PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tukunbo Awimowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Awimowe
vs
Kuznecov

184 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tukunbo Awimowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuri Kuznecov!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Awimowe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kuznecov wants to clinch.
Awimowe throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Awimowe drives through and clinches with Kuznecov against the cage.

Awimowe manages to break the clinch.

Awimowe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuznecov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Awimowe is in Kuznecov's guard.
Kuznecov keeping moving, preventing Awimowe from controlling successfully.
Awimowe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Awimowe definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznecov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Awimowe controls the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Awimowe forces his way into half guard.

Awimowe gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kuznecov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Awimowe shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kuznecov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Awimowe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Awimowe is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Awimowe manages to mount him!
Awimowe cracks Kuznecov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kuznecov is desperately trying to improve his position but Awimowe has a good base and remains in mount.
Awimowe controlling the position easily from mount.
Awimowe lands a big shot there that rocks Kuznecov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Awimowe 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.

Awimowe is working for a guillotine from mount but Kuznecov frees his head quite easily.
Awimowe wants to control the pace but Kuznecov is squirming around nicely.
Awimowe dominating with strikes here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Awimowe wants to control but instead Kuznecov manages to regain half guard.
Awimowe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Awimowe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuznecov is trying to control but Awimowe passes into side control!
Kuznecov is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Awimowe wants to control but Kuznecov is keeping him busy.
Kuznecov is looking to control Awimowe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kuznecov avoid being mounted?
Awimowe prevents Kuznecov from improving his position.
Awimowe stalling.

Awimowe decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tukunbo Awimowe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Awimowe takes the fight into the clinch.
Awimowe is trying to pull guard but Kuznecov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Awimowe successfully pulls guard.

Kuznecov gets to his feet - Awimowe follows without any prompting.
Awimowe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kuznecov is fending him off so far but Awimowe persists. Nope, Kuznecov circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Kuznecov.
Kuznecov has his takedown stuffed
and Awimowe makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznecov moves in looking to clinch but Awimowe pushes him off.
Kuznecov with a poor takedown
and Awimowe counters with a nice body kick.
Kuznecov looks to land a combination but Awimowe avoids it well.
Awimowe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuznecov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Awimowe darts in looking for a takedown but Kuznecov gets double underhooks and turns Awimowe into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tukunbo Awimowe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Awimowe pulls guard.

Awimowe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Awimowe keeping moving, preventing Kuznecov from controlling successfully.
Awimowe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuznecov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuznecov wants to stand and escape but instead Awimowe has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Awimowe passes into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Awimowe in particular looking to stall.
Awimowe moves nicely into side control.
Kuznecov tries to buck Awimowe off but Awimowe is having none of it.
Awimowe landing strikes.

Awimowe decides to stand back up. Awimowe steps back and let's Kuznecov get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Awimowe is defended easily by Kuznecov.
Awimowe goes for a double leg but Kuznecov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kuznecov continues to drive forward.
Awimowe lands a hook to the side of the head.

Awimowe breaks from the clinch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Awimowe - that will leave a mark!

Awimowe decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Awimowe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuznecov can do to turn this around?
Awimowe passes to side control.
Kuznecov is breathing heavily.

Awimowe decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kuznecov to his feet.

Awimowe drives through and clinches with Kuznecov against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Awimowe fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Awimowe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Awimowe has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Kuznecov. No joy for Awimowe on that attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuznecov throws a lazy head kick

and Awimowe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Awimowe.
Awimowe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuznecov's efforts to push away.
Awimowe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Awimowe breaks from the clinch.
Awimowe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tukunbo Awimowe dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Awimowe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuznecov tries to avoid it but Awimowe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuznecov to the ground. Kuznecov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Awimowe stuffs the takedown.
Kuznecov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Awimowe avoids it really well and circles away.

Awimowe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Awimowe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kuznecov misses with a strike from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznecov is letting Awimowe control him for a moment.
Kuznecov is trying to get back to half guard.

Awimowe stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov misses with a series of wild punches.

Awimowe drives through and clinches with Kuznecov against the cage.

Awimowe has hold of one of Kuznecov's legs. Kuznecov is fighting the takedown attempt but Awimowe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kuznecov working a defensive guard but Awimowe passes into half guard.
Well, if Awimowe 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.

Awimowe stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Kuznecov to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov fails with the takedown
and Awimowe counters with a head kick. That will keep Kuznecov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

It looks like Yuri Kuznecov has been cut.
Tukunbo Awimowe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Kuznecov.
Kuznecov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Awimowe lands with a slapping head kick.

Awimowe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Awimowe tries to pull guard but Kuznecov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kuznecov letting Awimowe take a breather here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuznecov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Awimowe is trying to drag Kuznecov to the mat but Kuznecov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Awimowe pulls Kuznecov into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznecov wants to control from the top but Awimowe keeps moving.
Kuznecov being controlled here momentarily.

Kuznecov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Awimowe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kuznecov, into his guard.

Awimowe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Awimowe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznecov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuznecov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Awimowe's guard.

Awimowe pulls Kuznecov in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Awimowe is looking for a triangle but Kuznecov pushes his legs off easily.
Kuznecov is looking to stand up but Awimowe won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuznecov postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tukunbo Awimowe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Awimowe 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tukunbo Awimowe!