PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Larry Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Kukushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bishop comes to the cage accompanied by Skatalites - James Bond. Kukushkin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kukushka kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bishop
vs
Kukushkin

201 cm
24
256 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

191 cm
22
230 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Larry Bishop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Kukushkin!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Kukushkin does it's job there.
Bishop closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kukushkin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Kukushkin misses.

Kukushkin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bishop is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kukushkin defends well.
Kukushkin throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.
Kukushkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bishop is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukushkin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kukushkin wants to control from the top but Bishop keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bishop wants to get back to his feet but Kukushkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kukushkin looking to sit in guard and control but Bishop gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bishop wants to stand but Kukushkin is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kukushkin wants to stand but Bishop is controlling the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bishop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukushkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bishop uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kukushkin has time to react.

It looks like Alex Kukushkin has been cut.
Kukushkin slips a jab and a cross from Bishop.
Nice body punch from Kukushkin.
Bishop moves out of range as Kukushkin strikes.
Bishop shoots and misses

and Kukushkin counters with a single leg into guard. Bishop didn't expect that.
Bishop is breathing heavily.
Kukushkin lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin thows a big elbow that misses.
Bishop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kukushkin postures up and lands a big shot to Bishop's brow.
Bishop working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kukushkin.
Kukushkin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bishop manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kukushkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bishop is controlling him.

Kukushkin uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop shoots and misses

and Kukushkin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bishop!
Kukushkin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kukushkin landing shots from mount.
Kukushkin scoring with strikes but Bishop is staying in there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukushkin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bishop in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kukushkin controlling the pace for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kukushkin wants to control the pace but Bishop is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kukushkin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Kukushkin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bishop digs a good body shot into Kukushkin's ribs.
Kukushkin scores with a one two! Bishop had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bishop slips a jab and a cross from Kukushkin.
Bishop has his takedown stuffed

and Kukushkin counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kukushkin swings around for an armbar but Bishop sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kukushkin's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kukushkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kukushkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bishop is controlling him.
Bishop trying to control but Kukushkin is working from the bottom.
Kukushkin wants to get back to his feet but Bishop is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bishop trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukushkin scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Kukushkin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kukushkin showed some decent athleticism there.
Kukushkin is breathing heavily.
Bishop keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bishop taking some punishment here, with Kukushkin in his half guard.
Kukushkin is looking to pass Bishop's guard but actually Bishop recovers to full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop trying to control the position but Kukushkin is working away.

Bishop is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kukushkin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kukushkin tries to escape but Bishop is in control.

Bishop is trying to get an arm triangle but Kukushkin is defending well.
Bishop tries to move to mount but Kukushkin blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukushkin sneaks out the side door and pushes Bishop away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Bishop scores with a jab to the body.

Kukushkin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Bishop pushes Kukushkin off and gets back to his feet.
Kukushkin moves forwards but Bishop connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kukushkin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bishop manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kukushkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bishop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kukushkin throws and elbow that misses. Bishop uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kukushkin's guard. Nice move by Bishop!

Bishop gets to his feet - Kukushkin follows without any prompting.
Kukushkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kukushkin with a nice cross.
Bishop shoots in but Kukushkin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice cross by Kukushkin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kukushkin shoots in and bounces Bishop off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kukushkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Bishop is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Kukushkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alex Kukushkin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kukushkin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bishop.

Bishop moves into the clinch.
Kukushkin has had enough of the clinch but Bishop keeps him there for the moment.

Bishop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bishop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kukushkin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kukushkin wants to control but Bishop is keeping him busy.
Kukushkin happy to just control the position for now.
Kukushkin throwing strikes but Bishop manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Bishop tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukushkin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bishop is looking to take a break and control but Kukushkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bishop misses with a wild combination.

That's two 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.
Kukushkin stuffs the takedown attempt from Bishop. Bishop gets slowly back to his feet.
Larry Bishop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bishop keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukushkin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kukushkin!

It looks like Larry Bishop has been cut.
A punch combination from Kukushkin misses.
Kukushkin throws a nice looking combination but Bishop bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bishop gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Kukushkin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Alex Kukushkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kukushkin wants to stand but Bishop has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kukushkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kukushkin scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukushkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bishop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kukushkin is in close to Bishop's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kukushkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bishop works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kukushkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bishop keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Kukushkin looking to pass the guard.
Kukushkin throwing strikes from guard but Bishop blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bishop bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bishop misses with an uppercut. Kukushkin saw that one coming.

Bishop shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kukushkin is trying to defend but Bishop finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Kukushkin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice cross by Kukushkin.

Kukushkin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bishop is looking to stand up but Kukushkin isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kukushkin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Larry Bishop 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 Bishop keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Kukushkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kukushkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

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