PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akuku Kukula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Shishkhabevov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akuku Kukula could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sergei Shishkhabevov's chin.

Kukula
vs
Shishkhabevov

195 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akuku Kukula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Shishkhabevov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukula shoots in but no luck this time.
Kukula shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shishkhabevov defends it nicely.
Shishkhabevov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kukula avoids it really well and circles away.

Shishkhabevov moves into the clinch.

Kukula manages to break the clinch.

Kukula gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kukula stops a takedown attempt from Shishkhabevov.

Kukula escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kukula shoots and misses
and Shishkhabevov counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akuku Kukula. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shishkhabevov shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice sprawl there from Shishkhabevov as Kukula shoots in.

Shishkhabevov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shishkhabevov looks gassed!
Kukula makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kukula.

Shishkhabevov drops back looking for a leg! Kukula is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kukula manages to kick Shishkhabevov off! Shishkhabevov jumps back into Kukula's guard.
Kukula preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shishkhabevov stops Kukula from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kukula is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shishkhabevov defends well.
Kukula wants to stand but Shishkhabevov is controlling the position.
Kukula is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shishkhabevov postures up in Kukula's guard and throws a big left but Kukula blocks it.
Shishkhabevov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukula is retaining full guard.
Kukula preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shishkhabevov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukula has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shishkhabevov postures up.
Shishkhabevov passes into half guard.
Shishkhabevov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shishkhabevov is trying to control. Kukula wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukula trying to control but Shishkhabevov postures up.
Kukula is looking to get back to is feet but Shishkhabevov passes into side control.

Shishkhabevov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Shishkhabevov landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukula is looking to regain half guard here but Shishkhabevov keeps moving and retains side control.
The referee asks Shishkhabevov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Shishkhabevov prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kukula trying his best to control but Shishkhabevov has mounted him.
Shishkhabevov cracks Kukula with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
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!
Shishkhabevov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kukula?
Shishkhabevov cracks Kukula with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kukula really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shishkhabevov looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kukula defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Shishkhabevov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Shishkhabevov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shishkhabevov looking to score a takedown here. Kukula is defending well but Shishkhabevov drives through and ends up in Kukula's guard.
Shishkhabevov controlling from the top position.
Shishkhabevov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kukula trying to control the position.
Kukula thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Shishkhabevov stopping the sweep attempt from Kukula.
Shishkhabevov lands a couple of elbows.
Shishkhabevov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shishkhabevov postures up.
Shishkhabevov advances to half guard.
Shishkhabevov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Shishkhabevov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kukula is just riding it out for now. Shishkhabevov eventually gives up the hold.
Kukula wants to control but Shishkhabevov is keeping busy.
Shishkhabevov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukula is trying to control but can't.
Kukula is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kukula wants to get back to full guard.
Kukula trying to control but Shishkhabevov postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Akuku Kukula.

Shishkhabevov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kukula to the mat! Kukula manages to get full guard.
Shishkhabevov trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kukula manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukula trying to control the position from guard on top but Shishkhabevov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shishkhabevov trying to keep a closed guard but Kukula is proving a slippery customer.
Shishkhabevov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shishkhabevov with shots to the head and body - Kukula looks very uncomfortable down there.
Shishkhabevov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukula tries to reverse the position but Shishkhabevov maintains control.
Shishkhabevov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kukula is trying desperately to improve position.
Shishkhabevov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shishkhabevov punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shishkhabevov goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kukula is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shishkhabevov looking for subs off his back but Kukula has passed one foot through into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Shishkhabevov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shishkhabevov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kukula misses with a double jab.
Kukula misses with a takedown attempt - Shishkhabevov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shishkhabevov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kukula sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shishkhabevov somewhat.
Kukula scores with a jab to the body.
Shishkhabevov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukula misses with a takedown attempt - Shishkhabevov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kukula is defended easily by Shishkhabevov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akuku Kukula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukula swinging wildly here.
Kukula shoots in for a takedown but Shishkhabevov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shishkhabevov throws a chopping leg kick but Kukula manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Kukula. No joy for Shishkhabevov on that attempt.
Shishkhabevov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukula swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Akuku Kukula is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukula shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shishkhabevov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kukula's guard.
Kukula working a defensive guard here.
Kukula is trying to hold Shishkhabevov in close to prevent damage but Shishkhabevov has managed to pass into half guard.
Shishkhabevov is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukula is in trouble now - Shishkhabevov has advanced to mount!
Kukula keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shishkhabevov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shishkhabevov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Shishkhabevov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shishkhabevov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kukula keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kukula in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Akuku Kukula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sergei Shishkhabevov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee warns Kukula that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Shishkhabevov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shishkhabevov 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Shishkhabevov!