PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Slava Tikhonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kathos Krathulian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tikhonov
vs
Krathulian

180 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slava Tikhonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kathos Krathulian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikhonov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Krathulian pinned against the cage. Krathulian gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tikhonov fails to land the takedown.

Tikhonov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Krathulian is looking for a sweep. Tikhonov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

Tikhonov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Krathulian tries to kick Tikhonov off but Tikhonov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krathulian trying to hold on to Tikhonov's head to control him but Tikhonov postures up.
Krathulian keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

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

Tikhonov seems to be working for a kimura but Krathulian defends the submission attempt.

Tikhonov is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Krathulian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Tikhonov is breathing heavily.
Krathulian wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Krathulian as Tikhonov shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slava Tikhonov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krathulian tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Slava Tikhonov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krathulian throws a nice head kick!
Krathulian swinging wilding here.
A clash of legs there as Tikhonov blocks the low kick.
Krathulian tries to land a front kick but Tikhonov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tikhonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krathulian circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krathulian throws a looping overhand right but Tikhonov ducks down to avoid it.
Tikhonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krathulian circles away.
Tikhonov shoots in but no luck this time.
A punch combination from Krathulian misses.
No luck for Tikhonov with that takedown attempt.
Krathulian looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Krathulian fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tikhonov manages to avoid it.
Krathulian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Krathulian tries a head kick but it misses.
Krathulian throws a right hand that Tikhonov ducks under and follows up with a left that Tikhonov also avoids with ease.
Kathos Krathulian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Krathulian misses with a double jab.
A combination from Krathulian does no damage.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krathulian as he jumps to the side.
Tikhonov fails with the takedown.
Tikhonov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Krathulian tries to avoid it but Tikhonov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Krathulian to the ground. Krathulian escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tikhonov misses with a looping right.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Krathulian as he avoids it easily.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tikhonov shoots in for a double leg but Krathulian sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kathos Krathulian dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Krathulian looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tikhonov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Krathulian avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tikhonov.

Tikhonov jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Krathulian is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Krathulian and Tikhonov has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Krathulian can't do much from the bottom here.
Tikhonov is looking to take a break and control but Krathulian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tikhonov working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krathulian is not content to let Tikhonov control the position.
The strikes coming from Tikhonov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Krathulian really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tikhonov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Krathulian can't do much from the bottom here.

Tikhonov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Krathulian is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tikhonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krathulian circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice takedown defense from Krathulian. No joy for Tikhonov on that attempt.
Krathulian just misses with a punch to the body.
Tikhonov throws a head kick that misses.
Krathulian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tikhonov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slava Tikhonov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tikhonov dodges the punch combination from Krathulian.
Tikhonov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No joy there for Krathulian, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krathulian changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown but Krathulian shows good takedown defense.
Tikhonov shoots for a takedown but Krathulian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tikhonov looks for a takedown but Krathulian sprawls well.
Tikhonov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Krathulian tries to avoid it but Tikhonov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Krathulian to the ground. Krathulian escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tikhonov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Slava Tikhonov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Krathulian as he avoids it easily.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krathulian as he jumps to the side.
Krathulian throws a nice looking combination but Tikhonov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krathulian stuffs the takedown attempt from Tikhonov. Tikhonov gets slowly back to his feet.
Krathulian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tikhonov.
Krathulian stuffs the takedown.
Tikhonov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Krathulian throws a series of punches but Tikhonov moves out of range.
Tikhonov fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tikhonov throws a sloppy head kick and Krathulian moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kathos Krathulian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Krathulian misses with a series of wild punches.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krathulian as he jumps to the side.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tikhonov shoots in and drives through. Krathulian sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slava Tikhonov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Krathulian throws a series of punches but Tikhonov avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tikhonov misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tikhonov slips a straight right by Krathulian.
Krathulian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krathulian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Krathulian looks to land a combination but Tikhonov avoids it well.
Krathulian misses the shot to the body.
Tikhonov fails with a takedown attempt.
Krathulian is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tikhonov rather than just go for the knockout.
Tikhonov fails with the takedown.
Krathulian throws a nice looking combination but Tikhonov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tikhonov shoots in for a takedown but Krathulian shows good takedown defense.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Krathulian.

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.
Krathulian misses with a two punch combination.
Krathulian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tikhonov tries for a takedown but Krathulian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Krathulian swinging wilding here.
Krathulian throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tikhonov shoots in but Krathulian avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Horrible takedown by Tikhonov or perhaps it was just good defense by Krathulian which made him look bad.
Tikhonov fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov throws a head kick but Krathulian moves out of range.
Tikhonov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Tikhonov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tikhonov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Krathulian is controlling Tikhonov's trapped leg to prevent Tikhonov from advancing to side control.

Tikhonov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tikhonov trying to mount his opponent but Krathulian defends it.
Slava Tikhonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krathulian is refusing to be controlled, as Tikhonov sits in half guard.
Tikhonov trying to pass the guard but Krathulian defending well.
Tikhonov passes to full mount!
Krathulian is squirming around, avoiding Tikhonov's attempts to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krathulian tries to lock up and control but Tikhonov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kathos Krathulian.
I've got Krathulian winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kathos Krathulian!