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WP 20 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 22 wins and 29 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 18 wins and 10 losses; Vasiliy Kulik!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Kulik clinches with his opponent.
Balkan wants a takedown.
Kulik has clasped his hands together around Balkan's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Balkan (0) vs (4) Kulik
Kulik controls the position from side control.
Balkan is looking for a sweep.
We've been hearing good reports from Balkan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kulik gets to mount! Balkan was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (6) Kulik
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan tries to reverse the position but Kulik maintains control.
Kulik is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulik trying to control but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan wants to hold on but Kulik pushes him away.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kulik controlling from the full mount.
My spies in KFA inform me that Kulik has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan is working to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulik wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balkan is squirming around, avoiding Kulik's attempts to control the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to control but Kulik is having none of it.
Kulik tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan wants to control but Kulik is having none of it.
Balkan is looking to improve his position but Kulik isn't that keen on the idea.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Well, if Kulik is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Balkan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Balkan.
Kulik controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balkan is controlling Kulik's posture.
Kulik is stalling in the full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controls Kulik momentarily but Kulik frees himself.
Kulik stays in close to Balkan's body and controls the position.
Kulik tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balkan is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (6) Kulik
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kulik lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (8) Kulik
Kulik controls from within his opponent's guard.
Balkan is pulling down on Kulik's head. It's preventing any offense from Kulik, at least for the moment.
Kulik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balkan pulls Kulik in close to his closed guard and prevents Kulik from doing any damage or advancing position.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kulik trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Balkan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (8) Kulik
Balkan looking to pass the guard.
Kulik pulls Balkan in close to prevent any damage.
Balkan tries to free his leg and advance position but Kulik is retaining full guard.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Kulik keeps moving.
Balkan controlling from the top position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control but Kulik is working from the bottom.
Balkan is really struggling to control Kulik but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Balkan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kulik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Balkan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (4) vs (10) Kulik
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Kulik from controlling successfully.
Kulik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Kulik looking to sit in guard and control but Balkan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (6) vs (10) Kulik
Kulik keeping full guard, as Balkan tries to pass.
Balkan is working hard here to advance position.
Kulik is pulling down on Balkan's head to control his posture.
Balkan trying to control but Kulik is working from the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik looking for a sweep. Not yet Kulik, not yet.
Balkan passes Kulik's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Balkan is pressing down on Kulik's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kulik is holding on for now.
Balkan is taking a breather. Kulik says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Balkan is looking to advance position but Kulik won't allow it.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kulik has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Balkan is working away from the top position though.
Balkan is keen to just control but Kulik is a slippery customer.
Balkan stalling away here and it's allowed Kulik to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Balkan looking to sit in guard and control but Kulik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (6) vs (12) Kulik
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan is adopting a defensive guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kulik wins on points by 12 to 6.
Vasiliy Kulik thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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