PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kuznetsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kuznetsov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to National Anthem of Russia. Smith has chosen Bad Company as his entrance music. Jim Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuznetsov
vs
Smith

187 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
20
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexei Kuznetsov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Smith.

Kuznetsov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuznetsov lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuznetsov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Kuznetsov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Kuznetsov from controlling successfully.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smith not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kuznetsov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuznetsov wants to control but Smith is keeping busy.
Smith passes into side control, despite Kuznetsov's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov is trying to improve his position.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Smith passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kuznetsov!
Kuznetsov is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuznetsov tries to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Kuznetsov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kuznetsov wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Kuznetsov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuznetsov is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov wants to control but Smith is having none of it.
Smith tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Kuznetsov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kuznetsov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Kuznetsov defends it well.
Smith thowing shots but they're missing.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kuznetsov 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.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuznetsov defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kuznetsov.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kuznetsov is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Kuznetsov trying to control the position here.
Kuznetsov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuznetsov has wrist control.
Kuznetsov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Smith drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuznetsov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smith has Kuznetsov in his guard.
Smith looks gassed!
Kuznetsov throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.

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.
Kuznetsov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Smith is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kuznetsov pulls his head out easily.
Kuznetsov content to control rather than advance.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexei Kuznetsov just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith misses with the combination.
Smith throws a hook but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexei Kuznetsov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Smith does no damage.

Kuznetsov gets a clinch.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuznetsov has double underhooks.

Kuznetsov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Smith keeping full guard, as Kuznetsov tries to pass.
Kuznetsov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith wants to sweep here but Kuznetsov controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Kuznetsov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuznetsov trying to control but Smith is working 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.
Kuznetsov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuznetsov trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexei Kuznetsov just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
Kuznetsov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith misses with a looping left.
Smith throws a jab when Kuznetsov was well out of range.
Jim Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a series of punches but Kuznetsov avoids them all with ease.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kuznetsov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Smith working for a triangle but Kuznetsov defends it easily.
Kuznetsov wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kuznetsov controlling from the top position.
Kuznetsov trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Kuznetsov dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kuznetsov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuznetsov is taking a breather. Smith says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Kuznetsov sits in half guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kuznetsov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexei Kuznetsov just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Kuznetsov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuznetsov.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Kuznetsov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith throws the left hand but Kuznetsov avoids the punch easily.
Kuznetsov moves out of range as Smith strikes.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Smith throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Kuznetsov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Jim Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuznetsov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kuznetsov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Smith, as that shot connected.
Alexei Kuznetsov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith drops Kuznetsov with a beautiful combination! Kuznetsov stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Smith is looking for the KO!

Kuznetsov is rocked!

It looks like Alexei Kuznetsov has been cut.
Smith lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kuznetsov circles away quickly and effectively.
Oh Kuznetsov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith tries to bum rush Kuznetsov with a series of wild strikes but Kuznetsov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kuznetsov's head backwards.
Smith thows a left - swing and a miss!
Smith throws a combination. Kuznetsov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smith misses with a straight right.
Some wild striking there from Smith.
Smith misses with an uppercut. Kuznetsov saw that one coming.

Kuznetsov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kuznetsov showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuznetsov not doing much here.
Alexei Kuznetsov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kuznetsov content to control rather than advance.
Kuznetsov wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kuznetsov works his way into side control.
Kuznetsov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith seems a little lost for a moment, as Kuznetsov dominates the positioning.
Jim Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuznetsov trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexei Kuznetsov just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Kuznetsov darts in and clinches Smith up against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuznetsov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Kuznetsov!