PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yuyu Hakusho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush has chosen Tom Sawyer - Rush as his entrance music. Yuyu Hakusho has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hakusho
vs
Rush

186 cm
23
184 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
188 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Fight King Nutrition
S.W.A.T.

Green Spirit Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight 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 Montreal, Yuyu Hakusho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush swings for the body but Hakusho moves out of range.
Hakusho throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.
Hakusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Hakusho. No joy for Rush on that attempt.
Hakusho is looking to clinch.
Hakusho moves in looking to clinch but Rush pushes him off.
Rush throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hakusho on the side of the head.
Rush takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rush avoids the head kick by Hakusho.
Hakusho misses with a left hand
and Rush counters with a stiff right hand.
Hakusho looks to land a left hand but Rush moved out of range nicely.
Yuyu Hakusho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush throws out a loose jab but Hakusho uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hakusho misses the jab.
Hakusho fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rush is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush moves away from the strike by Hakusho.

Rush drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rush controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hakusho wants to stand and escape but Rush is having none of it.
Hakusho trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush wants to pass the guard but Hakusho is keeping the position.
Rush controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hakusho is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hakusho keeping full guard, as Rush tries to pass.
Rush prevents Hakusho from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hakusho connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rush momentarily.
Hakusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hakusho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hakusho misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hakusho misses with a knee to the head.
Rush tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hakusho just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hakusho lands a shoulder strike.
Rush misses with a punch to the body.
Hakusho lands a body punch.
Rush managing to block the knees to the body from Hakusho.
Rush jumps guard but Hakusho stands there with Rush around his waist. Rush gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Yuyu Hakusho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
Rush on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hakusho scores with a hook to the body.
Rush avoiding damage as Hakusho throws knees to the body.
Hakusho lands a knee to the head.
Rush tries to land knees in the clinch but Hakusho avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Hakusho on the inside.
Hakusho trying to land knees to the body.
Rush can't get the takedown.
Hakusho lands a nice uppercut.
Hakusho trying to land knees to the body.
Hakusho misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hakusho smiles and moves away.
Hakusho moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rush avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rush throws a body punch but Hakusho moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hakusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hakusho tries to clinch up but Rush circles away and keeps his distance.
Hakusho throws a poor cross that misses
and Rush counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hakusho throws a low kick, looking for Rush's leg but Rush calmly moves out of range.
Yuyu Hakusho is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hakusho scores with a sloppy right hand. Rush should have avoided that one.
Rush fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rush tries a head kick but it misses.
Hakusho lands a jab to the head.
Rush takes one to the side of the head.
Rush just misses with a punch to the body.
Hakusho darts in trying to clinch
and Rush counters with a three punch combo that has Hakusho backing up. Hakusho nods at Rush to acknowledge the strikes.
Hakusho scores with a head kick.

Rush is rocked!
Hakusho comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rush throws a looping overhand right but Hakusho ducks down to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Hakusho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Hakusho tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hakusho manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rush looks gassed!
Hakusho throws a head kick that Rush semi-blocks.
Rush is still on wobbly legs! Can Hakusho finish him?
Hakusho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rush swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice cross by Hakusho.
Rush scores with a leg kick.
Rush gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Hakusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rush just misses with a punch to the body.
Rush seems to have recovered his senses.
Hakusho misses with a low kick.
No luck for Rush with that takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hakusho throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.
Hakusho swings widly with a right hand

and Rush counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rush.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hakusho wants to get back to his feet but Rush is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rush with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuyu Hakusho dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hakusho lands with a kick to the temple. Rush shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rush is looking to slow Hakusho down with leg kicks.

Rush shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rush was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rush throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hakusho slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rush is thwarting Hakusho's attempts to control the position.
Rush prevents Hakusho from standing back up.
Rush is tying to control. Hakusho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rush trying to pass the guard but Hakusho defending well.
Hakusho wants to get back to his feet.

Rush is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rush is tying to control. Hakusho wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hakusho is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rush pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hakusho throws a head kick that misses.
Rush scores with a push kick.
Hakusho throws a lazy head kick

and Rush counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Hakusho makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rush throws a jab when Hakusho was well out of range.
Rush steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Hakusho. That one must have hurt.
Rush bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hakusho throws a head kick that misses.
Hakusho thows a left - swing and a miss!

Hakusho clinches with his opponent.
Rush on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hakusho tries a knee to the head but Rush blocks it.
Rush is looking to break free of the clinch but Hakusho has double underhooks.
Hakusho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rush has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush goes for a takedown attempt but Hakusho pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hakusho clinches up with Rush and pushes him back against the cage.
Hakusho controlling the action here for a moment.
Hakusho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hakusho lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hakusho tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rush is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hakusho pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hakusho works on Rush's body with a couple of short punches.
Hakusho connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rush's face.
Hakusho lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hakusho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hakusho lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hakusho lands a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hakusho lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rush backwards.
Hakusho working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Hakusho.
Hakusho prevents the takedown attempt.
Yuyu Hakusho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
Come on Rush - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Hakusho misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rush is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hakusho misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rush is trying to break the clinch but Hakusho has him pressed against the cage.

Rush jumps into guard, dragging Hakusho to the mat.
Hakusho won't allow Rush to sweep him here.
Rush is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rush not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Hakusho gets to his feet - Rush follows without any prompting.
Hakusho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A choreographed right hand from Hakusho misses the target.
Rush gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hakusho lands with a slapping head kick.
Hakusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rush throws a head kick that misses.
Hakusho on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rush avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rush takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hakusho throws a hook but Rush avoids it easily.
Hakusho jabs at Rush's body.
Rush changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hakusho tries to avoid it but Rush manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hakusho to the ground. Hakusho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick by Hakusho misses
and Rush counters with a good low kick that Hakusho was not able to check.
Rush circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rush throws a head kick but Hakusho moves out of range.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hakusho as he jumps to the side.
Rush takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hakusho misses with a two punch combination.
Hakusho jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hakusho fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hakusho scores with a jab.
Rush lands a jab to Hakusho's midsection.
Hakusho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rush.
Hakusho takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Nice cross by Rush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yuyu Hakusho will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rush scores with a head kick.
Rush shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hakusho but Hakusho pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hakusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rush thuds his shin into the meat of Hakusho's side.
Hakusho is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rush.
Hakusho throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hakusho is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yuyu Hakusho is winning the standup battle so far.
Rush lands with a hook. Hakusho tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A head kick by Hakusho misses
and Rush counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hakusho pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rush closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hakusho to the mat! Hakusho manages to get full guard.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rush prevents Hakusho from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rush wants to control from the top but Hakusho keeps moving.
Hakusho is looking to stand up but Rush isn't so interested in that idea.

Hakusho is looking for a triangle but Rush pushes his legs off easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hakusho uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rush misses with a head kick.
Hakusho throws a head kick but Rush moves out of range.
Rush misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fighters circling - Hakusho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hakusho tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rush counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rush wants to control from the top but Hakusho keeps moving.
Rush slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jesper Rush has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hakusho looking for a sweep. Not yet Hakusho, not yet.
Hakusho wants to get back to his feet but Rush is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hakusho is trying to keep Rush in close.
Hakusho 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.
Hakusho controls Rush momentarily but Rush frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush blocks a head kick by Hakusho.
Hakusho scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
No luck for Rush with that takedown attempt.
Rush tries for a takedown but Hakusho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yuyu Hakusho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
Hakusho's corner calls for a 1-2. Hakusho obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hakusho misses with an uppercut.
Rush cracks Hakusho with an open hand slap.
Hakusho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rush swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hakusho throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.
Rush looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rush circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hakusho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rush lands a lovely overhand right.
Hakusho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hakusho throws a solid leg kick but Rush takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hakusho.
Hakusho fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rush is out of range.
Hakusho rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rush counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush blocks a head kick by Hakusho.
Rush connects with a single shot there.
Rush is looking to land body kicks.
Rush throws a head kick that misses.
Hakusho goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hakusho tries to clinch up.
Hakusho tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hakusho swings widly with a right hand

and Rush counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hakusho's guard now.
Rush is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rush keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hakusho's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hakusho keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rush misses the shot to the body.
Hakusho misses with a head kick.
Hakusho tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Hakusho.
Hakusho throws a sloppy head kick
letting Rush counter with a right hand.
Hakusho lands a head kick!
Rush loads up on a big right hand but Hakusho slips the punch.
Hakusho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hakusho tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rush counters with a left to the body.
A head kick by Hakusho misses
and Rush counters with a nice uppercut.
Hakusho tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Rush counter with a right hand.
Hakusho tries to clinch but Rush is having none of it.
Hakusho throws out a loose jab but Rush uses good head movement to avoid it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rush uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hakusho.
Rush closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hakusho circles away.

Hakusho gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hakusho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hakusho is really struggling to control Rush but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hakusho controlling the position.
Hakusho controls Rush momentarily but Rush frees himself.

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.
Hakusho working a defensive guard but Rush passes into half guard.
Hakusho is trying to stand.
Hakusho preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush is keen to just control but Hakusho is a slippery customer.
Hakusho wants to stand back up but Rush manages to pass into side control.
Hakusho tries to escape but Rush is in control.
Rush working the ground and pound but Hakusho is defending the strikes.
A lull in the action here as Rush stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hakusho is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho tries to improve position but can't.
Rush moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hakusho is looking for a sweep.

Rush tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rush has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hakusho is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rush's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nice strikes from Rush there.
Rush slows the pace down in half guard.
Rush is looking to advance position but Hakusho won't allow it.
Rush wants to take a breather but Hakusho is having none of it.
Rush stops Hakusho from getting back to his feet.
Rush wants to control but Hakusho is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hakusho steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rush. That one must have hurt.
Hakusho throws a chopping leg kick but Rush manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hakusho connects with a looping right hand.
Rush ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hakusho moves away.
Rush swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hakusho throws a head kick that misses

and Rush counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rush.
Hakusho controls Rush momentarily but Rush frees himself.
Rush seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rush wants to control from the top but Hakusho keeps moving.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rush postures up.
Hakusho wants to get back to his feet but Rush is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakusho keeping moving, preventing Rush from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rush accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rush is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rush blocks a head kick by Hakusho.
Hakusho slips a jab and a cross from Rush.
Hakusho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rush throws an overhand right that lands on Hakusho's shoulder, as Hakusho tries to avoid the shot.
Hakusho takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A shot to de liver by Hakusho. Beautiful body shot.
Hakusho has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rush.
Rush shoots in but no luck this time.
Hakusho lands a nice looking body kick.
Hakusho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rush has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hakusho slips a straight right by Rush.
Hakusho pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hakusho throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hakusho staying out of range there.
Rush on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hakusho tries to move into range but Rush moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hakusho waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Rush.
Hakusho swings widly with a right hand

and Rush counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hakusho!
Rush with a couple of short strikes.
Rush landing shots from mount.
Rush trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hakusho is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hakusho tries to lock up and control but Rush gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho is trying to escape the mount but Rush keeps good control and instead manages to take Hakusho's back.
Hakusho tries to roll but Rush sticks to his back.
Hakusho trying to control the hands but Rush won't let him.
Hakusho tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Rush is working for a guillotine from mount but Hakusho frees his head quite easily.
Hakusho is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rush raining down shots from the mount!
Hakusho gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakusho is staying active underneath Rush, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hakusho trying to control here.
Hakusho wants to get back to his feet.
Rush works his way into full mount!
Hakusho is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hakusho wants to hold on but Rush pushes him away.
Rush trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesper Rush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rush has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 47:48
Judge William Peck scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesper Rush!
Jesper Rush is the new middleweight champion!