PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel LaRusso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azamat Bagatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bagatov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers - John The Revelator . The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

LaRusso
vs
Bagatov

188 cm
20
210 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
220 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel LaRusso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Azamat Bagatov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bagatov swats away the attempt to clinch by LaRusso.
LaRusso tries to clinch up but Bagatov circles away and keeps his distance.
LaRusso wants to clinch.
Bagatov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
LaRusso throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bagatov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bagatov takes a swing at LaRusso's ribcage but misses.
LaRusso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bagatov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaRusso doesn't manage to clinch there - Bagatov circles away.
LaRusso lands a nice shot to the body.
LaRusso swings for the body but Bagatov moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by LaRusso. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of LaRusso.
LaRusso dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRusso doesn't manage to clinch there - Bagatov circles away.
LaRusso scores with a jab to the body.
Bagatov misses with a body shot
and LaRusso counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bagatov thinking.
Bagatov looks gassed!
A combination from Bagatov does no damage.
Bagatov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
LaRusso tries to clinch but Bagatov moves out of range.
LaRusso moves away from the strike by Bagatov.
LaRusso swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bagatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
LaRusso fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bagatov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheers as LaRusso lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bagatov doesn't seem phased though.
Daniel LaRusso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LaRusso smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No joy there for LaRusso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bagatov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bagatov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso lands an overhand right.
LaRusso digs a good hook to Bagatov's body.
LaRusso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
LaRusso lands a nice shot to the body.
LaRusso scores with a jab to the body.
LaRusso scores with a shot to the body.
LaRusso looks to land a combination but Bagatov avoids it well.
LaRusso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bagatov.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bagatov manages to avoid it.
LaRusso tries to clinch
and Bagatov counters with a right hand to the body.
LaRusso wants to clinch.
LaRusso is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bagatov momentarily.
LaRusso lands with a straight right. Bagatov didn't see that one coming.
Bagatov circles away from the clinch attempt.
LaRusso tries to clinch up.
Bagatov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling LaRusso to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice shot by LaRusso.
Bagatov misses with a few strikes there.
LaRusso is looking to wear down Bagatov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
LaRusso tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bagatov was well out of range. Poor timing from LaRusso.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bagatov manages to avoid it.
LaRusso throws a combination. Bagatov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bagatov throws a series of punches but LaRusso moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso fails with an attempt to clinch.
LaRusso doesn't manage to clinch there - Bagatov circles away.
LaRusso misses with a jab to the body
and Bagatov counters with a two punch combo.
LaRusso throws a body punch but Bagatov moves out of range.
Bagatov thows a left - swing and a miss!
LaRusso scores with a jab to the head.
LaRusso is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
LaRusso fails with an attempt to clinch.
LaRusso lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bagatov at a distance.
LaRusso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
LaRusso lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bagatov looks to score with a jab to the body but LaRusso is just out of range.
LaRusso swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bagatov swings for the body but LaRusso moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel LaRusso dominated 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.

LaRusso throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - LaRusso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bagatov manages to avoid it.
LaRusso is looking to clinch.
LaRusso fails in his attempt to clinch.
LaRusso moves in looking to clinch but Bagatov pushes him off.
Daniel LaRusso is winning the standup battle so far.

LaRusso closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The referee calls for LaRusso to work.

Bagatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bagatov slips under a jab from LaRusso.

LaRusso has closed the distance and engaged Bagatov in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Bagatov.
Bagatov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
LaRusso is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from LaRusso.

Bagatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circling - Bagatov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
LaRusso throws a sloppy body shot
and Bagatov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps LaRusso thinking.
LaRusso lands with a nice body punch.
Bagatov is breathing heavily.
LaRusso fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bagatov misses with a straight left.

LaRusso gets a clinch.
LaRusso prevents a takedown attempt there.

Bagatov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

LaRusso clinches with his opponent.
LaRusso trying to control the position but instead, Bagatov has worked for underhooks and has pushed LaRusso into the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on LaRusso - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
LaRusso seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Daniel LaRusso.
A swing and a miss from LaRusso.
LaRusso doesn't manage to clinch there - Bagatov circles away.
LaRusso lands a nice hook to Bagatov's body. Bagatov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bagatov lands with a hook. LaRusso tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
LaRusso swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bagatov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
LaRusso tries to clinch but Bagatov moves away
and Bagatov counters with a straight right hand.
LaRusso takes a swing at Bagatov's ribcage but misses.
LaRusso scores with a jab to the body.
LaRusso slips a jab from Bagatov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso tries to clinch up but Bagatov circles away and keeps his distance.
LaRusso stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
LaRusso swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bagatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
LaRusso tries to clinch but Bagatov moves out of range.
LaRusso blocks a jab.
Bagatov looks to land a left hand but LaRusso moved out of range nicely.
Bagatov digs a good hook to LaRusso's body.
LaRusso swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bagatov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and LaRusso counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
LaRusso slips a straight right by Bagatov.
LaRusso throws a big shot that misses.
Bagatov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but LaRusso moves away.
LaRusso misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRusso misses with a jab, cross combination.
LaRusso misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bagatov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
LaRusso tries to clinch but Bagatov moves out of range.
LaRusso looks to clinch
enabling Bagatov to counter with a crisp jab.
Bagatov misses with a hook to the body

and LaRusso counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by LaRusso.

Bagatov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
LaRusso tries to clinch but Bagatov moves away
and Bagatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
LaRusso tries to clinch up
and Bagatov counters with a left and a right that stings LaRusso.
Bagatov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
LaRusso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bagatov can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
LaRusso misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel LaRusso dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

LaRusso tries to close the distance and clinch but Bagatov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
LaRusso dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bagatov walks into a straight right hand from LaRusso.
LaRusso wants to clinch but Bagatov slips to the side
and Bagatov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bagatov scores with a sloppy right hand. LaRusso should have avoided that one.
LaRusso throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
LaRusso swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bagatov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps LaRusso thinking.
LaRusso is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bagatov manages to avoid it.
LaRusso moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bagatov drops his hands momentarily and LaRusso takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bagatov swats away the attempt to clinch by LaRusso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagatov misses with a looping left.
LaRusso throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bagatov misses with an uppercut. LaRusso saw that one coming.
LaRusso lands with an overhand left.
A shot to the body from LaRusso misses
and Bagatov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
LaRusso tries to bum rush Bagatov with a series of wild strikes but Bagatov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
LaRusso clobbers Bagatov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bagatov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but LaRusso manages to avoid it.
LaRusso throws a sloppy body shot
and Bagatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

LaRusso gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bagatov wants to break free but LaRusso has control.
Azamat Bagatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. LaRusso just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bagatov prevents a body shot from LaRusso.
A right hand to the body from LaRusso.
Bagatov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
LaRusso holding his opponent close, against the cage.
LaRusso tries to stall but Bagatov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bagatov is trying to force a seperation but LaRusso has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bagatov.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bagatov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
LaRusso pressing his opponent against the cage.
LaRusso gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Bagatov is trying to force a seperation but LaRusso has the dominant position.
LaRusso has Bagatov pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Daniel LaRusso.
LaRusso fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bagatov manages to avoid it.
LaRusso wants to clinch
and Bagatov counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from LaRusso misses its intended target.
Nice uppercut there from Bagatov.
Bagatov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bagatov drops his hands momentarily and LaRusso takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bagatov avoids the body shot from LaRusso.
Bagatov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
LaRusso misses with a jab, cross combination.
LaRusso tries to clinch up
and Bagatov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bagatov just misses with a punch to the body.
LaRusso tries to clinch up
letting Bagatov counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagatov looks to land a combination but LaRusso avoids it well.
Bagatov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
LaRusso tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bagatov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Some wild striking there from LaRusso.
LaRusso blocks a jab.
LaRusso wants to clinch up but Bagatov keeps it at a distance.
LaRusso throws a shot from downtown. Bagatov moves away and avoids it.
LaRusso tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Bagatov to counter with a crisp jab.
Bagatov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Daniel LaRusso.
Well LaRusso has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel LaRusso!