PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kofi Amankwah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Kuznecov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kuznecov
vs
Amankwah

178 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yuri Kuznecov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kofi Amankwah!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznecov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Amankwah.
Kuznecov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuznecov leaves Amankwah with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kuznecov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Amankwah moves into the clinch.
Amankwah tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuznecov smiles and moves away.
Yuri Kuznecov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kofi Amankwah.
Kuznecov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Amankwah counters with a big head kick but Kuznecov shrugs it off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kuznecov is defended easily by Amankwah.
Amankwah tries to clinch up but Kuznecov circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kuznecov moves into the clinch.
Kuznecov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Amankwah smiles and moves away.
Amankwah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kofi Amankwah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuznecov pushes Amankwah up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuznecov is trying to break the clinch but Amankwah has him pressed against the cage.
Kuznecov jumps guard but Amankwah stands there with Kuznecov around his waist. Kuznecov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Amankwah has clasped his hands together around Kuznecov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Amankwah wants to control but Kuznecov is keeping him busy.
Kuznecov tries to improve position but can't.
Kuznecov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Amankwah on the ground.
Kuznecov can't do much from the bottom here.
Amankwah looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah wants to control but Kuznecov is keeping him busy.
Amankwah happy to just control the position for now.
Kuznecov is looking to reverse the position.
Amankwah tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Amankwah scores with a couple of short elbows.

Amankwah is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kuznecov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah staying calm.
Kuznecov tries to improve position but can't.
Kuznecov trying to remain calm as Amankwah controls from the top position.
Kuznecov pushes Amankwah away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Amankwah gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Amankwah is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuznecov is defending well.
Amankwah trying to control the action but Kuznecov is working from the bottom.
Kuznecov dodges the ground and pound from Amankwah.
You can see the frustration on Kuznecov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Amankwah goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kuznecov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Amankwah but great work by Kuznecov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Amankwah wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kofi Amankwah dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Amankwah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuznecov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Amankwah wants to clinch up but Kuznecov keeps it at a distance.

Amankwah looking to score a takedown here. Kuznecov is defending well but Amankwah drives through and ends up in Kuznecov's guard.
Kuznecov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Amankwah trying to control but Kuznecov is working from the bottom.
Kuznecov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Amankwah is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amankwah trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznecov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuznecov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuznecov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Amankwah's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuznecov keeping moving, preventing Amankwah from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amankwah throws a right and a left that Kuznecov avoids nicely.
Kuznecov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Amankwah tries to land a leg kick but Kuznecov saw it coming and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Kuznecov has closed the distance and engaged Amankwah in a clinch.
Amankwah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Amankwah gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuznecov has a closed guard, preventing Amankwah from standing up.
Amankwah won't allow Kuznecov to get back to his feet.
Kuznecov wants to sweep here but Amankwah controlling him for the moment.
Kuznecov pulls Amankwah in close to prevent any damage.
Amankwah controlling from the top position.
Amankwah trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah distracts Kuznecov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Amankwah trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuznecov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Amankwah tries to clinch but Kuznecov is having none of it.
Kuznecov fails to land with a series of punches.
Amankwah blocks a head kick by Kuznecov.

Kuznecov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Amankwah tries to score a body lock takedown but Kuznecov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Amankwah trying to land knees to the body.
Amankwah letting Kuznecov take a breather here.
Kuznecov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Amankwah smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah wants to clinch.
Kuznecov shoots in looking for a takedown but Amankwah manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuznecov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kuznecov moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kuznecov tries to score a body lock takedown but Amankwah shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Kuznecov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuznecov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Amankwah is trying to pull guard but Kuznecov has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kofi Amankwah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuznecov gets a clinch.

Amankwah has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kuznecov is trying to keep an underhook but Amankwah manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kuznecov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Amankwah seems content to control.
Amankwah has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Amankwah working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Amankwah wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuznecov keeps working.
Kuznecov is trying to maintain the position but Amankwah is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amankwah wants to free his trapped foot but Kuznecov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kuznecov is looking to control Amankwah's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kuznecov avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Amankwah is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Amankwah is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kuznecov is just riding it out for now. Amankwah eventually gives up the hold.
Kuznecov is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Amankwah controlling the action here.
Amankwah tries to stand and escape but Kuznecov is controlling the position.
Amankwah prevents Kuznecov from standing back up.
Amankwah seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuznecov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kuznecov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Amankwah scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuznecov wants to get back to full guard but Amankwah has mounted him!
Kuznecov is trying to escape the mount.
Amankwah lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kuznecov hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah breaks from Kuznecov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Amankwah trying to control but Kuznecov is having none of it.
Kuznecov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Amankwah lands with some strikes.
Amankwah trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Amankwah connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amankwah punishing his opponent with strikes.
Amankwah with shots to the head and body - Kuznecov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kuznecov taking shots to the head.
Amankwah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Amankwah is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kuznecov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kuznecov shrugs it off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kofi Amankwah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Amankwah 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 David Hoff scores the fight 26:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kofi Amankwah!