PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mishko Tolstiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Rua has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rua
vs
Tolstiy

185 cm
26
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mishko Tolstiy!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tolstiy clinches with his opponent.
Rua misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tolstiy.
Tolstiy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tolstiy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rua throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tolstiy blocks it with crossed arms.
Rua missing with knees to the body.
Rua working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tolstiy is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rua digs a right hand underneath Tolstiy's ribcage. Tolstiy let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Tolstiy wants the takedown. Rua is fighting it off but Tolstiy persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rua's guard against the cage.
Tolstiy wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Rua wants to sweep here but Tolstiy controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolstiy postures up.
Rua wants to sweep here but Tolstiy controlling him for the moment.
Tolstiy advances to half guard.
Tolstiy wants to get back to his feet.
Rua trying to control from the bottom.
Rua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tolstiy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolstiy is pressing down on Rua's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rua is holding on for now.
Tolstiy prevents Rua from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tolstiy throws a head kick but Rua moves out of range.
Rua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Tolstiy misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tolstiy tries to clinch there but Rua circles away.
Tolstiy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tolstiy.

It looks like Jake Rua has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tolstiy shoots in but Rua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jake Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mishko Tolstiy.
Tolstiy looks gassed!
Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tolstiy swivels and escapes.

Rua moves into range and clinches up with Tolstiy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolstiy has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rua is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tolstiy can't find room to land a body shot as Rua controls the action.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tolstiy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rua tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tolstiy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rua somewhat.
Tolstiy wants to clinch.
Rua goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Mishko Tolstiy has been cut.
Tolstiy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rua swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua checks a low kick from Tolstiy.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tolstiy at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rua breaks from the clinch.
Rua shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tolstiy but Tolstiy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rua misses with a two punch combination.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Tolstiy circles away.
Tolstiy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rua misses with a takedown attempt - Tolstiy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tolstiy dives in and grabs Rua's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes down on Tolstiy's head and hops out.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tolstiy fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tolstiy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tolstiy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rua pulls his leg out and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mishko Tolstiy will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tolstiy swivels and escapes.
Tolstiy throws a series of punches but Rua moves out of range.
Tolstiy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rua connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Tolstiy to the floor! Rua dives in looking for the finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua wants to take a breather but Tolstiy is having none of it.
Tolstiy is trying to stand up here but Rua is controlling him well.
Rua wants to take a breather but Tolstiy is having none of it.
Rua looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tolstiy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rua stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Tolstiy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tolstiy somewhat.
Tolstiy is breathing heavily.
Tolstiy looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Rua fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rua tries to clinch there but Tolstiy circles away.
Rua shoots in but Tolstiy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rua fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tolstiy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rua stuffs the takedown attempt from Tolstiy. Tolstiy gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tolstiy.
Tolstiy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tolstiy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tolstiy wants it to stay on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Tolstiy moves into the clinch successfully.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rua just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tolstiy's brow.
Rua tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tolstiy can't get the takedown.

Rua pulls guard successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control the position.
Tolstiy stopping the sweep attempt from Rua.
Tolstiy wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tolstiy wanted to stand there but Rua had control of the position.
Tolstiy trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mishko Tolstiy wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tolstiy fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tolstiy avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rua looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tolstiy fails to land the takedown.
Tolstiy avoids the head kick by Rua.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua swats away the attempt to clinch by Tolstiy.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tolstiy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Rua dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rua just misses with a punch to the body.

Tolstiy rushes Rua and presses him up against the cage.
Tolstiy jumps guard but Rua turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tolstiy is trying to break the clinch but Rua is controlling him.

Rua escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tolstiy at a distance.

Rua moves into range and clinches up with Tolstiy.

Rua pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jake Rua is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tolstiy as he avoids it easily.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Tolstiy circles away.
Rua throws an off balance right hand
and Tolstiy cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Rua closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolstiy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rua walks away with a smile on his face. Tolstiy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tolstiy fails with a takedown attempt.
Jake Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mishko Tolstiy.
Tolstiy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Tolstiy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tolstiy has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.

Rua successfully pulls guard.
Tolstiy trying to control but Rua is working from the bottom.

Rua manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Rua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tolstiy ducks right into an uppercut from Rua.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tolstiy looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tolstiy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tolstiy misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tolstiy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rua paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tolstiy gets a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rua is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolstiy taking a breather.
Tolstiy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rua gets control of Tolstiy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rua will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Tolstiy advances to half guard.

Tolstiy is looking for a kimura here.
Tolstiy thows a huge punch but Rua dodges it nicely.
Rua punching from the bottom.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Tolstiy has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tolstiy's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tolstiy's back!
Tolstiy trying to control the hands but Rua won't let him.
Rua tries to get the hooks in deep but Tolstiy pushed the leg off.
Tolstiy has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Tolstiy is trapped and Rua is scoring with shots to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua missing with strikes.
Rua lands a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rua has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Rua!
Jake Rua seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.