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WP 104 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 65 wins and 42 losses; Vasiliy Kulik! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 52 wins and 70 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Kulik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Balkan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Balkan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kulik as he avoids it easily.
Kulik changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kulik drives through and clinches with Balkan against the cage.
Kulik is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Balkan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kulik is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Vasiliy Kulik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boris Balkan.
Balkan looking for a takedown.
Balkan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kulik after a bit of a struggle.
Kulik has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Balkan uses from the top position.
Balkan is fighting to break Kulik's control of his arms but Kulik is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Balkan wants to pass the guard but Kulik is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulik looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kulik is keeping the position for now.
Kulik wants to sweep here but Balkan controlling him for the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Kulik keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kulik looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balkan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kulik controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Kulik (0) vs (3) Balkan
Kulik looking for a sweep but Balkan has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Kulik (0) vs (5) Balkan
Balkan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Balkan with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Kulik wants to hold on but Balkan pushes him away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulik can't escape the position.
Balkan trying to control but Kulik is having none of it.
Balkan moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kulik has worked his arm free - good work by Kulik!
Kulik being controlled for a moment.
Kulik gets back to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kulik has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Kulik trying to control but Balkan postures up.
Balkan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kulik is looking for a sweep. Balkan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control but Kulik is keeping him busy.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kulik is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Balkan is trying to control. Kulik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kulik wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy.
Kulik tries to get to full guard but Balkan has control of the leg.
Balkan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control but Kulik is keeping him busy.
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.
Balkan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kulik defends it well.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kulik keeps working.
Kulik is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balkan controlling the action here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik gets full guard.
Kulik keeping full guard, as Balkan tries to pass.
Kulik is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kulik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kulik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kulik lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kulik (2) vs (5) Balkan
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
Kulik wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan looking to control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kulik advances to half guard.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan is staying active underneath Kulik, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balkan is looking to control Kulik's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balkan avoid being mounted?
Kulik looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Balkan wants to control but Kulik is keeping busy.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard.
Balkan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kulik 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.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is still trying to improve position.
Kulik showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kulik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balkan wants to sweep here but Kulik controlling him for the moment.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik postures up.
Kulik content to stall in guard here.
Balkan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kulik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to control but Kulik passes into half guard.
Balkan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kulik controlling from the top position.
Kulik wants to pass the guard but Balkan is keeping the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan wins on points by 5 to 2.
After winning the bout, Boris Balkan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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