PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zlato Kuzmejniev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry has chosen Unashamed as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuzmejniev
vs
Henry

192 cm
30
210 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

173 cm
29
223 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

The Empire Clothing and Laundry

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zlato Kuzmejniev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Henry!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry throws a right hand that misses
letting Kuzmejniev counter with a right hand.

It looks like John Henry has been cut.
Henry works the jab nicely.
Henry misses the shot to the body.
Kuzmejniev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fighters circling - Henry throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've been informed that Henry has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kuzmejniev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Henry throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kuzmejniev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kuzmejniev misses with a low kick.
Henry tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kuzmejniev was well out of range. Poor timing from Henry.
Henry is looking to slow Kuzmejniev down with leg kicks.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Henry, as that shot connected.
Henry misses with a jab to the body
and Kuzmejniev counters with a good low kick that Henry was not able to check.
Kuzmejniev avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henry with a poor takedown
and Kuzmejniev counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Henry blocks the body kick.
A nice side step and Henry releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry takes a swing at Kuzmejniev's ribcage but misses.
Henry throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kuzmejniev.
Henry looks to throw a body kick
and Kuzmejniev counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuzmejniev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuzmejniev lands a front kick.
Henry blocks the body kick.
Kuzmejniev lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kuzmejniev blocks a jab.
Kuzmejniev avoids the head kick by Henry.
A head kick misses from Henry.
Henry throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuzmejniev fires out a quick counter leg kick but Henry just manages to avoid it.
Kuzmejniev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Henry scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmejniev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kuzmejniev swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Henry feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kuzmejniev's calf.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuzmejniev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Henry misses with a low kick.
Kuzmejniev lands with a nice body punch.
Henry is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kuzmejniev rather than just go for the knockout.
Kuzmejniev lands a body shot.
Kuzmejniev plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Henry throws out a leg kick but Kuzmejniev moves out of range and Henry only half commits.
Kuzmejniev sizes up Henry with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zlato Kuzmejniev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuzmejniev scores with a kick to the body.
Henry looks winded!
Kuzmejniev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kuzmejniev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henry appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Henry fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry misses with a body kick.
Kuzmejniev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kuzmejniev thumps Henry with a low kick.
Henry wants to land a leg kick but Kuzmejniev is out of range.
Henry drops his hands momentarily and Kuzmejniev takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jab from Kuzmejniev.

That has opened up John Henry's cut even more.
Kuzmejniev throws a body punch but Henry moves out of range.
Kuzmejniev throws a head kick that half lands.

Henry is rocked!
Kuzmejniev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kuzmejniev.
Henry misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Henry throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuzmejniev's waist but Kuzmejniev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henry off to one side.
Kuzmejniev is looking for a counter combo.
Zlato Kuzmejniev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Henry.
Kuzmejniev chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Henry can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henry scores with a hook to the body. Kuzmejniev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Henry throws a looping overhand right but Kuzmejniev ducks down to avoid it.
Kuzmejniev paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kuzmejniev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Henry.
Kuzmejniev throws a body shot but no joy.
Kuzmejniev backing away here, and Henry unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A head kick misses from Kuzmejniev.
Henry scoring well with a low kick there.
Henry lands a jab.
Kuzmejniev is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kuzmejniev closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henry fails to land the takedown.
Kuzmejniev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zlato Kuzmejniev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Henry's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kuzmejniev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Henry listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kuzmejniev fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Henry.
Henry throws a head kick that misses.
Kuzmejniev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Henry might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Kuzmejniev has got the better of the exchanges.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kuzmejniev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
An inside leg kick lands from Henry.
Kuzmejniev drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kuzmejniev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuzmejniev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A thudding body kick lands there by Henry!
Zlato Kuzmejniev is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henry buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kuzmejniev looks to land a body kick but Henry moved away.
Kuzmejniev takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuzmejniev lands a big head kick that sends Henry tumbling to the mat! Kuzmejniev takes a step backwards and waves Henry back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Henry throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kuzmejniev.
Kuzmejniev throws a counter high kick but Henry was just alert enough to avoid it.
Henry throws a head kick that misses.
Kuzmejniev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Henry with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kuzmejniev counters with a left and a right... And another left! Henry is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zlato Kuzmejniev!
Zlato Kuzmejniev took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I came for the KO, thank you for your support.'.