PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pops Maellard (ranked 1628 p4p, 188 weight class) and Alexandr Kuznetsov (ranked 2394 p4p, 255 weight class). Pops Maellard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maellard
vs
Kuznetsov

183 cm
39
178 lbs
25 - 18 - 1

182 cm
38
170 lbs
31 - 25 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Pops Maellard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 25 - 4, fighting out of London, Alexandr Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maellard scores with a jab to the body.
Kuznetsov doesn't manage to clinch there - Maellard circles away.
A slow jab from Maellard misses its intended target.

Kuznetsov clinches.
Maellard lands a shoulder strike.
Kuznetsov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Maellard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Maellard misses with a punch to the body.
Maellard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maellard tries a body shot but Kuznetsov blocks it.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow over the top.
Maellard misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maellard.
Maellard avoids a wild elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
A short uppercut from Maellard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuznetsov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kuznetsov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maellard lands with a left to the head.
Kuznetsov misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kuznetsov.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kuznetsov.
Maellard avoids the elbow strike from Kuznetsov, against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow inside.
A shot in the inside from Maellard.
Kuznetsov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maellard is defending well for now.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maellard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maellard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Maellard misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard digs a right hand underneath Kuznetsov's ribcage. Kuznetsov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Kuznetsov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Maellard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow that misses.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maellard blocks the elbow strike.
Maellard can't find room to land a body shot as Kuznetsov controls the action.
Maellard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maellard.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kuznetsov lands a damaging elbow.
Maellard lands a body punch.
Maellard lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
Maellard misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow strike.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow over the top.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Maellard lands a body shot.
Maellard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike.
A body shot lands from Maellard.
Kuznetsov lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Pops Maellard has been cut.
Kuznetsov misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Maellard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Maellard struggles to land a body shot inside as Kuznetsov controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznetsov throws an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow over the top.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow that misses.
Maellard tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Maellard back against the cage.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov blocks a body shot from Maellard.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maellard takes an elbow to the temple.
Maellard avoids the elbow strike from Kuznetsov, against the cage.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kuznetsov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Kuznetsov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pops Maellard's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuznetsov moves in looking to clinch but Maellard pushes him off.
Kuznetsov wants to clinch up but Maellard keeps it at a distance.
Maellard is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kuznetsov wants to clinch but Maellard slips to the side
and Maellard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kuznetsov clinches up with Maellard and pushes him back against the cage.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maellard tries to work over Kuznetsov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alexandr Kuznetsov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maellard.
Kuznetsov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Maellard blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
I was talking to Maellard's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kuznetsov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Maellard misses with a body punch.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maellard lands with a short shot to the head.
Maellard tries to work over Kuznetsov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Maellard lands a nice uppercut.
Kuznetsov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Maellard avoids the elbow strike from Kuznetsov, against the cage.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maellard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Maellard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov lands a knee to the body.
Maellard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuznetsov blocks an uppercut.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Maellard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuznetsov's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maellard tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Maellard back against the cage.
Kuznetsov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow strike.
Maellard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznetsov throws an elbow but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good body shot from Maellard.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Kuznetsov prevents a body shot from Maellard.
Kuznetsov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Maellard avoids the elbow strike from Kuznetsov, against the cage.
Maellard scores with a shoulder strike.
Maellard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maellard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maellard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike.
Maellard lands a hook that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.
A body shot lands from Maellard.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maellard.
Maellard has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznetsov throws an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maellard is defending well for now.
Maellard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuznetsov throws a head punch that misses.
Maellard can't find room to land a body shot as Kuznetsov controls the action.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow over the top.
Maellard misses with a short punch on the inside.
Maellard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kuznetsov or not.
Maellard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maellard scores with a shoulder strike.
Kuznetsov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maellard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuznetsov's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuznetsov throws an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it misses.
Maellard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike.
Kuznetsov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kuznetsov lands a nice uppercut.
Maellard misses with a punch on the inside.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Maellard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it misses.
Maellard swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow but it misses.
Kuznetsov misses with a punch to the body.
The referee calls for Maellard to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pops Maellard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pops Maellard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kuznetsov is looking to clinch but Maellard is avoiding it.
Maellard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Maellard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maellard connects with a body shot.
Maellard throws a leg kick but Kuznetsov checks it.

Kuznetsov closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Maellard - that landed with a thud.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Maellard misses with a body punch.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maellard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kuznetsov.
Maellard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maellard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maellard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maellard's defenses.
Maellard blocks an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Maellard blocks the elbow strike.
Kuznetsov lands with a short shot to the head.
Maellard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kuznetsovs head.
Kuznetsov tries to throw a body punch but Maellard avoids it by throwing Kuznetsov back against the cage.
Maellard blocks the elbow strike.
Kuznetsov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuznetsov blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Maellard.
Maellard misses with the head strike.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Maellard lands with a short shot to the head.
Kuznetsov tries a knee to the head but Maellard blocks it.
Maellard tries to throw a body punch but Kuznetsov avoids it by throwing Maellard back against the cage.
Kuznetsov scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kuznetsov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow strike.
Kuznetsov tries to land knees in the clinch but Maellard avoids the damage to the body.
A knee to the head by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow inside.
Maellard can't find room to land a body shot as Kuznetsov controls the action.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maellard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Maellard scores with a shoulder strike.
Maellard throws a head punch that misses.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Maellard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maellard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuznetsov tries a knee to the head but Maellard blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kuznetsov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Maellard's brow.
Kuznetsov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow strike.
Kuznetsov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuznetsov lands a damaging elbow.
Maellard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kuznetsov or not.
Kuznetsov tries to land knees in the clinch but Maellard avoids the damage to the body.
Maellard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Maellard lands with a right to the head.
Maellard lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Kuznetsov is rocked!
Maellard lands a nice uppercut.
Kuznetsov is still on wobbly legs! Can Maellard finish him?
Kuznetsov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Maellard dodges an elbow strike from Kuznetsov.
Maellard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuznetsov backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short right from Maellard on the inside.
Maellard is leaning against Kuznetsov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kuznetsov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maellard misses with a punch to the body.
Maellard struggles to land a body shot inside as Kuznetsov controls his hands.
Maellard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kuznetsov throws an elbow that misses.
Kuznetsov throws a head punch that misses.
Kuznetsov misses with an elbow strike.
Maellard pushes Kuznetsov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maellard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maellard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kuznetsov working aggressively here.
Kuznetsov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maellard fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuznetsov pushes off an throws an elbow but Maellard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pops Maellard.
I think Maellard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pops Maellard!
Pops Maellard decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.