PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Garcia (ranked 326 p4p, 905 weight class) and Alexander Kuznetsov (ranked 42 p4p, 129 weight class). Garcia kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is S.G. Sinnicks - St Patrick Battalion. 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?

Garcia
vs
Kuznetsov

180 cm
33
185
31 - 14 - 1

180 cm
27
195
12 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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Brooklyn Apothecary

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 31 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mickey Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses the shot to the body.
Garcia throws an overhand right that lands on Kuznetsov's shoulder, as Kuznetsov tries to avoid the shot.
Kuznetsov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garcia misses with an uppercut.
Kuznetsov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Garcia connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kuznetsov loads up on a big right hand but Garcia slips the punch.
Kuznetsov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Garcia throws a shot from downtown. Kuznetsov moves away and avoids it.
Kuznetsov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kuznetsov throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Kuznetsov looks to land a right hand but Garcia moved out of range.
Garcia has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kuznetsov finds it's way round the side to connect with Garcia's head.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuznetsov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Kuznetsov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuznetsov manages to avoid it.
Kuznetsov misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Garcia takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Garcia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuznetsov throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kuznetsov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Garcia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuznetsov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Donk. Garcia catches Kuznetsov right on the button with a cross.
Kuznetsov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Garcia throws a body punch but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
Garcia moves out of range as Kuznetsov strikes.
Garcia is looking to clinch but Kuznetsov is avoiding it.
Kuznetsov throws a looping overhand right but Garcia ducks down to avoid it.
Kuznetsov lands a jab to the nose.
Garcia catches Kuznetsov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Garcia throws a big shot that misses.
Kuznetsov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Garcia with a body shot.
Garcia throws a lazy right hand but Kuznetsov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kuznetsov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Garcia.
Garcia slips under a jab from Kuznetsov.
Garcia takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuznetsov looks to land a right hand but Garcia moved out of range.
Garcia is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Kuznetsov misses its intended target.
Garcia misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kuznetsov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia lands an overhand right.
Kuznetsov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Garcia had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Garcia throws a right hand that Kuznetsov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuznetsov also avoids with ease.
A big left from Garcia misses.
Kuznetsov looks to land a combination. Garcia sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Garcia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - Kuznetsov scores with a four punch combination!
Garcia is looking to clinch.
A nice side step and Kuznetsov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice strike.
Garcia scores with a shot to the body.
Kuznetsov cracks Garcia with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kuznetsov throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Kuznetsov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice uppercut there from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a jab but it's blocked by Garcia.
Kuznetsov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Garcia looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Garcia instigates a clinch.
Kuznetsov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuznetsov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Garcia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuznetsov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Garcia tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Garcia back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Garcia fails to land.
Garcia lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Garcia jumps guard but Kuznetsov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Garcia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Our sources have told us that Garcia has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Garcia misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuznetsov lands with a right to the head.
Garcia lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Kuznetsov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Garcia.
Garcia tries to work over Kuznetsov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garcia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Garcia is leaning against Kuznetsov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kuznetsov is struggling to control the position.
Garcia comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Alexander Kuznetsov has been cut.
Garcia misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garcia avoids it.
Garcia lands a damaging elbow.
Kuznetsov taking a breather.
Garcia jumps guard but Kuznetsov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Garcia lands a nice elbow.
Kuznetsov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Mickey Garcia has been cut.
Kuznetsov misses with some punches.
Kuznetsov working aggressively here.
Garcia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuznetsov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuznetsov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but Garcia blocks with his arms.
Garcia looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuznetsov takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Kuznetsov dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Garcia misses with a wild body shot.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Kuznetsov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Garcia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuznetsov lands an overhand right.
Kuznetsov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuznetsov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Garcia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuznetsov moves away.
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuznetsov.
Garcia throws a hook but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
Kuznetsov lands with a good body shot.
Kuznetsov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kuznetsov circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little jabbing left from Kuznetsov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia swings widly with a right hand
and Kuznetsov counters with a left to the body.
Alexander Kuznetsov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuznetsov tests Garcia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Kuznetsov. That snapped Garcia's head back.
Kuznetsov throws an overhand right that lands on Garcia's shoulder, as Garcia tries to avoid the shot.
Kuznetsov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garcia.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A jab from Garcia misses.
Garcia misses with a body shot.
Kuznetsov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice strike.
Good shot there by Kuznetsov.
Garcia throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kuznetsov counters with a series of strikes. Garcia will be more careful next time no doubt.
Garcia moves out of range as Kuznetsov strikes.
Garcia misses with a hook.
Kuznetsov unleashes a big counter combination but Garcia bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kuznetsov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kuznetsov in his tracks.
Garcia tries to clinch up.
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Garcia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Garcia throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov throws a one two combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Kuznetsov.
Garcia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Garcia throws a hook to the side of Kuznetsov's head but Kuznetsov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Garcia avoids the body shot from Kuznetsov.
Garcia digs a good body shot into Kuznetsov's ribs.
A slow jab from Garcia misses its intended target.
Kuznetsov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Garcia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuznetsov throws out the jab.
Kuznetsov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kuznetsov lands the left hand.
Kuznetsov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Garcia doesn't seem bothered though.
Garcia swings widly with a right hand
and Kuznetsov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuznetsov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Garcia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kuznetsov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Garcia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kuznetsov misses.
Garcia looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Garcia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kuznetsov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kuznetsov looks to throw the jab but Garcia is out of range.
Kuznetsov lands with a hook. Garcia tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kuznetsov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garcia was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuznetsov.
The fighters circling - Kuznetsov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuznetsov scores with a jab.
Kuznetsov throws a series of punches but Garcia moves out of range.
Garcia fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuznetsov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Garcia moves in looking to clinch but Kuznetsov pushes him off.
The fighters circling - Kuznetsov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Garcia appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garcia slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a lunging right hand
and Kuznetsov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Garcia connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuznetsov's hands.

Garcia clinches up with Kuznetsov and pushes him back against the cage.
Garcia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuznetsov prevents a body shot from Garcia.
Garcia avoids the elbow strike from Kuznetsov, against the cage.
Kuznetsov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kuznetsov throws a knee to the head but misses.

Garcia ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Garcia no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
Garcia is working hard here to advance position.
Kuznetsov tries to stand but Garcia is controlling from the bottom.
Kuznetsov throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuznetsov.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Garcia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuznetsov's guard.

Kuznetsov keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Kuznetsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kuznetsov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garcia.
Nice shot lands for Kuznetsov.
Garcia throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kuznetsov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kuznetsov misses the shot to the body.
Garcia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Garcia backs off Kuznetsov throws a huge counter combo but Garcia manages to avoid it all.

Garcia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Garcia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuznetsov walks away with a smile on his face. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Garcia throws a body punch but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
Kuznetsov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Garcia takes one to the side of the head.
Kuznetsov misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.
Garcia misses the body punch
and Kuznetsov counters with a three punch combo that has Garcia backing up. Garcia nods at Kuznetsov to acknowledge the strikes.
Garcia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Garcia looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuznetsov is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov throws out a loose jab but Garcia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuznetsov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Garcia.

Garcia clinches with his opponent.
Kuznetsov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Garcia.
Kuznetsov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia blocks it with crossed arms.
A shot in the inside from Garcia.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuznetsov lands with a light punch inside.
Garcia is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kuznetsov to keep the fight standing.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garcia.
Kuznetsov scores with a knee to the head.
Kuznetsov looking to stall.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Garcia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuznetsov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Garcia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuznetsov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Garcia blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Garcia is defending well for now.
Kuznetsov missing with knees to the body.
Garcia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuznetsov smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Garcia moves into range and clinches up with Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Garcia lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kuznetsov or not.
Garcia lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Garcia creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kuznetsov's defenses.
Garcia lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kuznetsov takes an elbow to the temple.
Kuznetsov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Garcia has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Garcia lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Garcia struggles to land a body shot inside as Kuznetsov controls his hands.
A nice left hand lands by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Garcia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mickey Garcia has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznetsov throws an elbow but misses.
Garcia lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Garcia lands an elbow that stopped Kuznetsov in his tracks for a moment.
Alexander Kuznetsov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Garcia lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kuznetsov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Garcia seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kuznetsov can turn it around.
Garcia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Garcia lands an uppercut.
Garcia lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Garcia lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
A right hand to the body from Garcia.
Mickey Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A body shot lands from Garcia.
Garcia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Garcia working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Garcia.
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!
Garcia lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Garcia makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Garcia lands an uppercut.
Kuznetsov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Garcia.
Garcia gets through Kuznetsov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia fails to pull guard.
Garcia works on Kuznetsov's body with a couple of short punches.
Garcia lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Garcia jumps guard and drags Kuznetsov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kuznetsov wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Garcia throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kuznetsov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuznetsov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kuznetsov wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Garcia wants to sweep here but Kuznetsov controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuznetsov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Kuznetsov!
Alexander Kuznetsov thanked the fans post fight for their support.
The defeated Mickey Garcia had this to say: 'Can't believe the commission let me fight with Hep C...'.