PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Crni Rusvaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Crni Rusvaj has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rusvaj
vs
Man

181 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Crni Rusvaj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rich Man!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Man shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Man stops Rusvaj from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Man in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Man trying to mount his opponent but Rusvaj defends it.
Rusvaj wants to control but Man is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Man wants to free his trapped foot but Rusvaj is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Man is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rusvaj defends it well.
Rusvaj trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusvaj slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rusvaj is on top in guard.
Rusvaj wanted to stand there but Man had control of the position.
Man is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rusvaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Man is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Man is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Man lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rusvaj!
Man content just to control the position here.
Rusvaj tries to reverse the position but Man maintains control.
Man looking to finish Rusvaj with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rusvaj!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rusvaj tries to hold on but Man pushes him away.
Man working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Man controlling his opponent.
Rusvaj keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rusvaj tries to hold on but Man postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rusvaj sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Man frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rusvaj can't escape the position.
Rusvaj is breathing heavily.

Man moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rusvaj has worked his arm free - good work by Rusvaj!
Rusvaj is looking to regain half guard here but Man keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Man dominated that round.
That's time! Rusvaj's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Man closes the distance and clinches.
Man is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rusvaj is defending well for now.
Man leaning against his opponent.

Man pulls guard successfully.
Rusvaj postures up.
Rusvaj trying to control but Man is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Man working a defensive guard here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Man can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusvaj won't allow Man to sweep him here.

Rusvaj gets to his feet - Man follows without any prompting.
Man is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rusvaj.
Rusvaj has his takedown stuffed

and Man counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rusvaj won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rusvaj tries to improve position but can't.
Man is working Rusvaj over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rusvaj wants to control but Man postures up.

Man decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rusvaj to his feet.

Man moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Man wants the takedown. Rusvaj is fighting it off but Man persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rusvaj's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Man postures up.
Rich Man has got the better of the ground game so far.

Man stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Man feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Man stops Rusvaj from standing up.
Rusvaj working a defensive guard here.
Man wants to control from the top but Rusvaj keeps moving.
Man must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rusvaj trying to keep a closed guard but Man is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man trying to control but Rusvaj is working from the bottom.
Man not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rusvaj gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rusvaj wants to get back to striking at distance but Man won't allow it.
Rusvaj looking to slow down the pace here.

Rusvaj is fighting off a takedown attempt but Man is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rusvaj to the mat. Rusvaj regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rusvaj trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rusvaj wants to stand up but Man is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Man showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rusvaj shoots in but Man avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rusvaj looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Man manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rusvaj misses with a takedown

and Man counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rusvaj's guard now.
Man controlling from the top position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Man shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Man wants to stand but Rusvaj has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Man looking to pass the guard.
Man stops Rusvaj from standing up.
Rusvaj wants to sweep here but Man controlling him for the moment.

Man postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rusvaj is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Man, into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man trying to control the position.
Man wants to stand up but Rusvaj is controlling him.
Rusvaj lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Man 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.
Rusvaj trying to control the position from guard on top but Man is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusvaj postures up.
Rusvaj passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Man tries to roll over but Rusvaj keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rusvaj looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rusvaj is trying to control the action in half guard but Man is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man trying to control but Rusvaj postures up.
Man missing with punches from the bottom.
Man is looking to control Rusvaj's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Man avoid being mounted?

Rusvaj is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Man has managed to free his arm - good work.
Man is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Man comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Man winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Man!