PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iov Kuzmin (ranked 2212 p4p, 3571 weight class) and Dwalin Giantslayer (ranked 237 p4p, 383 weight class). Kuzmin comes to the ring accompanied by La Caution - Thé à la Menthe. Iov Kuzmin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kuzmin
vs
Giantslayer

188 cm
22
212
6 - 2 - 0

150 cm
37
265
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iov Kuzmin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Dwalin Giantslayer!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuzmin feints and as Giantslayer raises his hands in defense, Kuzmin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kuzmin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kuzmin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kuzmin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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.
Kuzmin throws a big elbow that misses.
Kuzmin is looking to work some ground and pound but Giantslayer has wrist control.
Kuzmin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Giantslayer seems keen to control Kuzmin's posture.
Kuzmin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuzmin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kuzmin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuzmin postures up in Giantslayer's guard and throws a big left but Giantslayer blocks it.
Kuzmin throwing strikes from guard but Giantslayer blocks nicely.
Kuzmin lands a couple of digs.
Kuzmin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuzmin throws a strike but Giantslayer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Giantslayer forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giantslayer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kuzmin is refusing to be controlled, as Giantslayer sits in half guard.
Kuzmin gets back to full guard.
Kuzmin punching to the body, from the bottom.
Giantslayer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Giantslayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuzmin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giantslayer is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kuzmin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kuzmin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kuzmin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuzmin with the ground and pound but Giantslayer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Giantslayer keeping full guard, as Kuzmin tries to pass.
Kuzmin connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuzmin takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Kuzmin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Giantslayer's head.
Giantslayer working a defensive guard here.
Kuzmin chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuzmin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kuzmin throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuzmin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Giantslayer wants to sweep here but Kuzmin controlling him for the moment.
Kuzmin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kuzmin throwing strikes from guard but Giantslayer blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kuzmin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kuzmin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuzmin connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuzmin works over Giantslayer with some ground and pound from guard.
Kuzmin working some strikes from top position.
Giantslayer 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.
Giantslayer has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giantslayer has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuzmin postures up in Giantslayer's guard and throws a big left but Giantslayer blocks it.
Kuzmin landing with the ground and pound.
Kuzmin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giantslayer has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.
Giantslayer working a defensive guard here.
Kuzmin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuzmin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Giantslayer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin landing some decent shots from guard.
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!
Kuzmin postures up and lands a big shot to Giantslayer's brow.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Giantslayer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kuzmin wants to sweep here but Giantslayer controlling him for the moment.
Kuzmin controlling the position.
Giantslayer preventing the sweep.
Kuzmin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Giantslayer postures up and lands a big shot to Kuzmin's brow.
Giantslayer preventing the sweep.
Giantslayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuzmin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kuzmin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuzmin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Giantslayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuzmin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giantslayer working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuzmin's head.
Giantslayer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giantslayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuzmin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giantslayer wants to pass the guard but Kuzmin is keeping the position.
Giantslayer postures up in Kuzmin's guard and throws a big left but Kuzmin blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer takes a swing at Kuzmin's ribcage but misses.

Giantslayer closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Giantslayer lands in his opponent's guard.
Giantslayer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Giantslayer scoring with punches from side control.
Giantslayer working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Giantslayer wants to control for a moment but Kuzmin uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Kuzmin tries to get to full guard but Giantslayer has control of the leg.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kuzmin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Giantslayer is working away from the top position though.
Giantslayer trying to control from half guard but Kuzmin is working away.
Kuzmin moves into full guard.
Giantslayer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Giantslayer wants to control from the top but Kuzmin keeps moving.
Kuzmin is striking but Giantslayer is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin trying to control from the bottom.
Giantslayer controlling the action here.
Giantslayer 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.
Giantslayer is looking to take a break and control but Kuzmin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuzmin tries to get to full guard but Giantslayer has control of the leg.
Giantslayer looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kuzmin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giantslayer is looking to stall here but Kuzmin recovers full guard.
Kuzmin pulls Giantslayer in to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iov Kuzmin dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuzmin.

Giantslayer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kuzmin!
Kuzmin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Giantslayer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kuzmin regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Giantslayer.
Kuzmin wants to sweep here but Giantslayer controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuzmin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Giantslayer.
Kuzmin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Giantslayer manages to get himself to full guard.

Kuzmin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kuzmin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Giantslayer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Giantslayer wants to take a breather but Kuzmin is having none of it.
Giantslayer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Giantslayer is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuzmin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Giantslayer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuzmin's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Giantslayer in particular looking to stall.
Giantslayer is thwarting Kuzmin's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin tries to get to full guard but Giantslayer has control of the leg.
Kuzmin is looking to control Giantslayer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kuzmin avoid being mounted?
Giantslayer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuzmin is looking for a sweep. Giantslayer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Giantslayer working the head and body with strikes.
Giantslayer working Kuzmin over with strikes.
Giantslayer wants to control but Kuzmin is keeping him busy.
Giantslayer trying to mount his opponent but Kuzmin defends it.
Giantslayer seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuzmin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Iov Kuzmin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Giantslayer stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuzmin. Kuzmin gets slowly back to his feet.
Giantslayer fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice sprawl there from Giantslayer as Kuzmin shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iov Kuzmin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kuzmin tries to sprawl but Giantslayer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kuzmin wants to improve his position but Giantslayer is controlling well.
Giantslayer trying to control the action but Kuzmin is working from the bottom.
Kuzmin is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin has his hands clasped together around Giantslayer's back. He's all about the action.
Kuzmin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Giantslayer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Giantslayer wants to pass to mount but Kuzmin is defending the position.
Giantslayer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Giantslayer is keen to just control but Kuzmin is a slippery customer.
Kuzmin works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin keeping moving, preventing Giantslayer from controlling successfully.
Giantslayer preventing the sweep.
Giantslayer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Giantslayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuzmin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuzmin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Giantslayer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuzmin keeping moving, preventing Giantslayer from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kuzmin scores with a takedown into Giantslayer's guard.
Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Giantslayer has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Giantslayer holds on and takes a little breather.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kuzmin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuzmin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kuzmin lands a couple of elbows.
Kuzmin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Giantslayer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Giantslayer has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuzmin landing with the ground and pound.
Giantslayer looking for a sweep. Not yet Giantslayer, not yet.
Kuzmin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuzmin tries to free his leg and advance position but Giantslayer is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kuzmin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin postures up and lands a big shot to Giantslayer's brow.
Giantslayer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Giantslayer has momentary wrist control but Kuzmin slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuzmin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Giantslayer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kuzmin landing with the ground and pound.
Giantslayer wants to sweep here but Kuzmin controlling him for the moment.
Kuzmin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Giantslayer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuzmin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Giantslayer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin throwing strikes from guard but Giantslayer blocks nicely.
Kuzmin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuzmin postures up and lands a big shot to Giantslayer's brow.
Kuzmin throws a strike but Giantslayer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kuzmin is on top in guard.

Kuzmin cracks Giantslayer with a solid left hand.
Kuzmin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kuzmin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Giantslayer has his hands on Kuzmin's head, controlling the position.
Kuzmin postures up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin tries to free his leg and advance position but Giantslayer is retaining full guard.
Kuzmin with a nice head shot there.
Giantslayer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuzmin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuzmin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kuzmin throws a big elbow that misses.
Kuzmin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Giantslayer wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuzmin throws a big elbow that misses.
Kuzmin chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuzmin is in close to Giantslayer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iov Kuzmin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kuzmin is defended easily by Giantslayer.
Giantslayer dives in and grabs Kuzmin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kuzmin pushes down on Giantslayer's head and hops out.

Kuzmin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuzmin thows a huge punch but Giantslayer dodges it nicely.
Kuzmin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kuzmin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kuzmin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kuzmin working over Giantslayer with some ground and pound. Giantslayer looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kuzmin is nestled in close to Giantslayer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Giantslayer is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuzmin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuzmin lands strikes from half guard.
Kuzmin throwing shots but Giantslayer is blocking nicely.
Giantslayer lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Kuzmin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Giantslayer can do to turn this around?
Giantslayer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuzmin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kuzmin working Giantslayer over with strikes.
Kuzmin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kuzmin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kuzmin prevents Giantslayer from improving his position.
Kuzmin working the head and body with strikes.
Kuzmin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Giantslayer wants to improve his position but Kuzmin is controlling well.
Kuzmin working Giantslayer over with strikes.
Kuzmin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Giantslayer's head.
Giantslayer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kuzmin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kuzmin slips a nice elbow through Giantslayer's hands, connecting with Giantslayer's forehead.
Giantslayer is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuzmin winds up and cracks Giantslayer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Giantslayer taking some punishment here, with Kuzmin in his half guard.
Giantslayer wants to control but Kuzmin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuzmin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice strikes from Kuzmin there.
Kuzmin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Giantslayer is rocked!
Kuzmin slips a nice elbow through Giantslayer's hands, connecting with Giantslayer's forehead.
Giantslayer is still in real trouble! Can Kuzmin finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuzmin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Giantslayer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kuzmin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kuzmin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kuzmin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kuzmin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kuzmin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kuzmin lands strikes from half guard.
Kuzmin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Giantslayer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kuzmin.
Kuzmin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giantslayer taking some punishment here, with Kuzmin in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kuzmin connects with a nice short shot to Giantslayer's temple.
Giantslayer taking some punishment here, with Kuzmin in his half guard.
Kuzmin scores with a big shot! Giantslayer's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Giantslayer! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iov Kuzmin!
Iov Kuzmin spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.