PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Tonno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tonno
vs
Rush

166 cm
24
147 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

183 cm
28
140 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Giovanni Tonno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Rush!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonno circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tonno lands with a cross.

It looks like Xavier Rush has been cut.

Rush gets caught flat footed, as Tonno shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rush looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tonno won't allow Rush to get back to his feet.
Tonno trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rush tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tonno pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rush is keeping the position for now.
Rush can't keep his opponent in guard - Tonno advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Tonno is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rush doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tonno.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush won't allow Tonno to pass to mount.
Rush tries to roll over but Tonno keeps him under control.

Tonno is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rush doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tonno.
Rush is positioning himself well to prevent Tonno advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Tonno is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rush has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.
Tonno tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rush knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonno is working for a kimura but Rush is defending it quite comfortably.

Tonno wants to work for an arm triangle but Rush is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tonno seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rush does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rush moves into full guard.
Tonno trying to control but Rush is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tonno is really struggling to control Rush but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rush 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tonno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rush swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rush wants to stand but Tonno is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Tonno dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Rush's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rush cracks Tonno with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rush looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rush misses with a hook. Tonno ducked under it nicely.
Rush misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Rush.
Tonno uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rush has time to react.
Rush is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tonno slips a jab and a cross from Rush.
Tonno stuffs the takedown.
Rush tries to clinch up but Tonno circles away and keeps his distance.
Rush wants to clinch up but Tonno keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Rush does no damage.
Rush tries to bum rush Tonno with a series of wild strikes but Tonno uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rush looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Tonno closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rush is breathing heavily.

Tonno is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rush is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Tonno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rush knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonno is looking to take a break and control but Rush is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Tonno looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Tonno is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rush knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonno swings around for an armbar but Rush sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tonno's guard.
Rush stands up over Tonno, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rush trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Tonno manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rush looking for a sweep. Not yet Rush, not yet.
Tonno pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rush is keeping the position for now.

That's four 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.
Tonno stops Rush from standing up.
Rush keeping full guard, as Tonno tries to pass.
Tonno trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tonno drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rush manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tonno has Rush in his guard.

Rush has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Tonno to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Rush is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Tonno pulls down on the head and he's put Rush to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Giovanni Tonno!