PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rus Rus (ranked 5215 p4p, 4784 weight class) and Gon Freecs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rus
vs
Freecs

173 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rus Rus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gon Freecs!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freecs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Freecs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rus sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Freecs somewhat.
Freecs goes for a double leg but Rus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rus continues to drive forward.
Rus Rus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gon Freecs.

Freecs has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rus breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freecs with a poor takedown
letting Rus counter with a right hand.

Rus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rus wants to free his trapped foot but Freecs is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Freecs is looking to control Rus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Freecs avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freecs is looking for a sweep. Rus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Freecs missing with punches from the bottom.

Freecs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Freecs is looking for a sweep. Rus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Freecs on the ground.
Rus controlling the pace.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Freecs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Freecs looking for a sweep. Not yet Freecs, not yet.
Freecs has control of Rus's left arm, preventing Rus from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Freecs fails with a takedown attempt.
Rus has a takedown stuffed.
Freecs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rus circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freecs shoots for a takedown but Rus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rus tries to clinch up.
Freecs shoots for a takedown but Rus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Freecs looks winded!
Freecs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Freecs wants it to stay on the feet.
Rus shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Freecs as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Freecs does no damage.
Freecs shoots for a takedown but Rus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Freecs tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rus counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rus stays in close to Freecs's body and controls the position.
Rus has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Freecs is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rus is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rus trying to control but Freecs is working from the bottom.
Freecs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Freecs keeps trying to improve his position.
Freecs lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freecs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rus Rus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Freecs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Freecs wants it to stay on the feet.
Freecs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rus as he jumps to the side.
Freecs fails to land the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Rus on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freecs tries to counter with a clinch but Rus shakes him off and moves away.
A punch combination from Freecs misses.
Rus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Freecs circles away.
A countering left hand to the body from Freecs misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rus Rus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rus shoots in for a takedown but Freecs shows good takedown defense.
Freecs throws a nice head kick!
Rus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Freecs counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freecs shoots in and gets a takedown into Rus's guard.
Rus wants to stand but Freecs is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freecs stands and throws Rus's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Freecs taking a breather here.
Rus is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freecs taking a breather here.

Freecs is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rus is trying to escape the position but Freecs is controlling the position.

Freecs has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rus shoots in for a takedown but Freecs shows good takedown defense.
Freecs leaves Rus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Freecs but Freecs pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Freecs jabs Rus to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Freecs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rus circles away.
Rus Rus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping body kick lands there for Freecs.
Freecs darts in looking for a takedown but Rus gets double underhooks and turns Freecs into the cage.
Nice sprawl there from Rus as Freecs shoots in.
Rus wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gon Freecs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Freecs counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rus tries to keep at a distance but Freecs has taken the fight into the clinch.

Freecs decides to pull guard.
Freecs throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Freecs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rus's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freecs slips nicely into half guard.
Freecs works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gon Freecs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Freecs shoots in looking for a takedown. Rus tries to sprawl out of it but Freecs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Freecs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Freecs.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Freecs.
Rus appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Freecs tries for a takedown but Rus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rus appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rus Rus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gon Freecs.
Rus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freecs slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Freecs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Freecs is fending him off so far but Rus persists. Nope, Freecs circles away and we're back to standing.

Freecs rushes Rus and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Freecs decides to pull guard.
Freecs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rus wants to control from the top but Freecs keeps moving.

Rus gets to his feet. Freecs looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Freecs as he jumps to the side.

Freecs clinches.

Freecs decides to pull guard.
Rus throws a big right hand that misses.
Freecs throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freecs is pulling down on Rus's head. It's preventing any offense from Rus, at least for the moment.
Freecs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Freecs throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Freecs uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Freecs has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freecs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Freecs moves into the clinch.

Freecs pulls guard.
Freecs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rus is fighting to break Freecs's control of his arms but Freecs is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gon Freecs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Freecs is working an open guard so Rus takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rus sets himself, and Freecs steps forward looking for the clinch! Rus avoids it this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Freecs or perhaps it was just good defense by Rus, which made it look bad.

Freecs clinches.
Rus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Freecs pulls guard successfully.
Freecs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rus Rus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gon Freecs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rus with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gon Freecs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Freecs has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Gon Freecs!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Gon Freecs!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Gon Freecs!

Gon Freecs wins by unanimous decision!