PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Constantin Niculescu (ranked 75 p4p, 197 weight class) and Vitali Kersikov I I (ranked 14 p4p, 33 weight class). Kersikov I I has chosen Sefa & Mr. Ivex - LSD Problem as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Niculescu
vs
Kersikov I I

183 cm
26
205
16 - 6 - 0

188 cm
26
209
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Urban Fighter

HELLBENT
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Constantin Niculescu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitali Kersikov I I!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Kersikov I I as Niculescu shoots in.
Kersikov I I scores with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Kersikov I I as Niculescu shoots in.
Kersikov I I takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Niculescu just misses with a punch to the body.
Niculescu lands a jab.
Niculescu throws a body punch but Kersikov I I moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu cracks Kersikov I I with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Niculescu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Constantin Niculescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov I I takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A telegraphed right hand from Niculescu misses the target.
Niculescu throws a jab but it's blocked by Kersikov I I.
Constantin Niculescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kersikov I I steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Niculescu.
That kick from Kersikov I I tenderised Niculescu's leg. Niculescu is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kersikov I I bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kersikov I I thows a leg kick but Niculescu checks it

and Niculescu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kersikov I I is pulling down on Niculescu's head to control his posture.
Kersikov I I is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu trying to control but Kersikov I I is working from the bottom.
Kersikov I I is looking to stand up but Niculescu isn't so interested in that idea.
Niculescu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kersikov I I managing to control the position.
Kersikov I I is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu wants to improve his position but Kersikov I I is controlling well.
Kersikov I I tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Niculescu.
Kersikov I I performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Niculescu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Niculescu.
Kersikov I I stopping the sweep attempt from Niculescu.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niculescu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kersikov I I's guard.

Niculescu cracks Kersikov I I with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu is stalling in the full guard.
Niculescu trying to control but Kersikov I I is working from the bottom.

Kersikov I I had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Niculescu defends it easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kersikov I I is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niculescu trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Niculescu dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kersikov I I misses with a body kick.
Niculescu catches Kersikov I I with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Niculescu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kersikov I I has time to react.
Kersikov I I misses with a low kick.
Niculescu half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Constantin Niculescu is winning the standup battle so far.
The fighters circle momentarily. Niculescu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Niculescu swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu punishes Kersikov I I's body with a nice straight punch.

Niculescu dives in and scores a takedown into Kersikov I I's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov I I avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kersikov I I managing to control the position.
Niculescu throws an elbow that misses. Kersikov I I uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Niculescu's guard. Nice move by Kersikov I I!

Niculescu wants to sweep here but Kersikov I I controlling him for the moment.
Niculescu is working hard here to advance position.
Kersikov I I working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Niculescu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niculescu is thwarting Kersikov I I's attempts to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Niculescu lands a nice short elbow.
Niculescu working the head and body with strikes.
Kersikov I I taking some punishment here, with Niculescu in his half guard.
Niculescu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kersikov I I with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Niculescu 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.
Kersikov I I has hold of Niculescu's hands but Niculescu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Niculescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kersikov I I can do to turn this around?
Kersikov I I trying to hold on to Niculescu's head to control him but Niculescu postures up.
Niculescu stalling away here and it's allowed Kersikov I I to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Niculescu looking to sit in guard and control but Kersikov I I gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kersikov I I preventing the sweep.
Kersikov I I scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kersikov I I wants to stand and escape but instead Niculescu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Niculescu won't allow Kersikov I I to sweep him here.
Kersikov I I has momentary wrist control but Niculescu slips an elbow through the middle.
Kersikov I I avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu won't allow Kersikov I I to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kersikov I I holds on and takes a little breather.
Niculescu wants to control from the top but Kersikov I I keeps moving.
Kersikov I I wants to improve his position but instead Niculescu has moved into half guard.
Niculescu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niculescu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Niculescu 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.
Kersikov I I is trying to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Constantin Niculescu dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Niculescu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kersikov I I defends it nicely.
Kersikov I I counters with a body kick.
Kersikov I I takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niculescu fails with the takedown
and Kersikov I I counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Niculescu looks to land a left hand but Kersikov I I moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov I I scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Niculescu doesn't seem bothered though.
Kersikov I I bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Niculescu's head.
Niculescu throws a shot from downtown. Kersikov I I moves away and avoids it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kersikov I I! But no joy.
Kersikov I I takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Niculescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov I I moves away.
Kersikov I I drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Niculescu throws a lazy right hand but Kersikov I I sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kersikov I I tries a quick counter leg kick but Niculescu is wise to it.
Niculescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kersikov I I swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Niculescu thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Niculescu.

Niculescu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kersikov I I's guard.
Niculescu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kersikov I I is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Niculescu postures up.
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!
Niculescu postures up and lands a big shot to Kersikov I I's brow.
Niculescu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kersikov I I's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov I I pulls Niculescu in close to his closed guard and prevents Niculescu from doing any damage or advancing position.
Niculescu tries to free his leg and advance position but Kersikov I I is retaining full guard.
Niculescu throws an elbow that misses. Kersikov I I uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Niculescu's guard. Nice move by Kersikov I I!

Kersikov I I decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Niculescu, up you get!
Kersikov I I looks for the body kick but Niculescu saw that one coming.
Niculescu feinted with a counter takedown.
Vitali Kersikov I I is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kersikov I I walks into a straight right hand from Niculescu.
Kersikov I I tries to move into range but Niculescu moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Kersikov I I. That snapped Niculescu's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Niculescu.
Niculescu tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Niculescu slips a straight right by Kersikov I I.
Niculescu throws a lazy uppercut
and Kersikov I I counters with a leg kick.
Kersikov I I keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kersikov I I lands with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from Niculescu misses its intended target.
Niculescu connects with a single shot there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Constantin Niculescu did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kersikov I I takes one to the chin there.
The fighters circling - Niculescu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kersikov I I counters with a body kick.
No luck for Niculescu with that takedown attempt.
Niculescu takes a swing at Kersikov I I's ribcage but misses.
Kersikov I I counters with a body kick.
Niculescu throws a poor cross that misses
and Kersikov I I counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Niculescu misses.
Niculescu has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niculescu with a poor takedown

and Kersikov I I counters with a nice right hand that sends Niculescu toppling to the canvas! Niculescu scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Kersikov I I finish him?!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Constantin Niculescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niculescu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kersikov I I manages to avoid it.
Kersikov I I appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Niculescu misses with an uppercut.
Kersikov I I appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Niculescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niculescu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kersikov I I counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Kersikov I I. That snapped Niculescu's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kersikov I I is looking to score with low kicks.
Niculescu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niculescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kersikov I I moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kersikov I I.
Kersikov I I moves out of range as Niculescu strikes.
Kersikov I I waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Niculescu.
Kersikov I I throws a jab when Niculescu was well out of range.

Niculescu closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kersikov I I quickly recovers to half guard.
Niculescu working Kersikov I I over with strikes.
Kersikov I I is trying to get back to full guard.
Niculescu scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov I I is trying to maintain the position but Niculescu is very close to passing his half guard.
Kersikov I I tries to get to full guard but Niculescu has control of the leg.
Niculescu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kersikov I I is looking for a sweep. Niculescu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Niculescu working over Kersikov I I with some ground and pound. Kersikov I I looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kersikov I I tries to roll over but Niculescu keeps him under control.
Kersikov I I is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Niculescu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kersikov I I does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Niculescu prevents Kersikov I I from improving his position.
Niculescu passes the guard and advances to mount!
We've been hearing that Niculescu has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kersikov I I is bucking up trying to escape but Niculescu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Niculescu lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Vitali Kersikov I I will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Niculescu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Kersikov I I lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Niculescu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Niculescu misses with a lunging right hand
and Kersikov I I counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Niculescu thinking.
Niculescu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kersikov I I counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Niculescu connects with a body shot that sends Kersikov I I's belly button to the back.
Niculescu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kersikov I I.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov I I smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Niculescu misses with a lunging right hand
letting Kersikov I I counter with a right hand.
Niculescu misses the body punch

and Kersikov I I counters with a crisp right hand that drops Niculescu! Kersikov I I lets Niculescu back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Vitali Kersikov I I has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Niculescu is rocked!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov I I blocks a jab.
Kersikov I I steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Oh Niculescu is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Niculescu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kersikov I I misses with a body kick.
Niculescu seems to have got his legs back now.
Niculescu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Niculescu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kersikov I I throws a hook but Niculescu blocks it.
Niculescu misses with a lunging right hand
and as Niculescu loses concentration momentarily, Kersikov I I counters with a picture perfect head kick! Niculescu goes down, out cold! The referee rushed in to check on his condition - I'm sure he'll be ok but that was a massive knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Vitali Kersikov I I!
Vitali Kersikov I I is the new light heavyweight champion!
Our winner, Vitali Kersikov I I, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.