PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Payette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Kuchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Payette
vs
Kuchenko

187 cm
24
274 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

200 cm
23
262 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andre Payette!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kuchenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuchenko tries to clinch there but Payette circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuchenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuchenko wants to clinch.
Payette wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Payette circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuchenko wants to clinch.
Ivan Kuchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Payette.
Kuchenko slips a straight right by Payette.
Kuchenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Payette paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A slow jab from Payette misses its intended target.
Payette takes a swing at Kuchenko's ribcage but misses.
Kuchenko slips a straight right by Payette.
Payette thows a left - swing and a miss!
Payette lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Ivan Kuchenko has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuchenko tries to clinch but Payette moves out of range.
Kuchenko wants to clinch up but Payette keeps it at a distance.
Payette throws a hook but Kuchenko blocks it.
Kuchenko is looking to clinch.
Payette misses the shot to the body.
Payette is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kuchenko's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Kuchenko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Payette to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Payette is pushing down on Kuchenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kuchenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Payette has managed to sneak the leg through.
Payette looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kuchenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Payette is working away from the top position though.
Payette stalling.
Payette seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuchenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Payette winds up and cracks Kuchenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kuchenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Payette.
Payette has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Payette is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kuchenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Payette wants to take a breather but Kuchenko is having none of it.
Kuchenko is trying to control but can't.
Payette lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Payette sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuchenko defending well though.
Payette content to control rather than advance.
Payette prevents Kuchenko from improving his position.
Payette sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuchenko defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuchenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Payette is looking to take a break and control but Kuchenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Payette throwing shots but Kuchenko is blocking nicely.
Kuchenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kuchenko is refusing to be controlled, as Payette sits in half guard.
Well, if Payette is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Payette sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuchenko defending well though.
Payette is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Payette throwing shots but Kuchenko is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuchenko wants to get back to full guard.
Payette is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Payette missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Payette is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kuchenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Payette.
Kuchenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuchenko controls Payette momentarily but Payette frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Payette dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Kuchenko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Payette cracks Kuchenko with an open hand slap.
A swing and a miss from Payette.
Kuchenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuchenko misses with a kick to the body.
Payette keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuchenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuchenko tries to clinch up but Payette circles away and keeps his distance.
Payette throws a series of punches but Kuchenko moves out of range.
Kuchenko lands with an uppercut that bounces Payette off the ropes and back into rage.
Payette misses with a looping right.

Payette throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Kuchenko tumbling to the canvas!

Kuchenko is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Payette gets to his feet and stands over Kuchenko, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Kuchenko felt that one! Payette unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Kuchenko from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andre Payette!