PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kukuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waldemar Ulrich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ulrich has chosen The Sacred War as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Nikolai Kukuev has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Nikolai Kukuev seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kukuev
vs
Ulrich

198 cm
22
240 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
260 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kukuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Waldemar Ulrich!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kukuev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ulrich is trying to control the position but Kukuev postures up.

Kukuev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ulrich dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ulrich thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kukuev looking for a guillotine here but Ulrich defends easily.

Ulrich drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kukuev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ulrich has Kukuev in his guard.
Ulrich wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulrich is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Kukuev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ulrich manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kukuev has Ulrich in his guard.
Kukuev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ulrich preventing the sweep.
Kukuev keeping full guard, as Ulrich tries to pass.

Ulrich drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kukuev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kukuev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kukuev!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ulrich is looking for a sweep.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kukuev tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ulrich is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kukuev off and has taken his back!
Ulrich is hanging on to Kukuev's back as he tries to escape.

Ulrich looking for the choke but no joy.
Ulrich is not going to allow Kukuev to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulrich tries to get the hooks in deep but Kukuev pushed the leg off.
Kukuev breaks Ulrich's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kukuev trying to control but Ulrich is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kukuev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ulrich manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kukuev has Ulrich in his guard.

Kukuev is looking for a triangle but Ulrich pushes his legs off easily.
Kukuev is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ulrich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukuev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kukuev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ulrich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ulrich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukuev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kukuev can't keep his opponent in guard - Ulrich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kukuev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ulrich pulls his head out easily.
Kukuev tries to roll over but Ulrich keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolai Kukuev will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ulrich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Ulrich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kukuev prevents Ulrich from improving position.
Kukuev is trying to control Ulrich's posture but Ulrich avoids it.

Ulrich looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kukuev can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukuev is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Ulrich is trying to get an arm triangle but Kukuev is defending well.

Ulrich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ulrich is breathing heavily.

Ulrich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kukuev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kukuev wants to control but Ulrich postures up.

That's two 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.

Ulrich tries for a kimura but Kukuev is defending well.
Kukuev wants to control but Ulrich postures up.
Ulrich has control of an arm but Kukuev manages to advance to Ulrich's back!

Ulrich is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Ulrich preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kukuev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulrich breaks Kukuev's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ulrich looking to pass the guard.
Ulrich wants to control from the top but Kukuev keeps moving.
Kukuev keeping full guard, as Ulrich tries to pass.
Ulrich advances position into side control!

Ulrich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kukuev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Ulrich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ulrich working away.

Ulrich tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ulrich has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ulrich working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldemar Ulrich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Ulrich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukuev.
Ulrich shoots and misses

and Kukuev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ulrich's guard.

Kukuev has gone for a leg lock! Ulrich slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kukuev's guard.
Ulrich trying to control but Kukuev is working from the bottom.

Ulrich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ulrich trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukuev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukuev trying to control the position.
Ulrich tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukuev is retaining full guard.

Kukuev is looking for a triangle but Ulrich pushes his legs off easily.

Ulrich drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ulrich jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ulrich is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kukuev drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ulrich working for a triangle but Kukuev defends it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulrich is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Ulrich is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kukuev to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kukuev shrugs it off.
Ulrich avoids the attempt from Kukuev to control.
Kukuev gets back to half guard.

Ulrich 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.

Kukuev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ulrich passes to full mount!
Ulrich avoids the attempt from Kukuev to control.
Nikolai Kukuev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ulrich goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kukuev turns into him and now he's in Ulrich's guard.

Kukuev has gone for a leg lock! Ulrich slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kukuev's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Kukuev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kukuev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Kukuev!