Alexey Kunchenko and Thiago Alves squared off today (Sat., September 15, 2018) at UFC Fight Night 136 inside Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia, live on UFC Fight Pass.
The fight started out fairly slowly, each man circling patiently. Alves threw a few inside low kicks, and Kunchenko returned the favor. Alves tried a front kick. Kunchenko timed an overhand right. The commentators noted that Kunchenko, a former Army serviceman, had ‘been doing this since he was 9 years old’. Alves landed a one-two combination. He set up a leg kick with a lead hook. Kunchenko was pressuring a little bit, and stepped into a nice bodyshot. Alves landed a leg kick and threw up a head kick.
Kunchenko used more effective pressure in the second round, cutting off the cage. He landed some nice straight punches. Alves turned up his famous leg kicks in response, spinning Kunchenko all the way around with those leg kicks. Kunchenko had a huge lump forming on his shin between rounds. That might have been from his own checking of Kunchenko’s leg kicks.
Thiago Alves opened the third round with more leg kicks, while Kunchenko attempted to throw in combination as he backed Alves near the cage. He landed a nice combination, mixing up straight punches with bodyshots. Alves landed an overhand. Kunchenko landed a couple nice combinations, which Alves was mostly countering with single shots and leg kicks. Alves landed a knee. Kunchenko landed a brief takedown near the end of the round, but Alves got right back up. They clinched.
The judges saw it Kunchenko’s way. In the aftermath, Kunchenko called out Cowboy Cerrone. That’s probably not a fight he’ll get just yet, but he’s a promising prospect to keep an eye on.
Official result: Alexey Kunchenko def. Thiago Alves by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
For complete UFC Fight Night 136 results, including play-by-play, click here