This bout was the headline bout of the “Main Event back in March. It features the UK pound for pound best fighter, Liam Harrison vs. Andrei Kulebin. I sort of feel like Kulebin has been making the rounds in the UK, I think it’s the 3rd time he’s fought here that I’m aware of. For MMT readers in the States, Kulebin is a tough and experienced nak muay from Belarus. He’s won basically every amatuer title he’s competed in, and has several other pro titles including the WMC world title.
June 19, 2012 at 11:32 am
Wow that was painful to watch. Kulebin is a sharp nak muay, Liam had his number with that lumberjack plan, well executed too. Not everyday one sees guys at this level getting the ax this deep in round 1. Two thumbs up by Ponsaneh, I am sure=)
June 19, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I love Liam’s composure here. The measuring left hand and steady use of the low kick was just perfect really. He took his time and chopped Kulebin down. For some reason there was something about the frequency of the low kicks that appealed to me. Some fighters come out, low after low after low, a little like Porsaneh has done in a few fights. Sure they land some and they are hurting the opponent but I don’t think you can continue that pace throughout if you don’t stop the guy early. Other fighters use it sporadically and you really need to be landing it more to get the cumulative damage done. This was really an exhibition on how low kicks should be administered. Well done Liam!
June 19, 2012 at 10:37 pm
i think the real difference is intention. sure you can score with leg kicks. but when you throw them with the intent and knowledge that it will lead to a KO thats when the magic happens.
June 19, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I didn’t think Harrison could pull this one off, but he did. Great performance.
I wonder if he could teach me wrong against Pinca as well, in my eyes the no.1 farang nakmuay at the moment in this weight.
June 19, 2012 at 6:04 pm
This was a smart performance by Liam. I liked his timing with his leg kicks. The moment Kuhlein was thinking of something else Liam would chop at his leg. Kuhlein hung in there but was smart enough to know when enough was enough. Good job by Harrison.
June 19, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Nice technique from both fighters very impressive. Announcer was outright cheering for Harrison though lol.
June 19, 2012 at 9:25 pm
My opinion from watching the fight is that Liam Harrison was damaging the left leg of Andrei Kulebin early and often. It seems that Andrei Kulebin refused to adapt his game plan. Maybe like he said something along the lines of, “I would rather lose than adapt my game plan that does not seem to be working.”
Anyone care to speculate on why Andrei Kulebin did not appear to be trying any drastically different strategy to avoid the low kicks that were damaging his left leg?
June 19, 2012 at 10:38 pm
he was really trying to hide the fact that he was hurt. although it was obvious. kulebin is super tough.
June 22, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Well he changed his stance that seemed pretty drastic to me. What would you have suggested?
June 25, 2012 at 5:12 pm
from my casual fan perspective/knowledge level:
I do see the stance change. i personally did not count that as a strategy change. I just kind of thought nak muay often change up their stance during a fight. That seems not to be the case. Maybe for Andre Kulebin it is a change but for many other nak muay it is just normal?
If Andre Kulebin attempted to score with body kicks might he have been able to avoid taking as many low kicks? If he had attempted to clinch might he have been able to avoid taking as many low kicks? Maybe Liam Harrison does those things very well also so Andrei Kulebin kept taking low kicks? I do not know but would very much like to learn.
I am under the impression that Liam Harrison is kind of known for his punch/low kick style. Is that true?
Is Andre Kulebin known for a style?
June 19, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Nice fight..Harrisons kicks are lethal. Has harrison or kulebin fought artem levin before
June 19, 2012 at 10:28 pm
I would think levin would be waay to big for him .. great fight and aside from whether liam is p4p #1 outside of thailand he has a super entertaining aggressive style that’s very fan friendly.. who doesn’t like leg kicks??
June 19, 2012 at 10:31 pm
“i think i proved tonight that im the #1 p4p fighter outside of thailand tonight” … oh gosh
June 21, 2012 at 11:26 am
..since Mootje retired and Fabio..ehm..Fabio..ehm..” :)
June 19, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Kulebin is one tough bastard… seriously, his leg looked absolutely horrible, but he was able to maintain his composure right up to the very last seconds.
One of the things that Coach Damon is constantly on us about is fight composure. Part of scoring is not showing physical or psychological effect, (showing you’re in pain, or that you’re tired)
Kulebin had his poker face on throughout that onslaught… hats off to both fighters.
Liam I’m sorry I missed this one! Best of luck with your upcoming fight with Saenchai… how about an interview soon?
June 20, 2012 at 12:38 pm
awww, i really like Kulebin too, dammit Liam why’d you have to hurt him? :(. Well, at least you ruined his leg and not his pretty face.
June 23, 2012 at 12:27 am
Pinca is the #1 fighter outside of Thailand IMO.
The win against Saenchai was crap, but its a win. Plus he’s beaten SIngmanee, Sudsakorn and Petmongkong.
No other foreigner has a resume like that.
June 25, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Agreed..
June 23, 2012 at 10:59 am
beg to differ, i beat Namphon pk sterio when he was ranked 1 at raja, Sarmsamut when he was ranked 7 and Songkorn when he was ranked 1 all at the exact weights they were ranked at and TKOed all3. petchmankong was fighting at 61 and pinca beat him at 67 and singmanee had just got out of jail so i disagree i think my wins against those 3 are just as good as the 3 you named for pinca. id love to fight him to prove myself but doubt it will ever happen.
June 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Why doubt that fight will happen? you almost met eachother in Thai Fight. I think Pinca would love to fight you.
June 23, 2012 at 11:05 am
also beaten anuwat, Kulebin, Dhzabber etc
June 24, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Liam is there anyone else outside of Thailand you would like to prove yourself against?
Mootjie Khamal needs a rematch for sure
June 25, 2012 at 12:13 pm
yeah mate would love to fight mootjhe over 5 rounds but hes retired :/ theres plenty of great fighters round europe especially france at 63-67 so can keep busy for sure.
June 25, 2012 at 10:14 pm
fabio will fight anyone who is put in front of him hes a stud for sure. but no one in uk can afford his wage bill and no one in europe is so far willing to pay mine either so god knows.