PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zeitzer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dariusz Ruslan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruslan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hester Prynne. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Zeitzer
vs
Ruslan

194 cm
28
210 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

198 cm
24
219 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Zeitzer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dariusz Ruslan!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeitzer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Horrible takedown by Ruslan or perhaps it was just good defense by Zeitzer which made him look bad.
Zeitzer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A head kick misses from Zeitzer.
Ruslan throws a head kick that misses.
Zeitzer tried to score with a low kick but Ruslan checks it.
Nice body punch from Ruslan.
Zeitzer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zeitzer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ruslan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ruslan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeitzer slips a straight right by Ruslan.
Zeitzer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ruslan to score with a decent uppercut.
Ruslan misses with an uppercut.
Zeitzer dodges the punch combination from Ruslan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Zeitzer counter with a right hand.
Ruslan throws a series of strikes that have Zeitzer backpedaling.
Zeitzer avoids the head kick by Ruslan.
Zeitzer looks to throw the jab but Ruslan is out of range.
Ruslan throws a head kick that half lands.
Ruslan connects with an inside leg kick.

Ruslan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zeitzer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ruslan is one step ahead there.
Ruslan forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zeitzer manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan wants to control from the top but Zeitzer keeps moving.
Ruslan tries to free his leg and advance position but Zeitzer is retaining full guard.
Ruslan trying to move into half guard but instead Zeitzer has managed to sweep!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ruslan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zeitzer won't allow Ruslan to get back to his feet.
Ruslan keeping moving, preventing Zeitzer from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruslan wriggles free and stands up.
A jab from Zeitzer finds it's way through Ruslan's defenses.
Ruslan throws a series of punches but Zeitzer moves out of range.
Zeitzer staying out of range there.
Dariusz Ruslan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeitzer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ruslan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Ruslan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zeitzer manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Ruslan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zeitzer has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ruslan has managed to get both his arms back between Zeitzer's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ruslan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zeitzer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zeitzer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruslan wants to control from the top but Zeitzer keeps moving.
Ruslan prevents Zeitzer from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

An inside leg kick lands from Ruslan.

Zeitzer feints and as Ruslan raises his hands in defense, Zeitzer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zeitzer trying to control the position from guard on top but Ruslan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zeitzer slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Ruslan manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Zeitzer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ruslan misses with a looping left.
Zeitzer slips a jab and a cross from Ruslan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan works the jab nicely.
Zeitzer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ruslan.

Ruslan gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ruslan wants to control but Zeitzer is keeping him busy.
Ruslan looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dariusz Ruslan wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ruslan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ruslan fails to land the takedown.

Ruslan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ruslan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zeitzer manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeitzer trying to control the position here.
Ruslan trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeitzer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruslan is stalling in the full guard.
Ruslan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dariusz Ruslan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ruslan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zeitzer is fending him off so far but Ruslan persists. Nope, Zeitzer circles away and we're back to standing.
Ruslan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
An inside leg kick lands from Ruslan.

Zeitzer feints and as Ruslan raises his hands in defense, Zeitzer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ruslan wants to get back to his feet but Zeitzer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Ruslan kicks Zeitzer off and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dariusz Ruslan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zeitzer slips under a jab from Ruslan.
Ruslan cracks Zeitzer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ruslan throws a good cross that connects.

Ruslan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ruslan trying to control the position from guard on top but Zeitzer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruslan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ruslan wants to control from the top but Zeitzer keeps moving.
Ruslan postures up in Zeitzer's guard and throws a big left but Zeitzer blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan postures up.
Zeitzer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruslan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zeitzer takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zeitzer pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ruslan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zeitzer.
Ruslan thows a body shot but no joy.
Ruslan cracks Zeitzer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ruslan lands with a good body shot.
Ruslan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan throws a body punch but Zeitzer moves out of range.
Ruslan misses the body punch
and Zeitzer counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ruslan lands a body shot.
Zeitzer misses with a double jab

and Ruslan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ruslan controlling the action here.
Ruslan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zeitzer keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zeitzer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruslan.
Zeitzer is refusing to be controlled, as Ruslan sits in half guard.
Dariusz Ruslan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruslan controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Ruslan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Dariusz Ruslan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ruslan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ruslan scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zeitzer in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The crowd cheers as Ruslan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zeitzer doesn't seem phased though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ruslan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Zeitzer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ruslan moves away.
Ruslan lands with a nice body punch.
Zeitzer swings for the body but Ruslan moves out of range.
Ruslan thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zeitzer walks into a left hand.

Ruslan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zeitzer's half guard.
Zeitzer trying to hold on to Ruslan's head to control him but Ruslan postures up.
Zeitzer manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dariusz Ruslan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ruslan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dariusz Ruslan!