PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasputin has chosen TURISAS - Rasputin as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bova
vs
Yefimovich Rasputin

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Das Labor

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Bova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rasputin is defended easily by Bova.
Bova throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rasputin avoids the head kick by Bova.
Bova doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Rasputin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bova is trying to keep Rasputin in close.
Bova wants to stand and escape but Rasputin is having none of it.
Rasputin trying to control but Bova is working from the bottom.
Bova looking for a sweep. Not yet Bova, not yet.

Rasputin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bova trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasputin is looking to work some ground and pound but Bova has wrist control.
Rasputin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bova keeping moving, preventing Rasputin from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bova is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rasputin looking for a guillotine here but Bova defends easily.
Bova postures up.

Rasputin throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bova uses it to pass to side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bova working away.
Rasputin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bova gets to mount! Rasputin was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rasputin looks gassed!
Bova prevents Rasputin from getting the reversal.
Rasputin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Rasputin rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rasputin is refusing to be controlled, as Bova sits in half guard.
Bova wants to free his trapped foot but Rasputin is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bova is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rasputin defends it well.
Rasputin is looking to get back to is feet but Bova passes into side control.
Rasputin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bova's best efforts.
Rasputin trying to control here.
Bova content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bova throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rasputin tries to roll over but Bova keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bova wants to free his trapped foot but Rasputin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rasputin is not content to let Bova control the position.
Bova content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Rasputin looking for submissions off his back.

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

Bova bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rasputin struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bova misses with a head kick.
Bova shoots and misses
and Rasputin counters with a thumping low kick.
Bova wants to clinch but Rasputin slips to the side

and Rasputin counters by clinching up.
Rasputin is working for takedown but Bova is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rasputin looking to throw knees to the head but Bova is blocking nicely.

Rasputin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rasputin moves in looking to clinch but Bova pushes him off.
Rasputin tries to clinch up but Bova circles away and keeps his distance.

Bova drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rasputin is trying to keep Bova in close.
Bova wants to get up but he can't break Rasputin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bova wants to control from the top but Rasputin keeps moving.
Bova has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Rasputin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bova trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rasputin wants to sweep here but Bova controlling him for the moment.
Bova postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rasputin keeping moving, preventing Bova from controlling successfully.

Rasputin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rasputin keeping moving, preventing Bova from controlling successfully.
Rasputin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rasputin blocks the strikes from Bova.

Rasputin is working for a submission of some sort.
Bova wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bova wants to control but Rasputin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rasputin blocks the strikes from Bova.
Rasputin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rasputin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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

Bova closes the distance and clinches.

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.
Bova is working for takedown but Rasputin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bova jumps guard but Rasputin stands there with Bova around his waist. Bova gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Bova. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bova pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bova with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rasputin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bova won't be happy with that.

Rasputin has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Bova is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Rasputin yanks on the arm and Bova is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Rasputin.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!