PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigory Gukepshev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Lazarus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gukepshev comes to the cage accompanied by Iron Man. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gukepshev
vs
Lazarus

190 cm
25
300 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

200 cm
27
276 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grigory Gukepshev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kirk Lazarus!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lazarus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Gukepshev drops Lazarus with a beautiful combination! Lazarus stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Gukepshev is looking for the KO!

It looks like Kirk Lazarus has been cut.

Lazarus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gukepshev, pushing him back against the cage.
Gukepshev looking to stall.
Lazarus leaning his opponent against the cage.
Gukepshev misses with some punches.
Gukepshev definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gukepshev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Gukepshev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lazarus scores with a kick to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gukepshev misses with a straight left.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A solid body kick from Lazarus.
Lazarus ducks under a wild hook from Gukepshev.
A combination from Gukepshev does no damage.
Lazarus throws a nice inside leg kick.

Lazarus drives through and clinches with Gukepshev against the cage.
Lazarus tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gukepshev avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gukepshev tries to throw a body punch but Lazarus avoids it by throwing Gukepshev back against the cage.
Lazarus crunches a lovely knee into Gukepshev's ribcage.
Gukepshev is breathing heavily.
Lazarus avoiding damage.
Lazarus tries to land knees in the clinch but Gukepshev avoids the damage to the body.
Gukepshev is trying to break the clinch but Lazarus is controlling him.
Lazarus lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gukepshev taking a breather.
Lazarus with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gukepshev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lazarus has Gukepshev pushed against the cage.

Gukepshev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gukepshev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lazarus scores with a leg kick.
Lazarus wants to slow Gukepshev down by chopping away at his legs.
We've been informed that Lazarus has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lazarus. That's going to slow Gukepshev down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus throws a body punch but Gukepshev moves out of range.
Gukepshev fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gukepshev throws an overhand right that lands on Lazarus's shoulder, as Lazarus tries to avoid the shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Gukepshev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Nice defenses there by Lazarus.
Good work by Gukepshev as he checks the leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lazarus thuds a left hand into Gukepshev's body.
Gukepshev checks a leg kick.
Gukepshev throws a body shot but no joy.
Gukepshev loads up on a big right hand but Lazarus slips the punch.
Lazarus flicks out a counter leg kick but Gukepshev steps away.
Lazarus moves out of range of the strikes.
Lazarus ducks under a wild hook from Gukepshev.
Lazarus moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Lazarus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gukepshev.
Gukepshev fails to land with a series of punches.
Lazarus throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gukepshev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lazarus.
Lazarus throws a sloppy head kick and Gukepshev moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gukepshev's sensitive parts.
Lazarus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gukepshev.
A nice combination there by Gukepshev.
Lazarus throws a body shot but no joy.
Gukepshev throws a combination that misses
and Lazarus counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gukepshev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lazarus throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gukepshev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gukepshev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Lazarus.
Gukepshev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lazarus.
Lazarus is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gukepshev rather than just go for the knockout.
Lazarus lands a leg kick that knocks Gukepshev off balance momentarily.
Gukepshev moves out of range of the body kick.
Gukepshev looks to throw the jab but Lazarus is out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Lazarus.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lazarus feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Gukepshev's calf.
Gukepshev throws the left hand but Lazarus avoids the punch easily.
Lazarus lands a nice hook to Gukepshev's body. Gukepshev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Gukepshev is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Lazarus's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gukepshev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lazarus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gukepshev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lazarus is looking to score with low kicks.
Gukepshev lands with a nice body punch.
Lazarus throws a low kick but Gukepshev avoids it.
Lazarus throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lazarus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick from Lazarus misses.
A big left from Gukepshev misses.
Gukepshev backing away here, and Lazarus unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Gukepshev misses with a straight left.

Lazarus clinches.
Lazarus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gukepshev backwards.
Gukepshev misses with a punch to the body.

Gukepshev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gukepshev is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gukepshev connects with a body shot that sends Lazarus's belly button to the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lazarus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gukepshev.
Lazarus looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gukepshev lands with a jab that stuns his opponent. Lazarus is looking to close the distance but Gukepshev sees it coming and throws a beautiful knee! Lazarus crumbles to the mat and that's all she wrote! Let's hope Lazarus is OK because that was naaaaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Grigory Gukepshev!
After winning the bout, Grigory Gukepshev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Kirk Lazarus was interviewed post fight and said 'It's a tough loss for sure. I still want to challenge myself. I call out Knight and his big mouth manager Stu next round. He picks first, so if it doesnt happen, he's a coward.'.