PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maurycy Ruua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Lesenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurycy Ruua has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ruua
vs
Lesenkov

186 cm
22
211 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maurycy Ruua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Lesenkov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruua drives through and clinches with Lesenkov against the ropes.
Ruua taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ruua prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ruua has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lesenkov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Ruua gets control of Lesenkov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ruua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lesenkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lesenkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lesenkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Lesenkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ruua on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ruua tries to get out of the position.
Lesenkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruua avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lesenkov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesenkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lesenkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lesenkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruua is breathing heavily.
Lesenkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lesenkov thows a big elbow that misses.
Lesenkov lands a couple of digs.
Lesenkov throwing strikes but missing.
Lesenkov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ruua keeping moving, preventing Lesenkov from controlling successfully.
Ruua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lesenkov.
Lesenkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruua working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lesenkov.
Lesenkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lesenkov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ruua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ruua keeping moving, preventing Lesenkov from controlling successfully.
Lesenkov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lesenkov slips nicely into half guard.
Lesenkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lesenkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesenkov lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Lesenkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lesenkov slips a nice elbow through Ruua's hands, connecting with Ruua's forehead.
Ruua is staying active underneath Lesenkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lesenkov is working for a kimura but Ruua is defending it quite comfortably.
Lesenkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesenkov wants to control but Ruua is keeping him busy.
Lesenkov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Lesenkov works his way into full mount!
Lesenkov postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ruua looks a forlorn figure.
Lesenkov lands a nice shot to the head.
Lesenkov cracks Ruua with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lesenkov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ruua?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Lesenkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Ruua misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Lesenkov lands a left and a right that send Ruua crashing to the mat, dazed. Lesenkov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Ruua is rocked!

It looks like Maurycy Ruua has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ruua leaves Lesenkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ruua takes one to the chin there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lesenkov, as that shot connected.
Lesenkov closes the distance and clinches up with Ruua, looking for a takedown. Lesenkov pushes Ruua against the ropes but Ruua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lesenkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ruua as he jumps to the side.
Maurycy Ruua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Lesenkov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lesenkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesenkov has his takedown stuffed

and Ruua counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruua.
Lesenkov lands a decent shot there.

Ruua gets to his feet - Lesenkov follows without any prompting.
Lesenkov scores with a punch to the head.
Lesenkov fails with the takedown

and Ruua counters with a shoot takedown. Lesenkov fights it but they end up in guard.
Artem Lesenkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ruua stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lesenkov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ruua's waist but Ruua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lesenkov off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lesenkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lesenkov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ruua counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lesenkov's guard now.
Ruua stops Lesenkov from standing up.
Lesenkov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lesenkov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ruua's guard.
Ruua is looking to stand up but Lesenkov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruua has momentary wrist control but Lesenkov slips an elbow through the middle.
Ruua knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lesenkov on the ground.
Lesenkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lesenkov advances position into side control!
Lesenkov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ruua taking a bit of punishment here - Lesenkov scoring with strikes.
Ruua wants to get back to his feet but Lesenkov drags him back down.
Ruua takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesenkov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ruua some visible discomfort.
Lesenkov working the head and body with strikes.
Lesenkov scoring with punches from side control.
Ruua is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Lesenkov lands an elbow.
Lesenkov working the head with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lesenkov trying to control the position but Ruua is working away.
Lesenkov cracks Ruua with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artem Lesenkov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maurycy Ruua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lesenkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruua but Ruua pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Lesenkov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ruua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lesenkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ruua has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ruua is pushing Lesenkov's head away, looking to escape. Lesenkov manages to hold on to the position though.
Lesenkov lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lesenkov is working to tighten is grip on Ruua's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Ruua has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Lesenkov is really squeezing tight and eventually Ruua passes out! Lesenkov breaks the hold and jumps onto the ropes to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Artem Lesenkov!