PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karlmann Friedhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vlaimir Cuschenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Cuschenko's choice of entrance music: T.A.T.U - Prostye Dvizhen'ya. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Friedhelm
vs
Cuschenko

170 cm
28
195 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

178 cm
28
192 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Karlmann Friedhelm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vlaimir Cuschenko!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cuschenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cuschenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cuschenko has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Friedhelm's face.
Friedhelm regains half guard.

Friedhelm looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Friedhelm looking for submissions off his back.
Cuschenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Friedhelm is not content to let Cuschenko control the position.
Friedhelm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cuschenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cuschenko wants to take a breather but Friedhelm is having none of it.

Friedhelm looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedhelm is pressing down on Cuschenko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cuschenko stopping the sweep attempt from Friedhelm.
Friedhelm working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cuschenko.
Cuschenko with a nice head shot there.
Cuschenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cuschenko is fighting to break Friedhelm's control of his arms but Friedhelm is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cuschenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cuschenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Friedhelm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friedhelm preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cuschenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Friedhelm looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Friedhelm has momentary wrist control but Cuschenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Cuschenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cuschenko connects with a couple of short punches.
Cuschenko landing with the ground and pound.
Cuschenko postures up and lands a big shot to Friedhelm's brow.

Friedhelm looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Friedhelm throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cuschenko wants to control from the top but Friedhelm keeps moving.

Cuschenko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cuschenko stopping the sweep attempt from Friedhelm.
Cuschenko chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Friedhelm working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cuschenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cuschenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cuschenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cuschenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Cuschenko wants to control from the top but Friedhelm keeps moving.
Cuschenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Friedhelm's head.
Cuschenko won't allow Friedhelm to sweep him here.
Cuschenko chips away with some ground and pound.

Cuschenko drops back looking for a leg! Friedhelm is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Friedhelm manages to kick Cuschenko off! Cuschenko jumps back into Friedhelm's guard.
Cuschenko trying to control but Friedhelm is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuschenko stopping the sweep attempt from Friedhelm.
Friedhelm keeping full guard, as Cuschenko tries to pass.
Friedhelm has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cuschenko trying to control but Friedhelm is working from the bottom.
Cuschenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cuschenko throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlaimir Cuschenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Friedhelm shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cuschenko but Cuschenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Friedhelm shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cuschenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Cuschenko trying to control the action but Friedhelm is working from the bottom.
Friedhelm manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Friedhelm gets full guard.
Cuschenko working some strikes from top position.
Cuschenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Friedhelm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friedhelm wants to sweep here but Cuschenko controlling him for the moment.
Cuschenko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Friedhelm trying to keep a closed guard but Cuschenko is proving a slippery customer.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuschenko keeping full guard, as Friedhelm tries to pass.
Cuschenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Friedhelm wants to control from the top but Cuschenko keeps moving.
Friedhelm with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Friedhelm can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cuschenko controls the pace.
Cuschenko postures up in Friedhelm's guard and throws a big left but Friedhelm blocks it.
Cuschenko wants to control from the top but Friedhelm keeps moving.

Friedhelm looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Friedhelm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cuschenko defends well.
Cuschenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Friedhelm's head.

Cuschenko has gone for a leg lock! Friedhelm slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cuschenko's guard.
Friedhelm preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedhelm loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Friedhelm pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cuschenko is keeping the position for now.

Friedhelm 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.
Cuschenko trying to control the position here.
Cuschenko wants to sweep here but Friedhelm controlling him for the moment.
Cuschenko keeping moving, preventing Friedhelm from controlling successfully.
Cuschenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four 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.

Cuschenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Friedhelm trying to control the position from guard on top but Cuschenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Friedhelm drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Friedhelm jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cuschenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Friedhelm is one step ahead there.
Cuschenko is trying to control the position but Friedhelm postures up.
Friedhelm being controlled here momentarily.
Friedhelm engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlaimir Cuschenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cuschenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Friedhelm napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Friedhelm is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Friedhelm wants to get back to full guard.

Friedhelm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Friedhelm slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Friedhelm escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cuschenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cuschenko throwing strikes from guard but Friedhelm blocks nicely.
Cuschenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cuschenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Friedhelm is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Friedhelm looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cuschenko is one step ahead there.
Cuschenko trying to control but Friedhelm is working from the bottom.
Cuschenko scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cuschenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Friedhelm wants to sweep but no luck.
Cuschenko throws and elbow that misses. Friedhelm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cuschenko's guard. Nice move by Friedhelm!
Cuschenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Friedhelm content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Cuschenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Friedhelm manages to get himself to full guard.
Friedhelm keeping moving, preventing Cuschenko from controlling successfully.
Friedhelm wants to sweep here but Cuschenko controlling him for the moment.
Cuschenko throws and elbow that misses. Friedhelm uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cuschenko's guard. Nice move by Friedhelm!
Cuschenko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Friedhelm is controlling him.

Cuschenko is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Friedhelm rolls with it to try and escape but Cuschenko cranks on the arm and Friedhelm is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vlaimir Cuschenko!