PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stanko Velilkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Kukuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velilkov
vs
Kukuev

200 cm
25
249 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

198 cm
27
240 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stanko Velilkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kukuev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velilkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kukuev is trying to defend but Velilkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kukuev is looking to control Velilkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kukuev avoid being mounted?

Kukuev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kukuev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kukuev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velilkov is working away from the top position though.
Velilkov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velilkov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kukuev for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Stanko Velilkov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Velilkov lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kukuev enables Velilkov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kukuev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kukuev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kukuev being controlled here, momentarily.
Velilkov wants to pass the guard but Kukuev is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev is trying to keep Velilkov in close.
Velilkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stanko Velilkov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kukuev fails with the takedown

and Velilkov counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lull in the action here.
Velilkov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kukuev wants to control but Velilkov postures up.
Kukuev is letting Velilkov control him for a moment.
Kukuev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Velilkov off and has taken his back!
Velilkov trying to control the position but Kukuev manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velilkov is trying to get back to his feet but Kukuev has full control of the position and if anything, Velilkov has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Velilkov manages to stand up with Kukuev still on his back. Eventually Kukuev drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

Kukuev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Velilkov kicks Kukuev off and gets back to his feet.

Kukuev gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Velilkov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kukuev is trying to keep Velilkov in close.

Kukuev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kukuev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Velilkov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukuev has his foot on Velilkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Velilkov works his way back into a safe position though.
Kukuev looking for a sweep. Not yet Kukuev, not yet.
Velilkov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Velilkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kukuev is trying to control the position but Velilkov postures up.

Kukuev is looking for a triangle but Velilkov pushes his legs off easily.
Velilkov content to stall in guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stanko Velilkov.
Velilkov connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanko Velilkov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Velilkov scores a takedown into full mount!
Velilkov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kukuev is trying to escape the mount.
Kukuev wants to control but Velilkov is having none of it.
Kukuev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velilkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stanko Velilkov just wasn't active enough.
Kukuev tries for a takedown but Velilkov circles away easily
and Velilkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Velilkov misses with a wild body shot.
Kukuev fails to land the takedown.
Kukuev tries for a takedown but Velilkov circles away easily

and Velilkov counters with a single leg into guard. Kukuev didn't expect that.
Stanko Velilkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Kukuev.
Velilkov content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velilkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kukuev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Velilkov has managed to get both his arms back between Kukuev's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukuev has his hands on Velilkov's head, controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kukuev working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Velilkov has passed into half guard!
Still in half guard, Velilkov seems content to control.

Kukuev actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velilkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Velilkov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kukuev!
Velilkov controlling from the full mount.
Velilkov looking to control but Kukuev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kukuev is trying desperately to improve position.
Kukuev is squirming around, avoiding Velilkov's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kukuev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Still in half guard, Velilkov seems content to control.
Velilkov is keen to just control but Kukuev is a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because Stanko Velilkov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Velilkov clinches.

Velilkov successfully pulls guard.
Velilkov wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velilkov keeping moving, preventing Kukuev from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Kukuev is looking for a triangle but Velilkov pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanko Velilkov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Velilkov scores a takedown into full mount!
Velilkov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kukuev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Velilkov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kukuev?
Kukuev is looking to improve his position but Velilkov isn't that keen on the idea.
Velilkov avoids the attempt from Kukuev to control.
Velilkov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukuev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velilkov tries to control but Kukuev wriggling away.
Velilkov avoids the attempt from Kukuev to control.
Velilkov controlling his opponent.
Velilkov prevents Kukuev from getting the reversal.
Velilkov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Velilkov controlling from the full mount.
Velilkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Velilkov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kukuev tries to hold on but Velilkov pushes him away.
Velilkov controlling from the full mount.

Stanko Velilkov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Velilkov drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kukuev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Velilkov sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kukuev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velilkov slips nicely into half guard.
Stanko Velilkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kukuev is trying to control but can't.

Kukuev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Velilkov pulls his head out easily.
Velilkov is trying to control the action in half guard but Kukuev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Velilkov is controlling the pace.

Kukuev looking for submissions off his back.
Nikolai Kukuev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Still in half guard, Velilkov seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukuev looking for submissions off his back.

Kukuev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Velilkov controlling the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stanko Velilkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stanko Velilkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velilkov 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stanko Velilkov!