold on but Fighter A pushes him away.
Fighter B is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fighter B holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Fighter A tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Fighter A throwing strikes here but Fighter B is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Fighter B can't escape the position.
Fighter A controlling the pace for now.
Fighter A can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fighter B is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter A thowing shots but they're missing.
Fighter A controlling the position easily from mount.
Fighter B keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fighter A sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Fighter A working for a guillotine from mount but Fighter B is in no mood to give up.
Fighter B keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Fighter A can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fighter B is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fighter B avoids a series of strikes thrown by Fighter A.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Kuznecov dominated that round.
That's time! Fighter A's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fighter A is defended easily by Fighter B.
Fighter A tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fighter A.
Fighter B is trying to improve his position.
Fighter B is trying to work for a sweep but Fighter A has mounted him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fighter B is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Fighter B is in all sorts of trouble here.
Fighter B bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter B trying to control the position from guard on top but Fighter A is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fighter B seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fighter A seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fighter B stopping the sweep attempt from Fighter A.
Fighter A not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fighter B controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fighter B trying to control but Fighter A is working from the bottom.
Fighter A working a defensive guard here.
Fighter B wants to pass the guard but Fighter A is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter B shoots in looking for a takedown. Fighter A tries to sprawl out of it but Fighter B keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fighter A manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fighter A tries to clinch but Fighter B moves out of range.
Fighter A checks a leg kick.
Fighter A looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fighter B is fending him off so far but Fighter A persists. Nope, Fighter B circles away and we're back to standing.
Yuri Kuznecov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fighter A slaps away a takedown attempt from Fighter B, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fighter A swats away the attempt to clinch by Fighter B.

Fighter B pushes Fighter A up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter B has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fighter A tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fighter B smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fighter B misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fighter A throws a right hand that Fighter B ducks under and follows up with a left that Fighter B also avoids with ease.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fighter A shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fighter B as he avoids it easily.
Fighter A shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuri Kuznecov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fighter A closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fighter B circles away.
Fighter A misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fighter A has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fighter B rushes Fighter A and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fighter A is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Fighter A pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fighter B throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fighter A is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fighter B can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Decent striking displayed by Fighter B there.

It looks like Yuri Kuznecov has been cut.

Fighter A rushes Fighter B and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fighter A is trying to pull guard but Fighter B has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter B looking to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Fighter A's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fighter A takes a shot to the head.

Fighter B escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fighter A misses with a body shot.
Fighter A is looking to clinch but Fighter B is avoiding it.
Fighter B fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fighter A manages to avoid it.
Fighter B defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fighter A.
Fighter B tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Fighter A as Fighter B shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter B fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fighter B takes one to the side of the head.
Fighter B shoots in for a double leg but Fighter A sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fighter B throws a head kick but Fighter A moves out of range.
Yuri Kuznecov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fighter B shoots in but Fighter A avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fighter A thuds his right hand into Fighter B's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Fighter B tries to keep at a distance but Fighter A has taken the fight into the clinch.

Fighter A's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Fighter B as he checks the leg kick.
Fighter A pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Fighter A gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fighter B blocks the elbow strike.

Fighter A escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fighter A tries for a takedown but Fighter B sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fighter B shoots in for a takedown but Fighter A shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fighter A looks to land a combination. Fighter B sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Fighter B shoots in looking for a takedown. Fighter A tries to sprawl out of it but Fighter B keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fighter A manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter A shoots in looking for a takedown. Fighter B tries to sprawl out of it but Fighter A keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fighter B manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fighter A dives in for a single leg takedown but Fighter B sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Fighter B tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fighter A missing with knees to the body.
Yuri Kuznecov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yuri Kuznecov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Fighter A's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Kuznecov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fighter A has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Kuznecov!