PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leifi Polomeros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruki Pushki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Polomeros
vs
Pushki

185 cm
21
219 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leifi Polomeros!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruki Pushki!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pushki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Polomeros sprawls well initially but Pushki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pushki in particular looking to stall.
Let's hope that Pushki 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Polomeros is trying to stand back up but Pushki is controlling him
Pushki is taking a breather. Polomeros says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ruki Pushki wasn't active enough on the ground.

Pushki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pushki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Polomeros is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pushki pulls his head out easily.
Pushki stalling.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ruki Pushki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Polomeros misses with a jab, cross combination.
Polomeros bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pushki shoots and misses
and Polomeros counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Pushki shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Polomeros is trying to defend but Pushki finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pushki looks gassed!
Pushki controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polomeros is trying to get back to full guard.
Polomeros is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushki controlling the action here.
I looks like Pushki might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Polomeros tries to roll over but Pushki keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ruki Pushki.
Polomeros rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pushki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ruki Pushki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Polomeros getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Polomeros misses with the combination.
Pushki tries for a takedown but Polomeros sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Polomeros gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pushki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Polomeros is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pushki is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pushki tries to free his leg and advance position but Polomeros is retaining full guard.
Pushki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pushki 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.

Pushki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Polomeros is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pushki just content to control the position.
Polomeros is looking for a sweep.
Pushki prevents Polomeros from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pushki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polomeros tries to bench press Pushki off him but Pushki keeps the position.
A lull in the action here as Pushki stalls from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruki Pushki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Polomeros shoots in looking for a takedown. Pushki tries to sprawl out of it but Polomeros keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pushki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Polomeros leaves Pushki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Polomeros stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Polomeros wants it to stay on the feet.

Pushki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ruki Pushki has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pushki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Polomeros is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Pushki is breathing heavily.
Polomeros is trying to stand.
Pushki trying to control the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ruki Pushki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Pushki shoots in and gets a takedown into Polomeros's guard.
Pushki 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.
Polomeros keeping moving, preventing Pushki from controlling successfully.
Pushki works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Pushki is looking for a kimura here.
Pushki stops Polomeros from getting back to his feet.
Pushki stalling.
Pushki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ruki Pushki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Pushki feints and as Polomeros raises his hands in defense, Pushki changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Polomeros keeping moving, preventing Pushki from controlling successfully.
Pushki is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pushki wants to control from the top but Polomeros keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ruki Pushki hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Polomeros is looking to score with low kicks.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pushki is defended easily by Polomeros.
Leifi Polomeros has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruki Pushki.
Polomeros shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pushki sprawls well. Pushki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Polomeros gets slowly back to his feet.
Leifi Polomeros is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pushki has a takedown stuffed.

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.
Danga de danga de dang - Polomeros scores with a four punch combination!
Polomeros shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pushki but Pushki pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Pushki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Polomeros being controlled here, momentarily.
Polomeros is looking to stand up but Pushki isn't so interested in that idea.

Polomeros had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pushki defends it easily.
Pushki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruki Pushki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pushki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pushki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pushki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Polomeros sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pushki somewhat.
Leifi Polomeros has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruki Pushki.
Polomeros throws a series of punches but Pushki moves out of range.
A punch combination from Polomeros misses.
Pushki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Polomeros shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pushki pinned against the cage. Pushki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pushki needs to keep his hands up - Polomeros had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polomeros shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pushki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pushki.
Pushki stays in close to Polomeros's body and controls the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushki stops Polomeros from standing up.
Polomeros is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pushki content to stall in guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Polomeros wants to stand but Pushki is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pushki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pushki trying to control the pace.
Polomeros is looking to escape.
Pushki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ruki Pushki was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Pushki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Polomeros tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Pushki is in Polomeros's guard.
Pushki sitting in guard here, content to control.
Polomeros wants to stand up but Pushki is controlling him.

Polomeros working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pushki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pushki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pushki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Polomeros wants to stand and escape but Pushki is having none of it.
Leifi Polomeros has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pushki controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ruki Pushki.

Polomeros tries to keep at a distance but Pushki has taken the fight into the clinch.

Pushki has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Polomeros is trying to keep an underhook but Pushki manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Pushki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Polomeros looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Polomeros is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pushki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ruki Pushki.
Pushki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pushki shoots in for a takedown but Polomeros shows good takedown defense.
Pushki dives in and grabs Polomeros's left leg, looking for a takedown. Polomeros pushes down on Pushki's head and hops out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pushki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pushki wants it to stay on the feet.
Pushki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Polomeros tries to avoid it but Pushki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Polomeros to the ground. Polomeros escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pushki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A combination from Polomeros does no damage.
Ruki Pushki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pushki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Polomeros throws a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruki Pushki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pushki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruki Pushki!