PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Denis Domian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volkrav Kusmetov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Domian's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, WTC. Denis Domian has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Domian
vs
Kusmetov

175 cm
20
153 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

150 cm
18
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Denis Domian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Volkrav Kusmetov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kusmetov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Domian quickly recovers to half guard.
Kusmetov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kusmetov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Domian tries to get to full guard but Kusmetov has control of the leg.

Domian is defending against the submission attempts here by Kusmetov.
Kusmetov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kusmetov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Domian trying to hold on to Kusmetov's head to control him but Kusmetov postures up.
Domian tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kusmetov has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kusmetov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Domian is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusmetov controlling from mount.

Domian defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kusmetov.
Kusmetov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Kusmetov working for a guillotine from mount but Domian is in no mood to give up.
Domian really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kusmetov controlling the pace for now.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kusmetov has eaten all the pies!
It looks like Kusmetov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kusmetov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Domian wants to hold on but Kusmetov pushes him away.
Domian is just holding on here. Kusmetov manages to take his back.
Kusmetov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kusmetov working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Domian tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Kusmetov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kusmetov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kusmetov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Domian is desperately trying to improve his position but Kusmetov has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusmetov controlling the pace for now.
Domian is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Kusmetov has taken his back.
Domian rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kusmetov thows a huge punch but Domian dodges it nicely.
Domian wants to control but Kusmetov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kusmetov slips a nice elbow through Domian's hands, connecting with Domian's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusmetov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Domian with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kusmetov is looking for a kimura here.
Kusmetov stalling.
Domian works his way to full guard. Good work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Domian looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kusmetov passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kusmetov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volkrav Kusmetov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Domian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kusmetov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kusmetov.
Domian can't keep his opponent in guard - Kusmetov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Domian wants to get back to his feet.
Kusmetov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Domian defending well though.

Domian looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kusmetov is trying to work for a kimura but Domian is defending well.
Kusmetov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Domian!

Kusmetov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kusmetov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Volkrav Kusmetov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kusmetov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Domian can't escape the position.
Domian is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kusmetov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Domian looks a forlorn figure.
Kusmetov misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Domian is desperately trying to improve his position but Kusmetov has a good base and remains in mount.
Domian is working hard here to advance position.
Kusmetov with good strikes from the mount here!
Domian can't escape the position.
Kusmetov controlling his opponent.
Domian is looking to get to half guard.
Domian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kusmetov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusmetov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Kusmetov is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Kusmetov is working for a guillotine from mount but Domian frees his head quite easily.
Kusmetov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Domian is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kusmetov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kusmetov landing shots from mount.
Kusmetov looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kusmetov is landing with some decent strikes but Domian is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Domian is looking to get to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Domian tries to hold on but Kusmetov pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volkrav Kusmetov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kusmetov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kusmetov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Domian has his takedown stuffed

and Kusmetov counters with a shoot takedown. Domian fights it but they end up in guard.
Kusmetov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Domian is pushing Kusmetov's head away, looking to escape. Kusmetov manages to hold on to the position though.
Domian is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kusmetov off and has taken his back!

Domian is looking for a choke. Kusmetov gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Kusmetov manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kusmetov stays in close to Domian's body and controls the position.

Kusmetov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Domian or perhaps it was just good defense by Kusmetov which made him look bad.
Domian lands a nice looking body shot.

Kusmetov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Still in half guard, Kusmetov seems content to control.
Domian wants to control but Kusmetov is keeping busy.

Domian is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kusmetov pulls his head out easily.
Domian wants to control but Kusmetov is keeping busy.
Kusmetov prevents Domian from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kusmetov stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Volkrav Kusmetov was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Kusmetov clinches up with Domian and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kusmetov manages to pull guard.
Domian looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kusmetov is on top in guard.
Domian will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Domian has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kusmetov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Domian keeping full guard, as Kusmetov tries to pass.
Kusmetov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kusmetov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Domian trying to keep a closed guard but Kusmetov is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kusmetov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Denis Domian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kusmetov controlling from the top position.

Kusmetov drops back looking for a leg! Domian is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Domian manages to kick Kusmetov off! Kusmetov jumps back into Domian's guard.
Kusmetov tries to free his leg and advance position but Domian is retaining full guard.
Domian is trying to control the position but Kusmetov postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Domian had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kusmetov defends it easily.

Domian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Volkrav Kusmetov!