PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Dolbakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artur Rutskin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dolbakov comes to the cage accompanied by Radiohead-Creep. Artur Rutskin will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dolbakov
vs
Rutskin

194 cm
20
209 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dolbakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artur Rutskin!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dolbakov clinches with his opponent.
Rutskin looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Dolbakov is trying to drag Rutskin to the mat but Rutskin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rutskin breaks from the clinch.

Rutskin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rutskin wants to break free but Dolbakov has control.

Rutskin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rutskin throws a series of punches but Dolbakov avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rutskin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dolbakov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dolbakov shoots in but no luck this time.
Rutskin throws a head kick but Dolbakov moves out of range.

Dolbakov clinches with his opponent.
Dolbakov keeps control of Rutskin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dolbakov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dolbakov misses with a takedown attempt - Rutskin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Dolbakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolbakov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rutskin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dolbakov is looking to clinch.

Dolbakov moves into the clinch.
Rutskin is looking to break free of the clinch but Dolbakov has double underhooks.
Dolbakov looking for a takedown.
Dolbakov trying to land knees to the body.
Dolbakov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dolbakov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dolbakov pulls Rutskin in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dolbakov kicks Rutskin off and gets to his feet.
Dolbakov closes the distance and clinches up with Rutskin, looking for a takedown. Dolbakov pushes Rutskin against the cage but Rutskin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dolbakov throws a combination. Rutskin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Dolbakov lands a high kick!
Dolbakov lands a front kick.
Dolbakov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rutskin defends it nicely.
Dolbakov throws a front kick aimed at Rutskin's knee but Rutskin avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutskin throws a lazy head kick

so Dolbakov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dolbakov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rutskin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dolbakov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rutskin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dolbakov.
Rutskin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rutskin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rutskin falls off balance throwing a combination

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

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

Dolbakov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Dolbakov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dolbakov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rutskin's waist but Rutskin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dolbakov off to one side.
A head kick by Rutskin misses

and Dolbakov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dolbakov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Dolbakov escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rutskin closes the distance and clinches.
Dolbakov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rutskin avoids it.
Dolbakov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rutskin just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Dolbakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rutskin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Rutskin.
Dolbakov avoids the head kick by Rutskin.
Rutskin throws a head kick that misses
and Dolbakov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rutskin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dolbakov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dolbakov looks to score with a jab to the body but Rutskin is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rutskin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Rutskin.
Artur Rutskin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A good leg kick by Dolbakov.
A left and a right from Rutskin both land. Nice combination.
Rutskin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dolbakov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rutskin sprawls well. Rutskin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dolbakov gets slowly back to his feet.
Rutskin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dolbakov counters with a nice leg kick.
Rutskin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dolbakov counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov is standing up over Rutskin. Rutskin looks to escape but Dolbakov dives into side control.
Dolbakov grinds an elbow into Rutskin's temple.
Dolbakov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Dolbakov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rutskin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dolbakov 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. This is the final round!

Rutskin lands a jab-cross combination.
Dolbakov misses with a wild body shot.

Rutskin gets caught flat footed, as Dolbakov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dolbakov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Dolbakov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dolbakov scores with a head kick.
Dolbakov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick by Rutskin misses
and Dolbakov counters with a nice leg kick.
Ivan Dolbakov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rutskin leaves Dolbakov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dolbakov throws a head kick but Rutskin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rutskin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rutskin throws a sloppy head kick

and Dolbakov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dolbakov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dolbakov wants a takedown but no success here.

Dolbakov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rutskin throws a head kick that misses

and Dolbakov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rutskin wants to stand up but Dolbakov is controlling him.

Rutskin is working an open guard so Dolbakov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutskin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick by Rutskin misses

so Dolbakov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dolbakov 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.
Dolbakov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rutskin's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dolbakov content to stall in guard here.
Rutskin wants to stand but Dolbakov is controlling the position.

Dolbakov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rutskin, up you get!
Dolbakov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rutskin.
Dolbakov misses with a head kick.

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.
Rutskin stuffs the takedown attempt from Dolbakov. Dolbakov gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Dolbakov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dolbakov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rutskin.
A head kick by Rutskin misses
and Dolbakov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Dolbakov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dolbakov controlling the action here.
Dolbakov working Rutskin over with strikes.
Artur Rutskin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Dolbakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rutskin actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Dolbakov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dolbakov, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Dolbakov!