PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andriy Kuzmenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Cage has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuzmenko
vs
Cage

195 cm
22
260 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
270 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Kemists ↑™ 5x160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andriy Kuzmenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johnny Cage!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage scores with a jab.
Kuzmenko throws a body punch but Cage moves out of range.
Cage defending well as Kuzmenko loads up on a big left hand.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cage! But no joy.
An inside leg kick lands from Cage.
Cage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuzmenko.
Cage appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kuzmenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kuzmenko swings widly with a right hand
and Cage counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kuzmenko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cage.
Kuzmenko moves forwards but Cage connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kuzmenko misses with a hook.
Kuzmenko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cage dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kuzmenko. That did some damage!
Jab from Cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuzmenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cage backs up against the cage.

It looks like Johnny Cage has been cut.
Cage defending well as Kuzmenko loads up on a big left hand.
Kuzmenko throws out a powerful jab.
Nice shot lands for Cage.
Kuzmenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cage lands a leg kick that knocks Kuzmenko off balance momentarily.
Kuzmenko lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cage cracks the inside of Kuzmenko's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cage throws a head kick that Kuzmenko semi-blocks.
Kuzmenko looks to clinch
and Cage counters with a straight right hand.
Cage tests Kuzmenko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice shot lands for Kuzmenko.
Cage looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kuzmenko scores with a nice head shot.

Kuzmenko cracks Cage with an uppercut from hell and Cage crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Kuzmenko's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Cage is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzmenko is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cage is still in real trouble! Can Kuzmenko finish him?

Kuzmenko stands and steps away. Cage gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cage seems to have recovered his senses.
Cage fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kuzmenko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kuzmenko sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Cage throws a right and a left that Kuzmenko avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuzmenko.
Cage scores with a jab. Kuzmenko acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cage is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kuzmenko had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Kuzmenko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Cage throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cage connects with a leg kick. Kuzmenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cage scores with a jab to the body.
Cage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cage throws a front kick aimed at Kuzmenko's knee but Kuzmenko avoids it well.
Cage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kuzmenko's calf.
Kuzmenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cage makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kuzmenko takes one on the button.
Kuzmenko connects with a looping right hand.

That has opened up Johnny Cage's cut even more.
Good work by Cage as he checks the leg kick.
Kuzmenko misses with a wild combination.
Kuzmenko wants to clinch but Cage slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kuzmenko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cage under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmenko scores with a jab to the head.
Cage cracks the inside of Kuzmenko's front leg.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch up.
Cage thumps Kuzmenko with a low kick.
Kuzmenko throws a nice looking combination but Cage bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuzmenko misses with a low kick as Cage jumps back.

Kuzmenko darts in and clinches Cage up against the cage.
Kuzmenko lands with a short shot to the head.
Kuzmenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuzmenko.

Cage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kuzmenko's calf.
Kuzmenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cage is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kuzmenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Cage circles away.
Cage tries a quick counter leg kick but Kuzmenko is wise to it.
Kuzmenko misses with a two punch combination.
Cage lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kuzmenko's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuzmenko throws an off balance right hand
enabling Cage to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuzmenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch up but Cage circles away and keeps his distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Cage misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuzmenko misses the target.
Cage has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Cage thumps Kuzmenko with a low kick.
Cage feints a jab promting Kuzmenko to slip. Cage then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kuzmenko slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Kuzmenko.
Kuzmenko walks into a left hand.
Kuzmenko moves in looking to clinch but Cage pushes him off.
Kuzmenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cage walks into a left hand.

The cut above Johnny Cage's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Kuzmenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuzmenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuzmenko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cage scores with a kick to the midsection.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cage.
Cage scores with a spinning back kick!
Kuzmenko tries to clinch there but Cage circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johnny Cage will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Johnny Cage's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cage connects with a leg kick. Kuzmenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Cage throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cage lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cage cracks a nice hook into Kuzmenko's ribs.
Good work by Cage as he checks the leg kick.
Kuzmenko moves in looking to clinch but Cage pushes him off.
Kuzmenko misses with a looping left.
Cage plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kuzmenko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuzmenko wants to clinch.
Kuzmenko missing with a left hand there. Cage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuzmenko throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Cage looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cage throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Andriy Kuzmenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kuzmenko closes the distance and pushes Cage back into the cage.
Kuzmenko throws a head punch that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cage misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kuzmenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cage.
Kuzmenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Cage is looking to slow Kuzmenko down with leg kicks.
Cage feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kuzmenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cage throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cage cracks the inside of Kuzmenko's front leg.
Kuzmenko throws a lazy right hand but Cage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cage doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Both fighters circling a little - Cage finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cage with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzmenko misses with a wild combination.
Cage scores with a kick to the body.
Kuzmenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cage is looking for the big counter here.
Johnny Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by Cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage takes one to the side of the head.
Kuzmenko misses the jab.
Kuzmenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cage.
Cage scores with a spinning back kick!
Cage throws a series of punches but Kuzmenko moves out of range.
A lazy left from Kuzmenko finds it's target.
Cage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kuzmenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Cage.
Kuzmenko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cage is out of range and Kuzmenko settles back down.
Kuzmenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cage avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cage buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cage misses with a straight right.
Cage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kuzmenko will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuzmenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cage throws a sloppy head kick and Kuzmenko moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmenko catches Cage with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A combination from Kuzmenko does no damage.
Cage lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Kuzmenko lands a two punch combo.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cage.
Cage throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cage connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kuzmenko. Kuzmenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage takes one to the chin there.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuzmenko swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kuzmenko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Johnny Cage's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
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!
Kuzmenko throws a series of punches but Cage moves out of range.
Kuzmenko takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cage.

Kuzmenko gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage tries to throw a body punch but Kuzmenko avoids it by throwing Cage back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuzmenko.
Kuzmenko lands a left hand.
Cage blocking some punches.
Cage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuzmenko's elbow.
A right hand to the body from Cage.
Cage lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuzmenko is trying to push Cage away but Cage has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Cage manages to break the clinch.
Kuzmenko tries to bum rush Cage with a series of wild strikes but Cage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cage throws a fast counter high kick but Kuzmenko manages to duck under it in time.
Kuzmenko throws a push kick but Cage slaps the foot to one side.
Cage looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kuzmenko wants to clinch up but Cage keeps it at a distance.
Cage lands an overhand right.
Kuzmenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cage counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cage circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cage counters with a nice uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Cage's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cage lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kuzmenko will feel that in the morning.
Cage looks to land a combination. Kuzmenko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kuzmenko throws a big shot that misses.
Cage throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kuzmenko on the side of the head.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cage thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kuzmenko if he has to take too many more of those.
Cage misses with a series of wild punches.
Decent striking displayed by Cage there.
Kuzmenko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kuzmenko wants to clinch
and Cage finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kuzmenko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid leg kick lands there for Cage.
Cage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cage fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kuzmenko on the side of the head.
Kuzmenko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kuzmenko has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Good leg kick by Cage there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cage checks a leg kick nicely.
Kuzmenko takes one to the chin there.
Cage fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cage looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kuzmenko cracks Cage with an open hand slap.
Cage fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kuzmenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kuzmenko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kuzmenko throws a lazy right hand but Cage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cage circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cage looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kuzmenko looks to throw the jab but Cage is out of range.
Cage lands a jab to the head.
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!
A combination from Kuzmenko does no damage.
Kuzmenko dodges the punch combination from Cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage connects with a solid leg kick.
Cage throws a right hand that Kuzmenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuzmenko also avoids with ease.
Kuzmenko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cage finds it's way round the side to connect with Kuzmenko's head.
Cage lands with a nice body punch.
Kuzmenko's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cage connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kuzmenko scrambles back to his feet.
Cage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cage cracks the inside of Kuzmenko's front leg.
Kuzmenko takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kuzmenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cage works Kuzmenko's body with a nice hook.
Cage scores with a body shot.
Cage misses with a head kick.
A left and a right from Cage both land. Nice combination.
Cage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuzmenko.
Cage lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch but Cage moves out of range.
Cage unleashes a big counter combination but Kuzmenko bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kuzmenko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cage manages to avoid it.
Cage works over Kuzmenko's head and body with a nice combination.
Kuzmenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cage connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuzmenko's hands.
Cage moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Cage misses its intended target.
Kuzmenko's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Cage pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kuzmenko back to the cage. Cage follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Kuzmenko is rocked!
Kuzmenko tries to clinch but Cage moves out of range.
Oh Kuzmenko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kuzmenko throws a hook but Cage avoids it easily.
Kuzmenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Cage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuzmenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Kuzmenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Cage circles away.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch up.
Kuzmenko misses with a hook.
Cage scores with a hook to the body. Kuzmenko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Cage lands a lovely overhand right.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cage counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage throws a shot from downtown. Kuzmenko moves away and avoids it.
Kuzmenko throws a head kick that misses
and Cage counters with a thumping low kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cage throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuzmenko.
Cage throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuzmenko.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch but Cage is having none of it.
Cage moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kuzmenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cage throws a leg kick but Kuzmenko moved away.
Kuzmenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuzmenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cage buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuzmenko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kuzmenko tries to clinch
and Cage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cage throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Cage lands a big head kick that sends Kuzmenko to the canvas! Cage follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Johnny Cage!
Johnny Cage is the new heavyweight champion!
Johnny Cage managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Kemists ↑™ 5x160Q, into his post fight interview.