PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muay Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasputin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is TURISAS - Rasputin. Thai has chosen Deadly Muay Thai Skills as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yefimovich Rasputin
vs
Thai

225 cm
32
302 lbs
18 - 19 - 0

225 cm
31
300 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Muay Thai!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rasputin counters with a takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rasputin in side control, throwing shots but Thai defends.
Rasputin wants to control but Thai is keeping him busy.

Rasputin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thai, who protects the arm well.
Rasputin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Rasputin is trying to get an arm triangle but Thai is defending well.
Rasputin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thai is avoiding damage well.
Thai tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rasputin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rasputin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thai knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thai is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rasputin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rasputin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rasputin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rasputin tries for a kimura but Thai is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin stands up.
Rasputin throws a right and a left that Thai avoids nicely.
Thai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thai wants it to stay on the feet.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thai wants to clinch up but Rasputin keeps it at a distance.
Thai connects with a right hand. Rasputin shakes it off.
Thai is looking to clinch but Rasputin is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rasputin blocks a low kick nicely.
Muay Thai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rasputin is looking to clinch but Thai is avoiding it.
Thai is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rasputin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rasputin shoots in looking for a takedown. Thai tries to sprawl out of it but Rasputin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thai manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Thai moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai misses with a knee strike.
Thai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thai tries to land a knee to the head but Rasputin blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rasputin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Thai checks a leg kick nicely.
Thai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rasputin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thai lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rasputin looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Thai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rasputin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rasputin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thai is looking to clinch.
That kick from Thai tenderised Rasputin's leg. Rasputin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Thai is looking to clinch.
Thai closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rasputin moves into the clinch.
Thai slows down the pace here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thai with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Rasputin misses.
Thai is looking to clinch but Rasputin is avoiding it.
Rasputin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thai looks to clinch

and Rasputin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thai!
Thai is bucking up trying to escape but Rasputin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Thai is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rasputin working the ground and pound effectively.
Rasputin controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin with shots to the head and body - Thai looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thai tries to reverse the position but Rasputin maintains control.
Rasputin seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Thai is holding on tight.

Rasputin working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Rasputin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thai has worked his arm free - good work by Thai!
Rasputin fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thai has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thai is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rasputin has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rasputin works to advance to full mount. Thai defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Rasputin goes for an armbar but Thai turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Thai.

Thai stands and steps away. Rasputin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rasputin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thai did well to prevent Rasputin getting side control.
Thai is trying to stand up here but Rasputin is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is refusing to be controlled, as Rasputin sits in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rasputin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rasputin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thai is not content to let Rasputin control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thai clinches.
A knee to the head by Thai.
Thai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rasputin throws a punch but it's blocked by Thai.

Rasputin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Rasputin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thai has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura here.
Thai wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin seems to be working for a kimura but Thai defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rasputin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Rasputin from controlling successfully.
Rasputin looking to sit in guard and control but Thai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rasputin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thai defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai distracts Rasputin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thai wanted to stand there but Rasputin had control of the position.

Thai decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rasputin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Rasputin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thai tries to clinch up

and Rasputin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rasputin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai connects with a knee to the head.
Thai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rasputin.

Thai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thai closes the distance and clinches.
Thai unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rasputin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thai is keeping busy.
Thai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thai looking to slow down the pace here.
Thai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rasputin blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thai is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rasputin to keep the fight standing.

Rasputin breaks from the clinch.
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thai tries to clinch up.
Rasputin circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rasputin counters with a crisp one two that drops Thai! Rasputin thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Thai to his feet! Thai is in big trouble!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thai drives through and clinches with Rasputin against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thai trying to land knees to the body.
Thai is trying to pull guard but Rasputin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Muay Thai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thai looking to throw knees to the head but Rasputin is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rasputin, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!
After the big win, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Das Labor and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.