PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kuznecov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramses Dragunav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuznecov comes to the cage accompanied by Небо Славян. Yuri Kuznecov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kuznecov
vs
Dragunav

177 cm
18
134 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

165 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Kuznecov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramses Dragunav!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznecov throws a chopping leg kick but Dragunav manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kuznecov tried to score with a low kick but Dragunav checks it.
Yuri Kuznecov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick from Kuznecov misses.
Dragunav checks a low kick from Kuznecov.
Kuznecov throws a front kick aimed at Dragunav's knee but Dragunav avoids it well.
Kuznecov tries to work over Dragunav's front leg with a kick but Dragunav checks it.
Kuznecov throws a chopping leg kick but Dragunav manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kuznecov swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Dragunav closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kuznecov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Dragunav drags the fight down to the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kuznecov wants to control from the top but Dragunav keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuznecov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Dragunav has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kuznecov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dragunav is defending well.
Dragunav using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuznecov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuznecov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Dragunav pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kuznecov tried to score with a low kick but Dragunav checks it.

Dragunav shoots in and gets a takedown into Kuznecov's guard.
Dragunav postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunav trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dragunav not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Dragunav decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kuznecov throws a solid leg kick but Dragunav takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kuznecov.
Kuznecov throws a chopping leg kick but Dragunav manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kuznecov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Some bone on bone action there as Dragunav checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kuznecov misses with a low kick.
Kuznecov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Dragunav has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunav tries to throw a body punch but Kuznecov avoids it by throwing Dragunav back against the cage.
Dragunav is struggling to control the position.

Dragunav breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dragunav checks a low kick from Kuznecov.
Kuznecov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kuznecov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Dragunav has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Dragunav and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kuznecov throws a low kick, looking for Dragunav's leg but Dragunav calmly moves out of range.
Good work by Kuznecov as he checks the leg kick.
Kuznecov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dragunav.
Kuznecov is looking to chop away at Dragunav's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dragunav checks a leg kick.

Dragunav has Kuznecov up against the cage in a clinch.

Dragunav has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kuznecov regains guard immediately.
Dragunav passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Dragunav decides to stand back up. Dragunav steps back and let's Kuznecov get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dragunav shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dragunav was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramses Dragunav dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dragunav moves into the clinch.

Dragunav escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuznecov tries to score with a low kick but Dragunav moves his leg out of the way.
Dragunav checks a leg kick.

Dragunav shoots in and bounces Kuznecov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dragunav scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dragunav advances position into side control!

Dragunav tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dragunav has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznecov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Dragunav.
Dragunav throws a strike aimed at the side of Kuznecov's head but Kuznecov avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dragunav takes a little break here. Kuznecov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Dragunav throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Dragunav trying to control the position but Kuznecov is working away.
Sloppy strikes there by Dragunav.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunav happy to just control the position for now.

Ramses Dragunav has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kuznecov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Kuznecov tries to keep at a distance but Dragunav has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dragunav ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dragunav no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dragunav wants to stand and escape but Kuznecov is having none of it.
Kuznecov being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunav controls Kuznecov momentarily but Kuznecov frees himself.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ramses Dragunav hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kuznecov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kuznecov throws a leg kick that misses.
Kuznecov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Dragunav.
Kuznecov throws a quick inside leg kick.
A low kick from Kuznecov misses

and Dragunav counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kuznecov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dragunav on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuznecov wants to control but Dragunav is keeping busy.
Dragunav wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuznecov keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramses Dragunav 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dragunav clinches with his opponent.
Kuznecov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dragunav fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kuznecov is looking to score with low kicks.
Kuznecov misses with a low kick.
Kuznecov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kuznecov checks a low kick from Dragunav.

Dragunav has taken the fight to the clinch.

Dragunav gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Dragunav escapes and gets back to his feet.

Dragunav gets a takedown into half 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!
Dragunav sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuznecov defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunav passes the guard and advances to mount!
Dragunav is looking to work his way around to Kuznecov's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

Dragunav is working for a guillotine from mount but Kuznecov frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunav throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Dragunav looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunav has hold of Kuznecov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kuznecov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

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.

Dragunav goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kuznecov is on top in guard.
Kuznecov stopping the sweep attempt from Dragunav.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ramses Dragunav comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dragunav 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ramses Dragunav!