PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Ruslan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Crocao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Crocao told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ruslan
vs
Crocao

170 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

FNF Energy - (Sale!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Ruslan!
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, Mirko Crocao!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crocao moves into the clinch.

Crocao pulls Ruslan into guard.
Ruslan won't allow Crocao to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crocao keeping moving, preventing Ruslan from controlling successfully.
Crocao trying to control the position.
Crocao is striking off his back. Ruslan thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crocao is trying to stand back up but Ruslan is controlling him
Crocao is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crocao trying to control but Ruslan postures up.
Crocao is doing well to control the position and prevent Ruslan from advancing to side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Crocao shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Crocao looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crocao decides to stand up.
Igor Ruslan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ruslan misses with a body kick.
Ruslan tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Ruslan.
Crocao throws a head kick that misses.
Ruslan wants to land a leg kick but Crocao is out of range.

Crocao gets a clinch.
Ruslan working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crocao breaks from the clinch.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Crocao shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Crocao showed some decent athleticism there.
Crocao wants to pass to mount but Ruslan is defending the position.
Crocao wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ruslan keeps working.
Crocao tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ruslan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Crocao looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan manages to get to full guard.

Ruslan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ruslan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Crocao's calf.
Ruslan throws a head kick but Crocao moves out of range.
Ruslan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Crocao closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruslan circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Crocao dominated that round.
That's time! Ruslan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ruslan thows a body kick. Crocao tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses

and Crocao counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Crocao looking to sit in guard and control but Ruslan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Crocao keeping moving, preventing Ruslan from controlling successfully.

Ruslan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crocao blocks the body kick.

Ruslan lands a big head kick that sends Crocao tumbling to the mat! Ruslan takes a step backwards and waves Crocao back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Crocao is rocked!

It looks like Mirko Crocao has been cut.
A head kick misses from Ruslan.
Ruslan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ruslan throws a wild body kick that Crocao sees coming a mile off.

Crocao shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Crocao thows a huge punch but Ruslan dodges it nicely.
Crocao tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ruslan controls his leg.
Ruslan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crocao's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crocao's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crocao has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Crocao trying to control but not successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Crocao manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ruslan's guard. Nice work there by Crocao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruslan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Crocao fails to pull guard.

Ruslan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Ruslan.
Crocao blocks a head kick by Ruslan.
Ruslan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ruslan lands with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crocao avoids the head kick by Ruslan.
Nice body kick there by Ruslan.
Crocao misses with a looping left.
Ruslan tries a head kick but it misses.

Crocao fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ruslan sprawls well initially but Crocao persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Crocao looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Crocao is looking to pass Ruslan's guard but actually Ruslan recovers to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ruslan is working an open guard so Crocao takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Ruslan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mirko Crocao's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Crocao tries to clinch up but Ruslan circles away and keeps his distance.
Ruslan pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Crocao fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ruslan sprawls well initially but Crocao persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Crocao performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Crocao stands up out of the half guard.
Crocao tries for a takedown but Ruslan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruslan misses with a head kick.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crocao takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ruslan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ruslan tries a head kick but it misses.

Crocao throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ruslan was covering up waiting for the punch and Crocao finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruslan has Crocao pulled in close to control his posture.
Ruslan keeping moving, preventing Crocao from controlling successfully.
Crocao stops Ruslan from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruslan uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Crocao throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruslan's waist but Ruslan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Crocao off to one side.
Ruslan throws a head kick but Crocao moves out of range.
Ruslan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Crocao.
Igor Ruslan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Crocao.
Ruslan looks for the body kick but Crocao saw that one coming.
Crocao moves out of range as Ruslan throws a body kick.

Crocao throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ruslan was covering up waiting for the punch and Crocao finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruslan keeping moving, preventing Crocao from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan pulls Crocao in close to his closed guard and prevents Crocao from doing any damage or advancing position.
Crocao prevents Ruslan from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Crocao trying to control but Ruslan is working from the bottom.
Ruslan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crocao is one step ahead there.
Ruslan trying to control the position.

Crocao decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ruslan, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Crocao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crocao 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Crocao!