PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lark McTeague (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dariusz Ruslan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McTeague comes to the cage accompanied by Goodbye Horses - Q Lazzarus . Ruslan has chosen Hester Prynne as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

McTeague
vs
Ruslan

180 cm
21
210 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

198 cm
22
219 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Tri Light Clothing
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

Syndicate Drugs
Cobra Kai Nutrition (St. Pete's Best)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lark McTeague!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dariusz Ruslan!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruslan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ruslan tries to move into range but McTeague moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McTeague just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruslan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McTeague is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ruslan.
Ruslan misses with a head kick.
Ruslan scoring well with a low kick there.
Ruslan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
McTeague misses with a wild body shot.
Dariusz Ruslan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McTeague fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ruslan manages to avoid it.
Ruslan tries to bum rush McTeague with a series of wild strikes but McTeague uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ruslan slips a jab and a cross from McTeague.
Ruslan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McTeague.
McTeague swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by McTeague.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
McTeague uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ruslan.
McTeague tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ruslan throws a hook to the side of McTeague's head but McTeague sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ruslan throws a jab but it's blocked by McTeague.
Ruslan misses the jab.
Ruslan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McTeague uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruslan.
A shot to the body from McTeague misses
and Ruslan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A jab from McTeague misses.
A shot to de liver by McTeague. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan tries to close the distance and clinch but McTeague swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ruslan closes the distance and clinches up with McTeague, looking for a takedown. Ruslan pushes McTeague against the cage but McTeague circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ruslan misses with a straight right.
McTeague thows a body shot but no joy.
McTeague jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A clash of legs there as McTeague blocks the low kick.
Ruslan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McTeague looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McTeague throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McTeague throws a looping overhand right but Ruslan ducks down to avoid it.
Ruslan throws a big shot that misses.
Ruslan misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ruslan. McTeague does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ruslan throws a predictable looking body shot
and McTeague counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ruslan staying out of range there.
Ruslan tries to clinch up
and McTeague counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ruslan thinking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lark McTeague dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McTeague misses the jab.
Ruslan looks to land a combination but McTeague avoids it well.
Ruslan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McTeague works over Ruslan's head and body with a nice combination.
McTeague lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ruslan wants to clinch up but McTeague keeps it at a distance.
Ruslan throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McTeague avoids the body shot from Ruslan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan misses with a double jab.
Ruslan fails to land the takedown.
Ruslan is looking to clinch but McTeague is avoiding it.
McTeague throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruslan.
Ruslan throws a jab but it's blocked by McTeague.
Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McTeague.
Ruslan connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ruslan tries to close the distance and clinch but McTeague swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McTeague connects with a single shot there.
Ruslan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McTeague counters with a straight right hand.
McTeague dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruslan misses with a shot to the body
and McTeague counters with a straight right hand.
McTeague throws a lazy right hand but Ruslan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ruslan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTeague misses with a body punch
and Ruslan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruslan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
McTeague misses with a wild body shot.
McTeague uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruslan.
Ruslan stuns McTeague with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ruslan clinches but McTeague breaks the clinch
and McTeague cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ruslan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan lands a head shot.
Ruslan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ruslan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McTeague sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ruslan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McTeague scores with a jab.
Ruslan looks to land a combination but McTeague avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lark McTeague dominated that second round.
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.

Ruslan moves out of range as McTeague strikes.
McTeague scores with a jab to the head.
Ruslan scores with a three punch combo!
Ruslan just misses with a punch to the body.
Ruslan slips under a jab.
McTeague looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruslan is just out of range.
Lark McTeague is winning the standup battle so far.
McTeague is looking to clinch.
Ruslan throws a jab but it's blocked by McTeague.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McTeague looks to score with a jab to the body but Ruslan is just out of range.
McTeague jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McTeague tries to close the distance and clinch but Ruslan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ruslan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McTeague connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big left from McTeague misses.
Ruslan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ruslan shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Good shot there by Ruslan.
Ruslan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McTeague sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McTeague slips under a jab from Ruslan.
Nice body punch from Ruslan.
McTeague throws a nice looking combination but Ruslan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McTeague misses with a straight right.
McTeague is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McTeague lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTeague throws a right hand that Ruslan ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruslan also avoids with ease.
Ruslan takes one to the side of the head.
Ruslan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ruslan swings away with a body shot that misses
and McTeague counters with a three punch combo that has Ruslan backing up. Ruslan nods at McTeague to acknowledge the strikes.
Ruslan swings for the body but McTeague moves out of range.
Ruslan moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McTeague connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ruslan momentarily.
Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McTeague.
Ruslan misses with a few strikes there.
McTeague throws a shot from downtown. Ruslan moves away and avoids it.
Ruslan lands a nice leg kick that just misses McTeague's sensitive parts.
A jab from McTeague misses.
Ruslan falls off balance throwing a combination
and McTeague counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lark McTeague clearly takes that round.
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.

Ruslan throws the left hand but McTeague avoids the punch easily.
Ruslan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
McTeague lands with a right hand.
Ruslan misses with a hook.
McTeague lands with a right hand.
Ruslan misses with a jab to the body
and McTeague counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ruslan takes a jab right on the kisser.
A head kick misses from Ruslan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McTeague throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lark McTeague is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ruslan thows a body shot but no joy.
McTeague tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ruslan was well out of range. Poor timing from McTeague.
McTeague throws out a loose jab but Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruslan throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from McTeague.
Ruslan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McTeague closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ruslan thuds a left hand into McTeague's body.
McTeague swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ruslan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McTeague throws out a loose jab but Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ruslan misses with a shot to the body
and McTeague counters with a straight right hand.
McTeague misses with a wild body shot.
Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McTeague.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTeague swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruslan ducks under a wild hook from McTeague.
A slow jab from Ruslan misses its intended target.

Ruslan darts in and clinches McTeague up against the cage.
McTeague lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ruslan backwards.
A short left from McTeague.
Ruslan misses with some punches.
McTeague blocking some punches.
Ruslan has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ruslan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nice body punch from Ruslan - that landed with a thud.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McTeague as Ruslan tries to tie him up.
Ruslan slowing the pace effectively.

That's four 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.
McTeague is looking to break free of the clinch but Ruslan has double underhooks.
McTeague doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ruslan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ruslan lands a shoulder strike.
Ruslan tries a body shot but McTeague blocks it.
Ruslan misses with the head strike.
Ruslan misses with a punch on the inside.
Ruslan tries to stall but McTeague uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
McTeague scores with a shot to the side of Ruslan's head.
McTeague wants to break free but Ruslan has control.
Ruslan is trying to maintain a safe position but McTeague gets an underhook and turns Ruslan into the cage.
Ruslan holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ruslan is leaning against McTeague and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McTeague lands a hook that snaps the head of Ruslan backwards.
Ruslan is leaning against McTeague and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McTeague blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ruslan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McTeague blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruslan lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lark McTeague had his way with Dariusz Ruslan in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ruslan blocks a jab.
Ruslan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from McTeague misses its intended target.
Ruslan tries to close the distance and clinch up but McTeague swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McTeague throws out a loose jab but Ruslan uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McTeague throws a looping overhand right but Ruslan ducks down to avoid it.
Ruslan just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McTeague digs a good body shot into Ruslan's ribs.
Ruslan scores with a hook.
McTeague looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McTeague throws a lazy right hand but Ruslan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McTeague throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruslan.
McTeague connects with a looping right hand.
Ruslan throws a hook to the side of McTeague's head but McTeague sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McTeague uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ruslan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McTeague throws a jab but it's blocked by Ruslan.
McTeague lands with a hook. Ruslan tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ruslan throws a shot from downtown. McTeague moves away and avoids it.
McTeague ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruslan moves away.
McTeague throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruslan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ruslan fails in his attempt to clinch.
McTeague stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McTeague misses with a combination
and Ruslan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ruslan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McTeague swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McTeague takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McTeague looks to land a right hand but Ruslan moved out of range.
Ruslan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McTeague stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lark McTeague is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ruslan swings for the body but McTeague moves out of range.
Ruslan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ruslan tries to clinch up
and McTeague connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice defenses there by Ruslan.
Dariusz Ruslan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McTeague throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ruslan sees it coming and avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lark McTeague showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McTeague, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 50:45
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lark McTeague!
Lark McTeague retains his light heavyweight title!