PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Barney Rubble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fou Rthihovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rubble's entrance music is Rage Against The Machine - No Shelter. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rubble
vs
Rthihovsky

150 cm
22
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

165 cm
27
135 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Barney Rubble!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Fou Rthihovsky!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubble looks to score with a jab to the body but Rthihovsky is just out of range.
Rubble misses with a low kick.
Rthihovsky looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rubble is fending him off so far but Rthihovsky persists. Nope, Rubble circles away and we're back to standing.
Rubble swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rubble takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rubble connects with a leg kick. Rthihovsky looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rthihovsky tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rthihovsky looks for the body kick but Rubble saw that one coming.
Rthihovsky misses with a lunging right hand
and Rubble counters with a nice uppercut.
Rubble tries to work over Rthihovsky's front leg with a kick but Rthihovsky checks it.
Rthihovsky will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big left from Rubble misses.
Rubble lands with a right hand.
Rthihovsky shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rubble sprawls well. Rubble wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rthihovsky gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rthihovsky lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rthihovsky missing with a left hand there. Rubble was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rthihovsky has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rubble.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rthihovsky.
Barney Rubble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fou Rthihovsky.
The crowd cheers as Rthihovsky lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rubble doesn't seem phased though.

Rthihovsky decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rthihovsky throwing shots but Rubble is blocking nicely.
Rthihovsky not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rthihovsky throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rthihovsky has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rubble keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rthihovsky is keen to just control but Rubble is a slippery customer.
Rubble is looking to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rthihovsky wants to control but Rubble is keeping him busy.
Rthihovsky throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rubble to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rthihovsky wants to pass the guard but Rubble is keeping the position.
Rubble preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble keeping moving, preventing Rthihovsky from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rthihovsky is stalling in the full guard.
Rthihovsky trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rthihovsky tries to free his leg and advance position but Rubble is retaining full guard.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubble is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rubble keeping full guard, as Rthihovsky tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rubble being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Fou Rthihovsky.
Rubble throws a body punch but Rthihovsky moves out of range.
Rubble connects with a looping right hand.
A swing and a miss from Rthihovsky.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rthihovsky misses the jab.
Rubble throws a wild body kick that Rthihovsky sees coming a mile off.
Rubble throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rthihovsky on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky 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.

Rthihovsky waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rubble.
Rthihovsky shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rubble eats them both and turns towards Rthihovsky to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fou Rthihovsky seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rubble is looking to chop away at Rthihovsky's legs.
Rubble throws a leg kick that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A jab from Rthihovsky misses.

Rthihovsky closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Rthihovsky wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rubble, who protects the arm well.
Rthihovsky sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rubble is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rthihovsky tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rubble's legs.
Rthihovsky taking a break here but Rubble is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying to control the action but Rubble is working from the bottom.
Rubble wants to get back to full guard.
Rubble is controlling Rthihovsky's trapped leg to prevent Rthihovsky from advancing to side control.
Rthihovsky wants to advance to full mount but Rubble doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rthihovsky wants to control from the top but Rubble keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubble is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rthihovsky stopping the sweep attempt from Rubble.
Rubble trying to control the position here.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Rubble is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rubble looking for a sweep. Not yet Rubble, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rubble tries to move into range but Rthihovsky moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rthihovsky throws a hook but Rubble avoids it easily.
Rthihovsky sizes up Rubble with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rthihovsky throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rthihovsky connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rubble's hands.
Rubble tries a low kick but Rthihovsky avoids it.
Barney Rubble is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rubble defending well as Rthihovsky loads up on a big left hand.
Rubble tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Rubble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubble keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rthihovsky.
Rubble thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rubble closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rubble fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rthihovsky.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky misses with a looping right.
Rthihovsky connects with a single shot there.
Rthihovsky slips a jab from Rubble.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch lands to the side of Rubble 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rubble misses with the body kick
and Rthihovsky counters with an outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rubble pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rthihovsky shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rubble as he avoids it easily.
Rubble cracks Rthihovsky with a good jab.
Rubble moves out of range as Rthihovsky strikes.
Rthihovsky fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rubble manages to avoid it.
Rubble tries to land a front kick but Rthihovsky steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rthihovsky lands a jab to the head.
Rubble is looking to land body kicks.
Barney Rubble is winning the standup battle so far.
Rthihovsky throws a shot to the body.
Rubble scores with a leg kick.
Rthihovsky tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rubble swivels and escapes.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky blocks the body kick.
Rthihovsky lunges at Rubble with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rubble's hand.
Rthihovsky is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubble throws a jab but it's blocked by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky shoots in looking for a takedown but Rubble manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rthihovsky's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barney Rubble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fou Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rubble tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A bone on bone clash there as Rthihovsky blocks the leg kick.
Rthihovsky looks to land a right hand but Rubble moved out of range.
Rubble ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position but Rubble is working away.
Rthihovsky might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rubble kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Rthihovsky tries for a kimura but Rubble is defending well.
Rthihovsky wants to take a breather but Rubble manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky prevents Rubble from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rthihovsky looking to sit in guard and control but Rubble gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rthihovsky is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rubble defends well.
Rthihovsky wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rthihovsky is on top in guard.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Rubble is working from the bottom.
Rthihovsky tries to free his leg and advance position but Rubble is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rthihovsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Rubble is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fou Rthihovsky really 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.

Rubble blocks the body kick.
Rubble misses with a body kick.
Rthihovsky ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rthihovsky checks the leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rubble.
A big left from Rthihovsky misses.
Rubble takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rthihovsky fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rubble misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rthihovsky throws a low kick but Rubble moves out of range easily.
Rubble takes one to the chin there.
Rthihovsky just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rthihovsky darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rthihovsky throws a hook but Rubble blocks it.
Rubble throws the left hand but Rthihovsky avoids the punch easily.
Rubble misses with a jab to the body
and Rthihovsky cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rubble goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rubble misses the shot to the body.
Rthihovsky attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rthihovsky wants to slow Rubble down by chopping away at his legs.
Rubble throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rubble misses with a low kick as Rthihovsky jumps back.
Rubble scores with a leg kick.
Rthihovsky throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble tries to clinch but Rthihovsky moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Rubble misses.
Rubble uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rthihovsky.
A nice combination there by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky moves out of range as Rubble throws a body kick.
Rthihovsky scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rubble misses with a looping left.
Rthihovsky misses the shot to the body.
Rthihovsky misses with an uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Rthihovsky. Those never looked like landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Rubble.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rthihovsky shoots in and drives through. Rubble sprawls well.
Rthihovsky shoots in for a takedown but Rubble shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barney Rubble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fou Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Rubble looks to score with a jab to the body but Rthihovsky is just out of range.
Rthihovsky swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rubble thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rthihovsky fails to land the takedown.
Rthihovsky gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rubble counters with a solid body kick.
Rubble scores with a nice head shot.
Rthihovsky dives in and grabs Rubble's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rubble pushes down on Rthihovsky's head and hops out.
Rthihovsky shoots in for a double leg but Rubble sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rubble changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rthihovsky lands a nice shot that snaps Rubble's head back.
Rubble lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rthihovsky at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubble lands a jab to Rthihovsky's midsection.

Rubble moves into the clinch.
Rthihovsky avoids the elbow strike from Rubble, against the cage.
Rubble misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rthihovsky misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rthihovsky avoiding damage as Rubble throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubble lands an elbow inside that Rthihovsky shrugs off.
Rthihovsky avoiding damage as Rubble throws knees to the body.
Rthihovsky tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rubble's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barney Rubble had his way with Fou Rthihovsky in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rubble tests Rthihovsky's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rubble.
Rubble throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rthihovsky.

Rthihovsky looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rthihovsky drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rubble looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rubble looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rubble!
Rthihovsky manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rthihovsky is working for a submission of some sort.
Rubble might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rubble is not content to let Rthihovsky control the position.
Rubble is trying to maintain the position but Rthihovsky is very close to passing his half guard.

Rthihovsky seems to be looking for submissions.
Rubble is trying to control but can't.
Fou Rthihovsky is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Rthihovsky seems content to control.
Let's hope that Rthihovsky has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rubble throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rthihovsky.
A telegraphed right hand from Rthihovsky misses the target.
Rthihovsky scores with a jab to the head.
Rthihovsky's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble leaves Rthihovsky with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rthihovsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rubble.
Rubble misses the jab.
Rubble on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rubble takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rthihovsky lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rthihovsky cracks Rubble with an open hand slap.
Rthihovsky fails with a takedown attempt.
Rthihovsky shoots in but Rubble avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barney Rubble has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fou Rthihovsky.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky jabs Rubble right on the nose. Rubble blinks but takes it well.

Rthihovsky shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rthihovsky is keen to just control but Rubble is a slippery customer.
Rubble controlling the position for now.
Rthihovsky slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rubble wants to improve his position but Rthihovsky is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fou Rthihovsky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rthihovsky 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 46:49
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 46:49
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fou Rthihovsky!
Fou Rthihovsky is the new bantamweight champion!
A very excited looking Fou Rthihovsky rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.