PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Azh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Potemkin Buster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Azh might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Manu Militari - Voix De Fait. Andre Azh could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Potemkin Buster's chin.

Azh
vs
Buster

190 cm
25
212 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

198 cm
22
205 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Azh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Potemkin Buster!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azh rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Buster to counter with a crisp jab.
Azh thows a left - swing and a miss!
Buster lands with a cross.
Buster throws a jab but it's blocked by Azh.
Buster ducks under a wild hook from Azh.
Andre Azh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azh throws a shot from downtown. Buster moves away and avoids it.

Buster shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Azh is trying to defend but Buster finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Buster wants to control but Azh is keeping him busy.
Azh works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buster passes Azh's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Buster trying to control from half guard but Azh is working away.
Buster wants to free his trapped foot but Azh is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azh trying to control from the bottom.

Buster seems to be looking for submissions.
Azh is refusing to be controlled, as Buster sits in half guard.
Azh wants to get back to his feet.

Buster is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Azh is just riding it out for now. Buster eventually gives up the hold.
Buster is trying to control the action in half guard but Azh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Azh is pressing down on Buster's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Buster postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Azh is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Buster, into his guard.
Azh looking to pass the guard.
Buster wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azh is looking to stand up but Buster won't let him.
Azh slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Buster seems a little lost for a moment, as Azh dominates the positioning.
Azh working away.

That's four 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.
Buster is looking for a sweep.
Azh tries to move into full mount but can't pass Buster's legs.
Azh controlling the position from side mount.
Azh's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Buster is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Potemkin Buster will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Buster looking to score a takedown here. Azh is defending well but Buster drives through and ends up in Azh's guard.
Azh controls Buster momentarily but Buster frees himself.

Azh throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Buster slips nicely into half guard.

Buster seems to be working for a kimura but Azh defends the submission attempt.

Buster is working for a kimura here but Azh manages to reverse the position and he's now in Buster's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azh preventing the sweep.
Buster is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Azh trying to control but Buster is working from the bottom.
Buster looking for a sweep. Not yet Buster, not yet.
Buster controls Azh momentarily but Azh frees himself.

That's two 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Buster moves away from the strike by Azh.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Buster crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Azh - the referee stops the clock and Buster gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Azh. Buster manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Azh jabs at Buster's body.
Buster is breathing heavily.
Azh throws a chopping leg kick but Buster manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Buster blocks a jab.
Azh throws a lazy right hand but Buster sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Azh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Buster.
Azh misses with a hook. Buster ducked under it nicely.
Azh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Azh changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Buster looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Azh staying calm.

Azh is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Buster has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azh takes a little break here. Buster wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

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.
What's Buster going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Buster tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Buster is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Azh off and has taken his back!

Buster is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Azh knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Azh for a finish.
Azh rolls, trying to escape but Buster keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Azh dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A big left from Buster misses.
Azh looks to throw the jab but Buster is out of range.
Azh throws a looping overhand right but Buster ducks down to avoid it.
Azh looks to land a combination but Buster avoids it well.

Buster closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Azh did well to prevent Buster getting side control.
Buster prevents Azh from improving his position.

Buster is looking for a kimura here.
Buster trying to pass the guard but Azh defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buster is looking for a kimura but Azh is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Buster to get the leverage.
Azh wants to improve his position but Buster is controlling well.
Buster working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Azh's thigh. Azh counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Azh looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Azh trying to keep a closed guard but Buster is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Buster is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Azh wants to sweep but no luck.
Azh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Potemkin Buster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Azh keeping moving, preventing Buster from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Buster looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Buster closes the distance and clinches.
Azh is struggling to control the position.

Buster gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Azh is holding on to half guard well.

Buster is looking for a kimura but Azh is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Buster to get the leverage.
Buster content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azh makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Azh.
Buster wants to control from the top but Azh keeps moving.
Buster pushing down on Azh's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azh is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Potemkin Buster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Buster 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Potemkin Buster!