PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grand Speed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Kukuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Speed comes to the cage accompanied by Mad Sin / Rusty Nails. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nikolai Kukuev was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Speed
vs
Kukuev

210 cm
29
270 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

198 cm
28
240 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Fast

Perkele!
Perkele!

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grand Speed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Kukuev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speed scores with a jab. Kukuev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kukuev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Speed pinned against the cage. Speed gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kukuev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kukuev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kukuev checks a low kick from Speed.
Kukuev tries for a takedown but Speed circles away easily
and Speed counters with a nice body shot.
Grand Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Kukuev.
Kukuev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Speed sprawls well. Speed wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kukuev gets slowly back to his feet.
Speed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukuev manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Speed stuffs the takedown attempt from Kukuev. Kukuev gets slowly back to his feet.
Speed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukuev manages to avoid it.
A left lands for Speed.
Nice sprawl there from Speed as Kukuev shoots in.
Speed missing with a left hand there. Kukuev was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Speed keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Speed is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Speed tests Kukuev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kukuev closes the distance and clinches up with Speed, looking for a takedown. Kukuev pushes Speed against the cage but Speed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev takes one to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Speed throws a low kick but Kukuev moves out of range easily.
Speed looks to score with a jab to the body but Kukuev is just out of range.
Kukuev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Speed tries to avoid it but Kukuev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Speed to the ground. Speed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kukuev shoots for a double leg takedown but Speed sprawls well. He's pushed Kukuev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Speed swings for the body but Kukuev moves out of range.
Speed throws a body punch but Kukuev moves out of range.
Speed leaves Kukuev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Speed connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Speed connects with a nice looking jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukuev ducks under a wild hook from Speed.
Speed stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Speed wants it to stay on the feet.
Speed fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kukuev has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Grand Speed seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Speed throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kukuev shoots for a takedown but Speed saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Speed with a hook.
Nice sprawl there from Speed as Kukuev shoots in.
Speed misses with a body shot.
Speed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Speed connects with the punch.
Kukuev takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kukuev shoots in but no luck this time.
Kukuev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Speed looks to score with a jab to the body but Kukuev is just out of range.
Grand Speed is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speed fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukuev manages to avoid it.
Speed throws the left hand but Kukuev avoids the punch easily.
Kukuev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Speed waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kukuev.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukuev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Speed's waist but Speed gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kukuev off to one side.
Speed throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grand Speed dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Speed throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Speed misses the target.
Speed loads up on a big right hand but Kukuev slips the punch.
Kukuev shoots in looking for a takedown. Speed tries to sprawl out of it but Kukuev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Speed manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukuev staying out of range there.
Speed throws a body punch but Kukuev moves out of range.

Kukuev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kukuev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Speed doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kukuev.

Kukuev wants to work for an arm triangle but Speed is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukuev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Speed does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Speed tries to get to full guard but Kukuev has control of the leg.

Speed is defending against the submission attempts here by Kukuev.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kukuev is working for a kimura but Speed is defending it quite comfortably.

Speed is defending against the submission attempts here by Kukuev.
Speed knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kukuev on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed is staying active underneath Kukuev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Speed on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Speed tries to get out of the position.

Kukuev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kukuev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Speed wants to control but Kukuev is keeping busy.

Kukuev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speed is looking to control Kukuev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Speed avoid being mounted?
Speed tries to roll over but Kukuev keeps him under control.
Speed is positioning himself well to prevent Kukuev advancing to mount.

Kukuev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Speed is just riding it out for now. Kukuev eventually gives up the hold.
Speed is looking for a sweep. Kukuev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukuev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Speed defends it well.
Speed is trying to stand.

Kukuev seems to be looking for submissions.
Speed wants to get back to full guard.
Kukuev is trying to control. Speed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kukuev is looking for a kimura here.
Kukuev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kukuev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Kukuev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Speed throws an overhand right that lands on Kukuev's shoulder, as Kukuev tries to avoid the shot.
Kukuev moves out of range as Speed strikes.
Speed misses with a double jab.
Jab by Speed.
Speed throws a body punch but Kukuev moves out of range.
Grand Speed is winning the standup battle so far.
Kukuev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Speed counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kukuev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Speed as he avoids it easily.
A jab from Speed finds it's way through Kukuev's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speed digs a good body shot into Kukuev's ribs.
Speed thuds a left hand into Kukuev's body.
Kukuev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Speed dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Speed is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kukuev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Speed lands with a nice body punch.
Kukuev shoots in but Speed avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Grand Speed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Kukuev.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukuev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speed scores with a shot to the body.
Speed is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Speed fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kukuev is out of range.
Nice shot by Speed.
Speed works Kukuev's body with a nice hook.
Speed connects with a right hand. Kukuev shakes it off.
Kukuev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Speed throws a looping overhand right but Kukuev ducks down to avoid it.
Speed keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kukuev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Speed tries to sprawl but Kukuev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Speed is trying is best to control the position here.

Kukuev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Speed moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Kukuev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Speed manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kukuev has Speed in his guard.

Kukuev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speed controlling from the top position.

Kukuev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kukuev working for a triangle but Speed defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukuev can't keep his opponent in guard - Speed advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grand Speed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Speed has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grand Speed!
An intense looking Grand Speed took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'That was fun!'.