PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Billeray (ranked 5830 p4p, 485 weight class) and Mikhail Kuznetsov (ranked 2728 p4p, 305 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Billeray
vs
Kuznetsov

175 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Billeray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznetsov lands a slapping body shot.
A big left from Kuznetsov misses.
Kuznetsov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kuznetsov cracks a nice hook into Billeray's ribs.
Kuznetsov connects with a body shot.
Kuznetsov's corner calls for a 1-2. Kuznetsov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Kuznetsov gets a clinch.
Billeray goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kuznetsov prevents it.
Billeray wants to take the fight to the mat but Kuznetsov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kuznetsov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Kuznetsov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billeray won't allow Kuznetsov to get back to his feet.
Our spies down at at Gym - AKA - Russia inform us that Kuznetsov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Billeray from controlling successfully.
Kuznetsov pulls Billeray in close to prevent any damage.
Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Billeray from controlling successfully.
Billeray stops Kuznetsov from standing up.
Billeray landing with the ground and pound.
Billeray throwing strikes but missing.
Kuznetsov wants to sweep but no luck.
Billeray trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznetsov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov stands and throws Billeray's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kuznetsov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Billeray keeps working.
Billeray is trying to improve his position.
Billeray gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kuznetsov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Billeray looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Billeray gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Billeray is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuznetsov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Billeray working for a triangle but Kuznetsov defends it easily.
Kuznetsov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kuznetsov stays in close to Billeray's body and controls the position.
Kuznetsov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Billeray is trying to keep Kuznetsov in close.
Billeray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four 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.

Kuznetsov stands up from Billeray's guard - Kuznetsov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Billeray blocks the body kick.
Billeray takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Billeray takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kuznetsov closes the distance and clinches.
Kuznetsov gets underhooks to prevent Billeray's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Billeray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuznetsov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kuznetsov pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kuznetsov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Kuznetsov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Kuznetsov. Those never looked like landing.
Kuznetsov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Billeray gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kuznetsov.
Billeray doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kuznetsov connects with a crisp jab.
Billeray uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kuznetsov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Billeray looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Billeray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuznetsov avoids it really well and circles away.
A shot to the liver by Kuznetsov. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov dips to his left and cracks Billeray with an uppercut!

Kuznetsov moves into the clinch.
Kuznetsov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kuznetsov.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov just leaning against Billeray, taking a breather.

Kuznetsov successfully pulls guard.
Billeray stopping the sweep attempt from Kuznetsov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billeray postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kuznetsov wants to stand up but Billeray is controlling him.
Billeray wants to control from the top but Kuznetsov keeps moving.
Billeray throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Billeray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuznetsov is pulling down on Billeray's head to control his posture.
Billeray trying to control but Kuznetsov is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Billeray is one step ahead there.
Kuznetsov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Billeray throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuznetsov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Billeray is one step ahead there.
Kuznetsov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Billeray from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kuznetsov is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billeray looking to control but Kuznetsov passes into half guard.
Billeray wants to control but Kuznetsov is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billeray taking some punishment here, with Kuznetsov in his half guard.
Kuznetsov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Billeray wants to get back to full guard.
Kuznetsov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kuznetsov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Billeray?
Kuznetsov avoids the attempt from Billeray to control.
Kuznetsov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Billeray hang on?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Billeray working to try and regain half guard.
Billeray 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.
Billeray wants to hold on but Kuznetsov pushes him away.
Kuznetsov controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Kuznetsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kuznetsov tries to clinch there but Billeray circles away.
Billeray half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kuznetsov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Billeray's hands.
Billeray walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kuznetsov tries a head kick but it misses.
Billeray drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kuznetsov sprawls and moves away.
Billeray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuznetsov avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuznetsov closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Billeray is working for takedown but Kuznetsov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Kuznetsov breaks from the clinch.
Billeray fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Billeray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuznetsov instigates a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Kuznetsov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kuznetsov pushes Billeray back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Billeray is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuznetsov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuznetsov scores with a shot to the side of Billeray's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov has Billeray pressed against the cage.
Billeray has Kuznetsov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kuznetsov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kuznetsov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Billeray tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Kuznetsov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kuznetsov rushes Billeray and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kuznetsov tightens his grip and picks Billeray up, before dumping him to the ground. Billeray manages to land in guard.

Billeray is looking for a triangle but Kuznetsov pushes his legs off easily.
Kuznetsov is working Billeray over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billeray not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mikhail Kuznetsov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuznetsov looking to pass the guard.
Kuznetsov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kuznetsov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Billeray wants to stand and escape but Kuznetsov is having none of it.
Billeray is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Billeray being controlled here, momentarily.
Kuznetsov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuznetsov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kuznetsov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Billeray has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuznetsov has managed to get both his arms back between Billeray's legs - danger averted.
Kuznetsov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kuznetsov is continuing to stall.
Kuznetsov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tom Billeray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuznetsov wants to control from the top but Billeray keeps moving.

Billeray is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mikhail Kuznetsov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuznetsov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Billeray's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Kuznetsov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kuznetsov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30

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