PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Kulik (ranked 2396 p4p, 280 weight class) and Ben Stone (ranked 6090 p4p, 491 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kulik
vs
Stone

200 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vasiliy Kulik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Stone!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kulik misses with a two punch combination.
Stone changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Stone closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kulik did well to prevent Stone getting side control.

Stone wants to work for an arm triangle but Kulik is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Stone is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kulik has managed to free his arm - good work.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kulik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stone is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kulik defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kulik looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stone is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kulik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kulik moves into full guard.
Kulik working a defensive guard here.
Stone trying to control but Kulik is working from the bottom.
Kulik trying to control the position here.
Stone stands and throws Kulik's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kulik is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stone working away.
Kulik tries to bench press Stone off him but Stone keeps the position.
Kulik struggling a bit here.
Kulik tries to buck Stone off but Stone is having none of it.
Kulik is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Forge that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Kulik wants to control but Stone postures up.
Kulik really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Stone working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stone taking a breather here.
Kulik struggling a bit here.
Kulik is looking to regain half guard here but Stone keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik manages to work his way to half guard, despite Stone's best efforts.

Stone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stone in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Stone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Stone looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kulik trying to hold on to Stone's head to control him but Stone postures up.

Kulik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stone is looking to take a break and control but Kulik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kulik wants to improve his position but Stone is controlling well.
Kulik is pressing down on Stone's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've been informed that Stone has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kulik trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Stone passes Kulik's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stone seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kulik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stone pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stone is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Stone is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Stone dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stone keeps the fight on the outside.
Kulik throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Stone.
Vasiliy Kulik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kulik uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stone has time to react.
Stone has his takedown stuffed
and Kulik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stone shoots in for a takedown but Kulik shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kulik tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Stone manages to circle out of the way.
Stone goes for a double leg but Kulik avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kulik continues to drive forward.
Vasiliy Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Stone.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stone fails with the takedown
and Kulik counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ben Stone has been cut.
Kulik swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone walks into a left hand.
Kulik throws a nice looking combination but Stone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kulik swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kulik pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Vasiliy Kulik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kulik throws out a powerful jab.
Kulik is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Stone fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kulik seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Stone misses with a takedown
and Kulik counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kulik scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Kulik clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulik doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stone blocks a body shot from Kulik.
Stone wants a takedown but no success here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kulik controlling the action here for a moment.
Kulik stalls.
Stone blocking some punches.
Kulik lands with a short shot to the head.
Stone is working for takedown but Kulik is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stone goes for a takedown attempt but Kulik pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik stuffs the takedown attempt from Stone. Stone gets slowly back to his feet.
Kulik rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stone moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stone drops his hands momentarily and Kulik takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kulik fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stone manages to avoid it.

Kulik clinches up with Stone and pushes him back against the cage.
Kulik presses Stone against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Kulik.
Kulik misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stone looking for a takedown.
Nice body punch from Kulik - that landed with a thud.
Stone is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulik misses with a punch to the body.
Kulik taking a breather.
Kulik is struggling to control the position.
Kulik holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kulik works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kulik lands with a short shot to the head.
Stone is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kulik pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kulik can't find room to land a body shot as Stone controls the action.
Stone blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Kulik dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Stone's cut.
That's time! Kulik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stone showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kulik.
Kulik fails to land with a series of punches.
Stone doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Stone gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kulik counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice sprawl there from Kulik as Stone shoots in.

Kulik fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stone, pushing him back against the cage.
Stone blocks a body shot from Kulik.
Kulik tries a body shot but Stone blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kulik takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kulik misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kulik tries to throw a body punch but Stone avoids it by throwing Kulik back against the cage.
Kulik gets underhooks to prevent Stone's takedown attempt.
Vasiliy Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Stone.
Kulik stalling in the clinch but Stone improves position.
Kulik misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kulik avoiding damage.
Kulik struggles to land a body shot inside as Stone controls his hands.
Stone blocking some punches.
Stone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two 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.
Kulik is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kulik tries to work over Stone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Stone.
Kulik tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kulik effectively controlling the action here.
Kulik lands a body shot.
Kulik misses with a punch on the inside.
Kulik lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kulik.
Kulik tries to work over Stone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Stone lands a takedown into guard.
Kulik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ben Stone has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kulik working for submissions but it's allowed Stone to get to half guard.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kulik does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kulik is looking to improve his position.

Kulik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stone is working for a submission of some sort.
Kulik is trying to maintain the position but Stone is very close to passing his half guard.
Stone controlling the action here.
Kulik is refusing to be controlled, as Stone sits in half guard.
Kulik is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kulik won't allow Stone to pass to mount.
Stone prevents Kulik from improving his position.

Stone is looking for a kimura but Kulik is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Stone to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasiliy Kulik showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kulik 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasiliy Kulik!