PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Crazy Dog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rugg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dog comes to the cage accompanied by Fan of Marrizle and CC - What I Want. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dog
vs
Rugg

180 cm
24
155 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

174 cm
24
155 lbs
10 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Crazy Dog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rugg!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dog lands a nice shot that snaps Rugg's head back.
Rugg tries a head kick but it misses.
Dog avoids the head kick by Rugg.
Rugg moves to clinch but Dog breaks away

and Dog counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dog.
Dog wants to control from the top but Rugg keeps moving.
Dog wants to pass the guard but Rugg is keeping the position.
Dog controlling from the top position.
Dog stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rugg swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg keeping moving, preventing Dog from controlling successfully.
Dog wants to pass the guard but Rugg is keeping the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Crazy Dog wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice sprawl there from Rugg as Dog shoots in.
Rugg tries to clinch
and Dog counters with a series of strikes. Rugg will be more careful next time no doubt.
Matt Rugg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dog scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rugg tries to clinch up

and Dog counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rugg really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dog. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rugg is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rugg keeping moving, preventing Dog from controlling successfully.

Dog drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rugg looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rugg looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rugg!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rugg trying to control but Dog is having none of it.
Dog is desperately trying to improve his position but Rugg has a good base and remains in mount.
Dog wants to hold on but Rugg pushes him away.
Rugg looking to control but Dog is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dog can't escape the position.
Dog wants to control but Rugg is having none of it.
Rugg looking to control but Dog is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dog really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Crazy Dog dominated that 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.

Rugg tries to clinch but Dog moves away
and Dog counters with a three punch combo that has Rugg backing up. Rugg nods at Dog to acknowledge the strikes.
Rugg wants to clinch but Dog slips to the side
and Dog counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rugg misses with a looping right.
Dog misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rugg looks to clinch

and Dog counters with a shoot takedown. Rugg fights it but they end up in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dog accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dog tries to free his leg and advance position but Rugg is retaining full guard.
Dog is working hard here to advance position.
Rugg is looking to stand up but Dog isn't so interested in that idea.
Dog tries to free his leg and advance position but Rugg is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dog controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dog trying to control but Rugg is working from the bottom.
Dog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rugg is keeping the position for now.
Dog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rugg is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rugg looks to clinch
and Dog counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dog swinging wildly here.
Rugg closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dog counters with a three punch combo that has Rugg backing up. Rugg nods at Dog to acknowledge the strikes.
Rugg tries to clinch
and Dog counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dog circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dog counters with a series of strikes. Rugg will be more careful next time no doubt.

Dog fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rugg to the ground. Dog is now in Rugg's guard.
Dog trying to control the position from guard on top but Rugg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dog pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rugg is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Crazy Dog has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rugg gets in close and instigates a clinch.

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.
Dog can't get the takedown.
Rugg connects with a knee to the head.
Dog drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rugg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dog tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crazy Dog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dog is working for takedown but Rugg is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rugg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dog.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rugg looking to throw knees to the head but Dog is blocking nicely.
Dog drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rugg gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dog tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rugg just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dog is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rugg pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rugg lands a left hand.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Dog blocks it.
Rugg misses with a punch on the inside.
Dog is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dog takes an elbow to the temple.
Rugg creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dog's defenses.
A knee to the head by Rugg.
Dog has Rugg pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rugg manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rugg is trying to maintain a safe position but Dog gets an underhook and turns Rugg into the cage.
Rugg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Crazy Dog 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dog lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rugg circles away quickly and effectively.
Dog moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Dog misses with a takedown attempt - Rugg sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dog misses with a two punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rugg.
Rugg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dog.
Rugg tries to clinch up

so Dog counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rugg wants to stand and escape but Dog is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg can't keep his opponent in guard - Dog advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dog trying to mount his opponent but Rugg defends it.
Crazy Dog overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Dog is just content to waste time from the top position. Rugg takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rugg is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dog is controlling him.
Dog slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rugg keeping moving, preventing Dog from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dog passes Rugg's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rugg avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dog.
Dog perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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.
Dog tries to pass to full mount but Rugg defends it.
Dog seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dog seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rugg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matt Rugg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crazy Dog is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

We're going to have a standup here because Crazy Dog wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Rugg clinches with his opponent.

Dog gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rugg regains guard.
Dog trying to control the position from guard on top but Rugg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Crazy Dog showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dog, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Crazy Dog!