PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kuklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luciano Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cruz has chosen Smack That as his entrance music. Ivan Kuklin is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Kuklin
vs
Cruz

185 cm
23
217 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
31
200 lbs
4 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ivan Kuklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luciano Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruz staying out of range there.
Kuklin scores with a punch to the head.
Kuklin stuffs the takedown.
Kuklin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Luciano Cruz has been cut.

Kuklin moves into the clinch.

Kuklin breaks the clinch.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuklin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kuklin scores with a takedown into Cruz's guard.
We've been hearing that Kuklin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Cruz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kuklin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kuklin works over Cruz with some ground and pound from guard.
Kuklin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuklin advances position into side control!
Cruz takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cruz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuklin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kuklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cruz.

Cruz is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kuklin sees it coming and defends easily.
Kuklin gets full guard.
Kuklin is pulling down on Cruz's head. It's preventing any offense from Cruz, at least for the moment.
Cruz won't allow Kuklin to sweep him here.
Cruz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Kuklin manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cruz manages to break the clinch.
Kuklin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz looks winded!
Kuklin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Kuklin throws a low kick but Cruz avoids it.
Cruz takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Kuklin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuklin lands a nice forearm strike.
Kuklin working the head with strikes.
Kuklin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cruz to see if he's OK.

Cruz is rocked!
Cruz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Cruz is still in real trouble! Can Kuklin finish him?
Kuklin lands a strong strike to the head of Cruz. That's dazed him! Kuklin looking to finish here. Cruz is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Kuklin lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Kuklin!
In defeat, Luciano Cruz stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will be back'.