PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesse McGulloch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Potapenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexey Potapenko acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

McGulloch
vs
Potapenko

200 cm
25
290 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
260 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jesse McGulloch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Potapenko!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGulloch uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Alexey Potapenko has been cut.
McGulloch connects with a crisp jab.
McGulloch pivots, looking for a leg kick but Potapenko is out of range and McGulloch settles back down.
Potapenko lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from McGulloch - that will leave a mark!
McGulloch catches Potapenko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McGulloch fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Potapenko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McGulloch throws a hook but Potapenko avoids it easily.
Potapenko with the counter takedown but McGulloch avoids it easily.
McGulloch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Potapenko manages to avoid it.
McGulloch throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Potapenko replies with a solid counter kick to the body but McGulloch blocks it well.
McGulloch lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Potapenko ducks under a wild hook from McGulloch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An inside leg kick lands from McGulloch.
Potapenko ducks under a wild hook from McGulloch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGulloch stuffs the takedown.

Potapenko shoots in and gets a takedown into McGulloch's guard.
McGulloch wants to stand but Potapenko is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Potapenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McGulloch wants to get back to his feet but Potapenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Potapenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Potapenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Potapenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGulloch is keeping the position for now.
McGulloch wants to stand up but Potapenko is controlling him.
Potapenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potapenko being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Potapenko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
McGulloch misses with a kick to the body

and Potapenko counters with a shoot takedown. McGulloch fights it but they end up in guard.

McGulloch manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

McGulloch breaks the clinch.
McGulloch misses with a right hand
and Potapenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McGulloch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Potapenko manages to avoid it.
McGulloch seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
McGulloch throws a lazy uppercut
and Potapenko counters with a stiff right hand.
McGulloch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGulloch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Potapenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McGulloch throws a lazy head kick
and Potapenko counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Potapenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Potapenko drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McGulloch defends it well.
Nice takedown defense from McGulloch. No joy for Potapenko on that attempt.
McGulloch lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Potapenko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McGulloch quickly recovers to half guard.
Potapenko thows a huge punch but McGulloch dodges it nicely.
McGulloch tries to kick Potapenko off but Potapenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McGulloch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Potapenko.
McGulloch is trying to stand back up but Potapenko is controlling him
Potapenko thows a huge punch but McGulloch dodges it nicely.
Potapenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but McGulloch keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGulloch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Potapenko.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Potapenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Potapenko throwing shots but McGulloch is blocking nicely.
McGulloch is looking for a sweep. Potapenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potapenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McGulloch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. McGulloch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McGulloch wants to stand and escape but Potapenko is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potapenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGulloch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Potapenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McGulloch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Potapenko is looking for the big counter here.
McGulloch throws a combination that misses

and Potapenko counters with a single leg into guard. McGulloch didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse McGulloch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Potapenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A shot to the body from McGulloch misses
and Potapenko counters with a left and a right that stings McGulloch.
McGulloch connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Potapenko's hands.
McGulloch lands a nice hook to Potapenko's body. Potapenko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
McGulloch throws a head kick that misses.
Potapenko wants to counter the offense by McGulloch and move into the clinch position.
McGulloch misses with an uppercut. Potapenko saw that one coming.
Potapenko changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McGulloch throws a left and a right that both miss

and Potapenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McGulloch keeping moving, preventing Potapenko from controlling successfully.
McGulloch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Potapenko is looking to work some ground and pound but McGulloch has wrist control.
Potapenko trying to control the position from guard on top but McGulloch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGulloch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Potapenko stands and steps away. McGulloch gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McGulloch misses with an uppercut
and Potapenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Potapenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jesse McGulloch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McGulloch throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Potapenko's head.
McGulloch is looking to land body kicks.
Potapenko feints the counter takedown.
McGulloch misses with a kick to the body.
Potapenko throws a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potapenko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McGulloch misses with the body kick

and Potapenko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Potapenko throws a strike but McGulloch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Potapenko wants to get back to his feet but McGulloch is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McGulloch wants to control from the top but Potapenko keeps moving.

Potapenko has his feet on McGulloch's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McGulloch misses with a kick to the body
and Potapenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Potapenko with a poor takedown
and McGulloch counters with a head kick that wobbles Potapenko - left then right he sways and one more bomb from McGulloch sends him down. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jesse McGulloch!
Jesse McGulloch is the new heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Jesse McGulloch thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.