PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Slava Rysakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake LaMotta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaMotta comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rysakov
vs
LaMotta

172 cm
26
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

173 cm
34
146 lbs
29 - 14 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Slava Rysakov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake LaMotta!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaMotta avoids the head kick by Rysakov.

LaMotta gets a clinch.
LaMotta scores with a shoulder strike.
LaMotta on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rysakov landing knees to the body.
Rysakov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
LaMotta working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
LaMotta tries to land a knee to the head but Rysakov blocks with his arms.
LaMotta is stalling here.
Rysakov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jake LaMotta has been cut.
Rysakov misses with a knee to the head.
Rysakov prevents a body shot from LaMotta.
Rysakov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
LaMotta with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice elbow from Rysakov.
LaMotta scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Rysakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick misses from Rysakov.

LaMotta closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
LaMotta's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rysakov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
LaMotta goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
LaMotta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
LaMotta is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rysakov blocks the elbow strike.
LaMotta blocks an elbow strike.
LaMotta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rysakov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rysakov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rysakov blocks an elbow strike.
LaMotta working hard to break the clinch.

LaMotta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
LaMotta misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaMotta lands a nice uppercut.
Rysakov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

LaMotta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

LaMotta has managed to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
LaMotta avoiding damage as Rysakov throws knees to the body.
Rysakov looking to throw knees to the head but LaMotta is blocking nicely.

LaMotta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rysakov thumps LaMotta with a low kick.

LaMotta has managed to clinch.
Rysakov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rysakov just leaning against LaMotta, taking a breather.
Rysakov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite LaMotta's efforts to push away.
LaMotta is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

LaMotta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

LaMotta gets tackled into the cage by Rysakov. Rysakov maintains the clinch.

Rysakov manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rysakov moves in looking to clinch but LaMotta pushes him off.
Rysakov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

LaMotta drives through and clinches with Rysakov against the cage.
Rysakov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rysakov is stalling here.
Rysakov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rysakov misses with an elbow over the top.

Rysakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

LaMotta gets tackled into the cage by Rysakov. Rysakov maintains the clinch.
Rysakov lands an elbow inside that LaMotta shrugs off.
LaMotta throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rysakovs head.
LaMotta wants to break free but Rysakov has control.
LaMotta lands with a left to the head.
Rysakov lands an elbow inside.
Rysakov blocking some punches.
Rysakov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
LaMotta looking to throw knees to the head but Rysakov is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for LaMotta.
A nice left hand lands by LaMotta.
LaMotta can't break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by LaMotta as Rysakov tries to tie him up.
LaMotta tries to throw a body punch but Rysakov avoids it by throwing LaMotta back against the cage.
Rysakov lands a nice elbow.
LaMotta misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rysakov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rysakov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rysakov lands an elbow just above LaMotta 's eye.
LaMotta goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rysakov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but LaMotta blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rysakov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
LaMotta pushes Rysakov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
LaMotta takes a knee right on the jaw!

LaMotta is rocked!
Rysakov has LaMotta pressed against the cage. He pushes LaMotta back and as he springs towards him off the cage, Rysakov throws a beautiful elbow that sends LaMotta crashing to the floor! Rysakov piles on the pressure with more strikes! LaMotta is flailing away but he's not defending himself and the referee steps in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Slava Rysakov!