145 lb. Bout- Kevin Rothacker (Strong Style MMA) vs. Doug Kulbis (Evolve MMA)
Fighters from two of the top Northeast Ohio gyms will face off as Strong Style (Independence,
Ohio) fighter Kevin Rothacker takes on Evolve MMA (Akron) fighter Doug Kulbis.
Kulbis is absolutely covered in tattoos, all of which are excellently done.
Round 1
Kulbis takes his traditional southpaw stance and lands a quick one-two combo. Rothacker
is squinting out of his right eye just seconds into the fight. Rothacker is working on head
movement and is learing quickly to avoid the combos of Kulbis. Kulbis lands a left head kick
to the chin of Rothacker, but Rothacker seems composed. Both men are flurrying. Rothacker
uses a Kulbis head kick (which lands, I might add), to take Kulbis down. Rothacker is in Kulbis’
guard and Kulbis is working to stand up. Rothacker seems to hae recovered from the early shots
he took and now has Kulbis on his back against the cage. Kulbis works to butterfly guard and
kicks Rothacker off. Both men are on their feet in the center of the cage. Kulbis is throwing
a variety of strikes, but Rothacker returns the favor. Despite an early striking advantage by
Kulbis, Rothacker stayed strong and took the round after weathering the storm. 10-9 for Kevin
Rothacker.
Round 2
Rothacker’s corner reminds him to move left to avoid Kulbis’ left hand and leg. Kulbis is
throwing a lot of punches, but not landing much of anything. Rothacker is giving up a good deal
of reach, and looks to be struggling to get inside of Kulbis’ range. Rothacker clinches and throws
some knees to the body of Kulbis. Kulbis lands a head kick. Rothacker’s right hand is beginning
to drop, leaving himself vulnerable to Kulbis’ power. That last head kick from Kulbis, and a left
cross has split open Rothacker’s eyebrow. Rothacker is a tough customer and keeps pressing
the action. Rothacker floors Kulbis with a few rights and is drilling Kulbis from inside Kulbis’
guard. Both men are tired now and the action has slowed down significantly. Kulbis is throwing
elbows from the bottom and is eating some fists for his troubles. 10-9 for Rothacker. Wow. After
a round like that one, this 3rd round should be a slugfest, as the fight could be hanging in the
balance.
Round 3
The action is delayed by the ringside doctor examining Rothacker’s cut, but it’s deemed
acceptable and we’ll go to round 3. Leg kicks by Rothacker nearly take Kulbis down. . Nice
body shot by rothacker. Kulbis throws a double flying knee, but misses narrowly. Both men are
throwing wild strikes, none really landing squarely. They clinch briefly and Rothatcker throws
and lands a head kick. Rothacker is really bleeding now, but is moving forward. Kulbis scores
a takedown and looks to mount. Rothacker gets to his feet and drops Kulbis with strikes and
mounts with heavy strikes. I had that one 10-9 for Rothacker, and my official unofficial score
had the fight 30-27 for Kevin Rothacker, but both men showed tremendous guts and skill. The
fight goes to the judges and they have the fight for Kevin Rothacker by unanimous decision (29-
28×3). It’s a shame that this fight had to come to an end. Great fight by both Kevin Rothacker
and Doug Kulbis, alike. If Mr. Greg Kalikas (Pro Series Matchmaker, announcer, and President
of the NAAFS) reads this blog, I want to see a rematch!
145 lb. Bout- Kevin Rothacker (Strong Style MMA) vs. Doug Kulbis (Evolve MMA)
Fighters from two of the top Northeast Ohio gyms will face off as Strong Style (Independence, Ohio) fighter Kevin Rothacker takes on Evolve MMA (Akron) fighter Doug Kulbis. Kulbis is absolutely covered in tattoos, all of which are excellently done.
Round 1
Kulbis takes his traditional southpaw stance and lands a quick one-two combo. Rothacker is squinting out of his right eye just seconds into the fight. Rothacker is working on head movement and is learing quickly to avoid the combos of Kulbis. Kulbis lands a left head kick to the chin of Rothacker, but Rothacker seems composed. Both men are flurrying. Rothacker uses a Kulbis head kick (which lands, I might add), to take Kulbis down. Rothacker is in Kulbis’ guard and Kulbis is working to stand up. Rothacker seems to hae recovered from the early shots he took and now has Kulbis on his back against the cage. Kulbis works to butterfly guard and kicks Rothacker off. Both men are on their feet in the center of the cage. Kulbis is throwing a variety of strikes, but Rothacker returns the favor. Despite an early striking advantage by Kulbis, Rothacker stayed strong and took the round after weathering the storm. 10-9 for Kevin Rothacker.
Round 2
Rothacker’s corner reminds him to move left to avoid Kulbis’ left hand and leg. Kulbis is throwing a lot of punches, but not landing much of anything. Rothacker is giving up a good deal of reach, and looks to be struggling to get inside of Kulbis’ range. Rothacker clinches and throws some knees to the body of Kulbis. Kulbis lands a head kick. Rothacker’s right hand is beginning to drop, leaving himself vulnerable to Kulbis’ power. That last head kick from Kulbis, and a left cross has split open Rothacker’s eyebrow. Rothacker is a tough customer and keeps pressing the action. Rothacker floors Kulbis with a few rights and is drilling Kulbis from inside Kulbis’ guard. Both men are tired now and the action has slowed down significantly. Kulbis is throwing elbows from the bottom and is eating some fists for his troubles. 10-9 for Rothacker. Wow. After a round like that one, this 3rd round should be a slugfest, as the fight could be hanging in the balance.
Round 3
The action is delayed by the ringside doctor examining Rothacker’s cut, but it’s deemed acceptable and we’ll go to round 3. Leg kicks by Rothacker nearly take Kulbis down. . Nice body shot by rothacker. Kulbis throws a double flying knee, but misses narrowly. Both men are throwing wild strikes, none really landing squarely. They clinch briefly and Rothatcker throws and lands a head kick. Rothacker is really bleeding now, but is moving forward. Kulbis scores a takedown and looks to mount. Rothacker gets to his feet and drops Kulbis with strikes and mounts with heavy strikes. I had that one 10-9 for Rothacker, and my official unofficial score had the fight 30-27 for Kevin Rothacker, but both men showed tremendous guts and skill. The fight goes to the judges and they have the fight for Kevin Rothacker by unanimous decision (29-28×3). It’s a shame that this fight had to come to an end. Great fight by both Kevin Rothacker and Doug Kulbis, alike. If Mr. Greg Kalikas (Pro Series Matchmaker, announcer, and President of the NAAFS) reads this blog, I want to see a rematch!