PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Kuchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krsto Frankopan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kuchenko
vs
Frankopan

201 cm
23
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

208 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergei Kuchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krsto Frankopan!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuchenko throws a head kick that misses.
Krsto Frankopan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frankopan stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuchenko. Kuchenko gets slowly back to his feet.
Kuchenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Frankopan stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuchenko. Kuchenko gets slowly back to his feet.

Frankopan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kuchenko sprawls well initially but Frankopan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kuchenko is pressing down on Frankopan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kuchenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuchenko working a defensive guard here.
Frankopan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Frankopan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuchenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Frankopan throwing strikes from guard but Kuchenko blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuchenko is controlling Frankopan's posture.
Kuchenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Frankopan's guard.
Kuchenko won't allow Frankopan to sweep him here.
Frankopan is trying to control the position but Kuchenko postures up.
Kuchenko pushing down on Frankopan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kuchenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Frankopan won't allow Kuchenko to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuchenko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Frankopan sees it coming and defends easily.
Frankopan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuchenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuchenko controlling the action here.
Kuchenko is keen to just control but Frankopan is a slippery customer.
Kuchenko stalling.
Frankopan wants to sweep but Kuchenko has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Frankopan being controlled for a moment.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kuchenko has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Frankopan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Frankopan lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuchenko wants to sweep here but Frankopan controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuchenko controls Frankopan momentarily but Frankopan frees himself.
Kuchenko is really struggling to control Frankopan but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sergei Kuchenko.
Kuchenko shoots and misses

and Frankopan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Kuchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kuchenko is on top in guard.
Kuchenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuchenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Frankopan looks gassed!
Frankopan is controlling Kuchenko's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Krsto Frankopan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Frankopan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kuchenko is trying to defend but Frankopan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Frankopan tries to pass to full mount but Kuchenko defends it.
Kuchenko works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kuchenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kuchenko holds on and takes a little breather.
Kuchenko looking to control.
Frankopan is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuchenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kuchenko works his way into side control.

Kuchenko stands up and beckons Frankopan to his feet.
Kuchenko misses with a takedown

and Frankopan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuchenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kuchenko.
Kuchenko has his hands on Frankopan's head, controlling the position.
Kuchenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Frankopan's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frankopan keeping moving, preventing Kuchenko from controlling successfully.
Kuchenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Frankopan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kuchenko passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Frankopan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kuchenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuchenko trying to control the action but Frankopan is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Frankopan's face as Kuchenko controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sergei Kuchenko.
Kuchenko lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Krsto Frankopan has been cut.

Kuchenko forces Frankopan back against the cage and clinches.

Kuchenko breaks the clinch.
Sergei Kuchenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kuchenko clinches up with Frankopan and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuchenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuchenko misses with a takedown attempt

and Frankopan counters with a single leg into guard. Kuchenko didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kuchenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Frankopan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kuchenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Frankopan manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuchenko passes Frankopan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kuchenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuchenko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Frankopan!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Kuchenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Krsto Frankopan's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kuchenko has managed to clinch.
Frankopan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kuchenko's efforts to push away.

Kuchenko pulls guard effortlessly.
Kuchenko trying to control the position here.
Frankopan won't allow Kuchenko to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuchenko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Frankopan!
Frankopan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuchenko wants to control the pace but Frankopan is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Kuchenko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kuchenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kuchenko misses with a head shot.
Kuchenko content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Frankopan can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuchenko working Frankopan over with strikes here.

Kuchenko is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Frankopan to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Frankopan shrugs it off.
Frankopan is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kuchenko with shots to the head and body - Frankopan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Frankopan tries to improve his position but instead Kuchenko has taken his back!
Kuchenko punishes Frankopan with strikes from the back mount.

That has opened up Krsto Frankopan's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuchenko has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Frankopan showing good submission defense here.
Kuchenko has good solid back control here.
Frankopan is really stuck here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Kuchenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kuchenko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Kuchenko!