PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Rush is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kelly
vs
Rush

190 cm
25
217 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
27
201 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Rush!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly shoots and misses

and Rush counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rush.
Kelly tries to pull guard but Rush holds him up against the cage and eventually Kelly drops back down to his feet.
Rush lands a nice knee to the body.
Kelly takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Justin Kelly has been cut.
Kelly is breathing heavily.

Rush turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rush takes a little break here. Kelly wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
It looks like Rush 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.
Rush is chipping away with strikes.
Rush connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kelly some visible discomfort.
Kelly 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.

Rush is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kelly knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kelly 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rush presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kelly bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rush controlling Kelly's posture.
Rush wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.
Kelly postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush wants to sweep here but Kelly controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush wants to get back to his feet but Kelly is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kelly throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kelly accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kelly keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rush's head.
Kelly won't allow Rush to get back to his feet.
Kelly is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rush pulls Kelly in close to prevent any damage.
Kelly throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rush works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kelly postures up in Rush's guard and throws a big left but Rush blocks it.
Rush wants to sweep but no luck.
Kelly scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kelly slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kelly thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kelly passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rush tries to hold on but Kelly pushes him away.

Kelly moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rush has worked his arm free - good work by Rush!
Rush is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kelly tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kelly has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rush manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rush stalling.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rush pulls his head out easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rush pulls his head out easily.
Rush prevents Kelly from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rush dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Kelly's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kelly fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rush misses with a two punch combination.
Rush keeps the fight on the outside.
Kelly shoots in but Rush avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick by Rush misses

and Kelly counters with a shoot takedown. Rush fights it but they end up in guard.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kelly seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Kelly throws a strike but Rush rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rush has passed into half guard!

Kelly is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rush pulls his head out easily.
Rush throwing shots but Kelly is blocking nicely.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kelly works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rush can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rush trying to control the position from guard on top but Kelly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kelly looking for subs off his back but Rush has passed one foot through into half guard.

Kelly looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rush seems to be looking for submissions.
Rush trying to control the pace.

Rush is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kelly is just riding it out for now. Rush eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rush is working for a submission of some sort.

Kelly looking for submissions off his back.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.

Rush is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kelly knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.

Kelly actively working from the bottom here.
Kelly is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rush takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rush landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rush keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kelly is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Kelly dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Kelly'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.

Rush tries to sprawl but Kelly drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kelly is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rush doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kelly.
Rush is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kelly's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kelly's back!
Kelly manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rush's guard. Nice work there by Kelly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rush can't keep his opponent in guard - Kelly advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kelly wants to stand but Rush has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush tries to kick Kelly off but Kelly keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.
Rush is holding on to half guard well.
Kelly not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kelly is thwarting Rush's attempts to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kelly passes to full mount!
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rush tries to hold on but Kelly pushes him away.
Kelly lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kelly throwing strikes but Rush bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

Kelly is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rush is aware though and is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rush is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Kelly looking for a guillotine here but Rush defends easily.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rush can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rush wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly pushes a forearm under Rush's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Rush is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Justin Kelly!