PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carsten Brian Kassler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Gukov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Gukov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Brian Kassler
vs
Gukov

203 cm
21
290 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

187 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carsten Brian Kassler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Gukov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kassler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gukov is trying to get back to full guard.
Kassler controlling the action here.
Gukov wants to control but Kassler is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Carsten Brian Kassler wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kassler circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kassler counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kassler.
Gukov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kassler controls the pace.
Gukov wants to stand and escape but Kassler is having none of it.
Kassler is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gukov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kassler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gukov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kassler shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kassler was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kassler in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kassler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kassler is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gukov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kassler takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kassler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kassler scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gukov?
Gukov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kassler controlling from mount.
Gukov is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kassler content just to control the position here.
Kassler with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carsten Brian Kassler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gukov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kassler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kassler trying to control the position from guard on top but Gukov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kassler content to stall in guard here.
Kassler looking to pass the guard.
Kassler is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carsten Brian Kassler has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gukov looks to clinch

so Kassler counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gukov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kassler controls the pace.
Kassler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gukov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kassler trying to move into half guard but instead Gukov has managed to sweep!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kassler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Carsten Brian Kassler just wasn't active enough.
Kassler blocks the body kick.
Gukov wants to clinch but Kassler slips to the side

and Kassler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Gukov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kassler controlling from the top position.
Gukov is breathing heavily.
Gukov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kassler.
Carsten Brian Kassler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kassler is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Carsten Brian Kassler.
Gukov with a poor takedown

and Kassler moves into the clinch.
Gukov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gukov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gukov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kassler just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Kassler gets control of Gukov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kassler will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Kassler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gukov is aware though and is defending well.
Kassler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kassler bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gukov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kassler stays in close to Gukov's body and controls the position.
Gukov wants to get back to his feet but Kassler is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carsten Brian Kassler dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kassler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gukov is trying to defend but Kassler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gukov is trying to control but can't.
Kassler thows a huge punch but Gukov dodges it nicely.
Kassler controlling the action here.
Gukov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassler lands with a punch from half guard.
Kassler is controlling the pace.
Kassler has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Carsten Brian Kassler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gukov tries to clinch but Kassler moves away

and Kassler counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kassler's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kassler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gukov is keeping the position for now.
Kassler is working hard here to advance position.
Gukov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kassler lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kassler scores with a takedown into Gukov's guard.
Kassler controlling from the top position.
Kassler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kassler not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

We're going to have a standup here because Carsten Brian Kassler wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Kassler moves into the clinch successfully.
Sergei Gukov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gukov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kassler has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kassler tries to pull guard but Gukov won't allow it.
Kassler leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Gukov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gukov throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kassler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kassler stalling.
Carsten Brian Kassler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kassler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carsten Brian Kassler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kassler 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Carsten Brian Kassler!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Carsten Brian Kassler!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Carsten Brian Kassler!

Carsten Brian Kassler wins by unanimous decision!