PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Kukushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matija Gubec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matija Gubec will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kukushkin
vs
Gubec

191 cm
20
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Kukushkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matija Gubec!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukushkin fails with a takedown attempt.
Kukushkin shoots for a takedown but Gubec saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kukushkin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Kukushkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukushkin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gubec misses with a takedown attempt

and Kukushkin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gubec won't be happy with that.
Kukushkin prevents Gubec from escaping the position.
Kukushkin misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Gubec is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kukushkin is controlling him well.

Kukushkin stands up and beckons Gubec to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukushkin feints and as Gubec raises his hands in defense, Kukushkin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kukushkin lands a couple of elbows.
Kukushkin wants to control from the top but Gubec keeps moving.
Kukushkin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gubec trying to control the position.
Kukushkin wants to control from the top but Gubec keeps moving.
Gubec preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kukushkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gubec swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin is stalling in the full guard.
Kukushkin throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kukushkin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kukushkin is just content to waste time from the top position. Gubec takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kukushkin stands and steps away. Gubec gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kukushkin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gubec napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kukushkin is breathing heavily.
Kukushkin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gubec is avoiding damage well.
Kukushkin tries to score with some ground and pound. Gubec controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Gubec is trying to buck Kukushkin off.
Kukushkin trying to control the action but Gubec is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kukushkin grinds an elbow into Gubec's temple.
Kukushkin cracks Gubec with a big elbow.
Kukushkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gubec keeps working.
Kukushkin lands a decent elbow from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kukushkin has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Kukushkin gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kukushkin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukushkin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gubec napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Kukushkin.
Gubec wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kukushkin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gubec is avoiding damage well.
Kukushkin trying to control the action but Gubec is working from the bottom.
Gubec defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Gubec is breathing heavily.
Gubec takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kukushkin cracks Gubec with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Gubec is trying to buck Kukushkin off.
Kukushkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gubec keeps working.
Gubec is trying to escape the position but Kukushkin is controlling the position.
Gubec on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Gubec is pushing Kukushkin's head away, looking to escape. Kukushkin manages to hold on to the position though.
Kukushkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gubec keeps working.
Gubec takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Kukushkin decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin avoids the head kick by Gubec.

Gubec gets caught flat footed, as Kukushkin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kukushkin trying to control but Gubec is working from the bottom.

Kukushkin gets to his feet. Gubec looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Kukushkin scores with a takedown into Gubec's guard.
Kukushkin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kukushkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gubec is keeping the position for now.
Gubec working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kukushkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kukushkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gubec is keeping the position for now.
Kukushkin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kukushkin is working Gubec over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kukushkin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kukushkin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gubec was covering up waiting for the punch and Kukushkin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kukushkin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kukushkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kukushkin trying to control but Gubec is working from the bottom.
Kukushkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukushkin trying to control but Gubec is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukushkin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukushkin won't allow Gubec to sweep him here.

Kukushkin stands and steps away. Gubec gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gubec keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gubec throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukushkin avoids the head kick by Gubec.

Kukushkin scores a takedown into full mount!
A nice elbow there by Kukushkin.
Kukushkin controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin breaks from Gubec's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kukushkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gubec is looking to escape.
Kukushkin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kukushkin working the ground and pound effectively.
Kukushkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin landing strikes from the mount and Gubec is in trouble!
Kukushkin lands with some strikes.
Alex Kukushkin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kukushkin landing strikes from the mount and Gubec is in trouble!
Gubec is squirming around, avoiding Kukushkin's attempts to control the action.
Kukushkin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gubec can do to turn this around?
Kukushkin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gubec is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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

Kukushkin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukushkin decides to stand back up. Kukushkin steps back and let's Gubec get back to his feet.

Kukushkin feints and as Gubec raises his hands in defense, Kukushkin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gubec has his hands on Kukushkin's head, controlling the position.
Kukushkin won't allow Gubec to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matija Gubec has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alex Kukushkin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kukushkin wants to control from the top but Gubec keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Kukushkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kukushkin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Kukushkin!