PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikola Kuchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mang Kanor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kuchuk
vs
Kanor

176 cm
24
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
22
132 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikola Kuchuk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mang Kanor!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanor closes the distance and clinches up with Kuchuk, looking for a takedown. Kanor pushes Kuchuk against the cage but Kuchuk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kuchuk really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuchuk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A clash of legs there as Kanor blocks the low kick.
Kanor leaves Kuchuk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kuchuk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuchuk lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuchuk is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kanor controls Kuchuk momentarily but Kuchuk frees himself.
Kanor might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kuchuk haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kuchuk pushes down on Kanor's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kanor wants to control but Kuchuk passes into side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuchuk is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kanor's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kuchuk lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanor prevents Kuchuk from improving position.
A lull in the action here as Kuchuk stalls from top position.
Kuchuk tries to stand but Kanor is controlling his head.
Kuchuk has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kanor is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuchuk is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kanor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kanor is not content to let Kuchuk control the position.
Kuchuk cracks Kanor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kanor is trying to control Kuchuk's posture but Kuchuk avoids it.

Kuchuk tries for a kimura but Kanor is defending well.
Kuchuk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Kuchuk tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kuchuk scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kanor is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kuchuk has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kuchuk tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanor tries to bench press Kuchuk off him but Kuchuk keeps the position.
Kanor is not content to let Kuchuk control the position.
Kuchuk working away.
Kuchuk taking a breather here.
Kanor is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kanor struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikola Kuchuk dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kanor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuchuk circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kuchuk dives in and scores a takedown into Kanor's guard.
Kuchuk looking to pass the guard.
Kuchuk advances to half guard.
Kanor is trying to stand.
Kanor moves into full guard.
Kuchuk scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kuchuk engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikola Kuchuk has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kuchuk fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuchuk takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kanor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kuchuk counters with a single leg into guard. Kanor didn't expect that.
Kuchuk controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kuchuk passes Kanor's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuchuk is thwarting Kanor's attempts to control the position.
Kuchuk is trying to control the action in half guard but Kanor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuchuk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kanor is trying to control but Kuchuk passes into side control!
Kuchuk works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Mikola Kuchuk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuchuk tries to stand but Kanor is controlling his head.

Kuchuk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kanor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Kanor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanor is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Kuchuk is staying active.
Kuchuk wants to stand but Kanor has his arm trapped.
Kuchuk working away.

Kuchuk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuchuk tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikola Kuchuk dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kanor scores with a head kick. Kuchuk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kanor throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kuchuk rushes Kanor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kanor tries to break free but Kuchuk pushes him back against the cage.
Kuchuk has Kanor pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kanor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kanor tries to pull guard but Kuchuk holds him up against the cage and eventually Kanor drops back down to his feet.
Kanor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kuchuk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kanor smiles and moves away.
A combination from Kanor does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kuchuk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kuchuk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kanor is keeping the position for now.
Kuchuk wants to stand but Kanor is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kanor manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuchuk manages to get himself to full guard.
Kanor is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuchuk has wrist control.
Kanor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kanor wants to control from the top but Kuchuk keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuchuk doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Kuchuk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kanor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuchuk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuchuk is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kuchuk bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kanor's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuchuk looking to sit in guard and control but Kanor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kuchuk trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanor postures up in Kuchuk's guard and throws a big left but Kuchuk blocks it.
Kuchuk has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kanor has passed into side control.
Kuchuk is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kanor is controlling him well.
Kanor creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kuchuk sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kuchuk is trying to improve his position.
Kanor working the ground and pound but Kuchuk is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuchuk is looking for a sweep.
Kuchuk trying his best to control but Kanor has mounted him.
Kuchuk is squirming around, avoiding Kanor's attempts to control the action.
Kanor won't let Kuchuk get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuchuk gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kanor prevents Kuchuk from standing back up.
Mang Kanor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mikola Kuchuk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kanor not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikola Kuchuk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kuchuk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikola Kuchuk!