PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paulie Di Maio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush has chosen Tom Sawyer - Rush as his entrance music. Jesper Rush told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Di Maio
vs
Rush

192 cm
27
200 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

187 cm
30
188 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paulie Di Maio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Di Maio throws a lazy body kick
and Rush counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Paulie Di Maio has been cut.
Di Maio avoids the head kick by Rush.
Di Maio throws a front kick that sends Rush stumbling back into the cage.
Di Maio looks to land a body kick but Rush moved away.
Rush attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rush lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Di Maio misses the shot to the body.
Di Maio looks to land a right hand but Rush moved out of range.
Di Maio moves out of range as Rush strikes.
Di Maio throws a quick inside leg kick.
Di Maio throws a poor cross that misses
and Rush connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rush misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab, jab by Di Maio - just one landing.
Di Maio misses with the body kick
and Rush counters with a head kick. That will keep Di Maio thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Rush.
Di Maio throws a wild body kick that Rush sees coming a mile off.
Rush fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Di Maio misses with a body kick.
Paulie Di Maio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Di Maio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Di Maio misses with a lunging right hand

and Rush counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rush wants to lay and pray for a moment but Di Maio keeps working.

Rush is working for a submission of some sort.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio wants to control but Rush is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Di Maio wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rush seems to be working for a kimura but Di Maio defends the submission attempt.
Rush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Di Maio's head.
Ground and pound from Rush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Rush is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Di Maio has hold of Rush's hands but Rush slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Di Maio is trying to maintain the position but Rush is very close to passing his half guard.
Rush wants to take a breather but Di Maio is having none of it.
Di Maio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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.
Di Maio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.

Di Maio has one foot on Rush's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A lazy body kick from Di Maio
and Rush counters with a thumping low kick.
Di Maio bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Paulie Di Maio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush throws a big shot that misses.
Rush fails to land the takedown.
Crunch! Di Maio slams his shin into Rush's torso.
Rush moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Di Maio leaves Rush with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rush shoots in for a double leg but Di Maio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesper Rush dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paulie Di Maio's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Di Maio throws a series of punches but Rush avoids them all with ease.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Di Maio.
Di Maio throws a low kick but Rush moves out of range easily.
Rush takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rush swings for the body but Di Maio moves out of range.
Di Maio misses with a low kick.
Di Maio misses with a low kick.
Rush misses with a double jab.
Di Maio misses with a body kick.
Di Maio chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A low kick from Rush is predictable there
and Di Maio counters with a head kick. That will keep Rush thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Di Maio looks to land a left hand but Rush moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Maio lands with a kick to the ribs.
Di Maio looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Di Maio wants to clinch

and Rush counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rush not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Di Maio is trying to get back to full guard.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rush looks to land a strike but Di Maio avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rush has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Di Maio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rush.
Rush works over Di Maio with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rush makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rush trying to control but Di Maio is working from the bottom.
Rush chips away with some ground and pound.
Di Maio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rush manages to get himself to full guard.
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.
Di Maio wants to control from the top but Rush keeps moving.
Rush is trying to keep Di Maio in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio trying to control but Rush is working from the bottom.
Di Maio is looking to stand up but Rush won't let him.
Rush controls Di Maio momentarily but Di Maio frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paulie Di Maio just wasn't active enough.
Di Maio thows a body shot but no joy.
Di Maio thows a body kick. Rush tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A head kick by Di Maio misses
and Rush counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rush ducks under a wild hook from Di Maio.

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.
Rush looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Di Maio moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Di Maio darts in trying to clinch
and Rush counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Di Maio takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Di Maio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rush misses the shot to the body.
Di Maio throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rush throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Di Maio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rush avoids a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paulie Di Maio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Paulie Di Maio's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rush misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Di Maio.
Rush circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rush counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Di Maio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rush.
Di Maio keeps Rush at a distance using the push kick.
Di Maio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Di Maio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Di Maio throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rush counters with a straight right hand.
Di Maio throws a leg kick that misses.
Di Maio misses with a low kick.
Rush looks for the body kick but Di Maio saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Maio with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Di Maio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rush.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rush.
Di Maio misses with a low kick.
Di Maio thows a leg kick but Rush checks it
and Rush counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice inside leg kick there by Di Maio. That's going to slow Rush down.
Rush lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Di Maio misses with a low kick.
Di Maio lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Di Maio swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rush throws a leg kick
and Di Maio counters with a solid body kick.
Rush on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio looks to throw a body kick

and Rush counters with a nice double leg into side control. Di Maio won't be happy with that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Di Maio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rush wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Di Maio is working hard here to advance position.
Di Maio wants to control but Rush postures up.
Rush cracks Di Maio with a big elbow.
Di Maio taking punishment in the form of punches.

Rush looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rush lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rush throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Di Maio sneaks out the side door and pushes Rush away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Rush scores a takedown into full mount!
Di Maio is working to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Di Maio that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Rush is working for a guillotine from mount but Di Maio frees his head quite easily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rush cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush unloading with bombs!
Di Maio wants to hold on but Rush pushes him away.
Rush lands a heavy elbow.
Di Maio wants to hold on but Rush pushes him away.
Rush scoring with strikes but Di Maio is staying in there.
Di Maio wants to control but Rush is having none of it.
Di Maio in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Di Maio is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rush has hold of Di Maio's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Di Maio manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Di Maio is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesper Rush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rush has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesper Rush!