PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kukuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Golden Boy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Golden Boy has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kukuev
vs
Boy

198 cm
24
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
264 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 6 - 3 - 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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Golden Boy!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukuev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kukuev drives through with a takedown into guard.

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

Kukuev drops back looking for a leg! Boy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Boy manages to kick Kukuev off! Kukuev jumps back into Boy's guard.
Kukuev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Boy looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kukuev looking to pass the guard.

Kukuev drops back looking for a leg! Boy is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Boy manages to kick Kukuev off! Kukuev jumps back into Boy's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Boy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kukuev 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 fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boy is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kukuev defends well.

Kukuev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boy has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kukuev has managed to get both his arms back between Boy's legs - danger averted.

Kukuev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kukuev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kukuev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Boy is keeping the position for now.

Boy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kukuev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Boy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kukuev pushes down on Boy's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kukuev wants to work for an arm triangle but Boy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kukuev 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 seems to be looking for submissions.

Boy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boy slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Boy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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

Kukuev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Boy, who protects the arm well.
Boy tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kukuev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Boy is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukuev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kukuev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boy is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kukuev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kukuev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Boy tries to buck Kukuev off but Kukuev is having none of it.

Kukuev is trying to get an arm triangle but Boy is defending well.
Boy is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kukuev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Boy checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nikolai Kukuev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kukuev scores with a takedown into Boy's guard.

Kukuev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kukuev passes into half guard.

Kukuev wants to work for an arm triangle but Boy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Boy looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kukuev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Boy defends it well.

Kukuev seems to be looking for submissions.

Kukuev is working for a kimura but Boy is defending it quite comfortably.

Boy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boy looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Boy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kukuev pulls his head out easily.

Kukuev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boy is just riding it out for now. Kukuev eventually gives up the hold.

Kukuev in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Boy tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Kukuev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Nikolai Kukuev!