PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Boris Medvedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akuku Kukula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akuku Kukula is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Medvedev
vs
Kukula

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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, Boris Medvedev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Akuku Kukula!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Medvedev shoots in for a takedown but Kukula shows good takedown defense.
Kukula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Medvedev has Kukula up against the cage in a clinch.
Medvedev tries to break free but Kukula pushes him back against the cage.

Kukula manages to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kukula controls Medvedev momentarily but Medvedev frees himself.
Medvedev wants to control from the top but Kukula keeps moving.
Medvedev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukula 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.

Kukula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Medvedev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukula has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Medvedev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kukula is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Medvedev stands up from Kukula's guard - Medvedev perhaps looking for a knockout.
Medvedev shoots in looking for a takedown. Kukula tries to sprawl out of it but Medvedev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kukula manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukula tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Medvedev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kukula shoots in and drives through. Medvedev sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukula tries to clinch but Medvedev is having none of it.
Kukula fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kukula shoots for a double leg takedown but Medvedev sprawls well. He's pushed Kukula's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Boris Medvedev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akuku Kukula.
Medvedev moves in looking to clinch but Kukula pushes him off.
Kukula tries to clinch up but Medvedev circles away and keeps his distance.
Medvedev shoots in for a takedown but Kukula shows good takedown defense.
Medvedev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kukula swivels and escapes.
Kukula fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kukula looks gassed!
Kukula fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev fails with a takedown attempt.
Medvedev shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukula sprawls well. He's pushed Medvedev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Medvedev rushes Kukula and presses him up against the cage.
Kukula gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Medvedev.
Medvedev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kukula is keeping busy.
Kukula drops down looking for an ankle pick but Medvedev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kukula tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Medvedev is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukula doesn't manage to clinch there - Medvedev circles away.
Kukula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Medvedev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kukula sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Medvedev somewhat.
Kukula changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Medvedev tries to avoid it but Kukula manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Medvedev to the ground. Medvedev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kukula fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Medvedev, pushing him back against the cage.

Kukula pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Akuku Kukula will probably get the nod.
That's time! Medvedev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kukula fails with the takedown.
Kukula fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Medvedev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kukula blocks a head kick by Medvedev.

Kukula shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kukula throwing shots but Medvedev is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukula trying to mount his opponent but Medvedev defends it.
Medvedev has a hand on Kukula's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kukula takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Kukula stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Medvedev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kukula's waist but Kukula gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Medvedev off to one side.
Medvedev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Medvedev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Medvedev. No joy for Kukula on that attempt.
Kukula tries to score a power double leg takedown but Medvedev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kukula somewhat.
Kukula fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev tries to clinch but Kukula is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Medvedev.
Kukula shoots in for a takedown but Medvedev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Medvedev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kukula defends it nicely.
Kukula tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Medvedev swivels and escapes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kukula, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev darts in trying to clinch
and Kukula counters with a nice leg kick.
Medvedev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kukula was well out of range. Poor timing from Medvedev.
Akuku Kukula seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kukula shoots for a takedown but Medvedev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Medvedev scores with a leg kick.
Kukula avoids a kick to the body.
Kukula shoots for a double leg takedown but Medvedev sprawls well. He's pushed Kukula's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Medvedev misses with a takedown attempt - Kukula sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Medvedev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukula swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukula shoots in looking for a takedown but Medvedev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kukula's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck for Medvedev with that takedown attempt.
Medvedev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kukula but Kukula pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kukula clinches up with Medvedev and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kukula breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Medvedev fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Medvedev as Kukula shoots in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akuku Kukula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kukula throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Medvedev's waist but Medvedev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kukula off to one side.
Medvedev lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kukula fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kukula stuffs the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Medvedev. No joy for Kukula on that attempt.
Boris Medvedev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akuku Kukula.

Medvedev has closed the distance and engaged Kukula in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kukula as Medvedev tries to tie him up.
Medvedev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kukula drops down looking for an ankle pick but Medvedev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Medvedev fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kukula, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medvedev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kukula tries to break the clinch but Medvedev is controlling the position.
Medvedev tries to pull guard but Kukula won't allow it.

Medvedev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kukula throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kukula slips a jab and a cross from Medvedev.
Medvedev shoots in looking for a takedown. Kukula tries to sprawl out of it but Medvedev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kukula manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Medvedev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kukula but Kukula pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kukula has managed to clinch.
Kukula drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Medvedev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Medvedev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kukula tries to score a body lock takedown but Medvedev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Medvedev pulls guard successfully.
Medvedev keeping moving, preventing Kukula from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukula slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kukula wants to pass the guard but Medvedev is keeping the position.
Kukula pushing down on Medvedev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Medvedev missing with punches from the bottom.
Kukula seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Medvedev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kukula uses his free foot to push down on Medvedev's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Medvedev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev is desperately trying to improve his position but Kukula has a good base and remains in mount.
Akuku Kukula is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Medvedev tries to lock up and control but Kukula gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Medvedev looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Kukula is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Medvedev manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukula fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Medvedev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kukula has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Akuku Kukula!