PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Dignam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasputin comes to the cage accompanied by TURISAS - Rasputin. Dignam has chosen The Ruler's Back as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Yefimovich Rasputin
vs
Dignam

225 cm
36
302 lbs
25 - 25 - 0

195 cm
34
289 lbs
38 - 16 - 4

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

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 25 - 25 - 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 38 - 16 - 4, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tyler Dignam!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasputin tries to clinch up.
Dignam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rasputin defends it nicely.
Dignam shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rasputin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dignam prevents Rasputin from breaking the clinch.
Dignam has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rasputin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Dignam.
Rasputin trying to stall but Dignam improves his position.
Dignam has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rasputin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dignam tries to pull guard but Rasputin holds him up against the cage and eventually Dignam drops back down to his feet.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dignam receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Dignam manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dignam throws a hook but Rasputin blocks it.

Oooooh!!! Rasputin has knocked Dignam down with a huge combo! Rasputin steps away and waves a wobbly Dignam back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Tyler Dignam has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasputin misses with a takedown attempt - Dignam sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dignam shoots in looking for a takedown but Rasputin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dignam's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rasputin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rasputin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dignam.
Rasputin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dignam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rasputin moves out of range of the body kick from Dignam.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dignam moves into range and clinches up with Rasputin.
Dignam wants a takedown but no success here.
Dignam is trying to pull guard but Rasputin has him pressed against the cage.

Dignam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tyler Dignam seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dignam has managed to clinch.
Dignam has Rasputin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rasputin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rasputin misses with some punches.

Dignam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dignam shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rasputin as he jumps to the side.
Rasputin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dignam moves away.
Rasputin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dignam tries to avoid it but Rasputin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dignam to the ground. Dignam escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rasputin is looking to clinch but Dignam is avoiding it.

Dignam has managed to clinch.

Dignam drags the fight down to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rasputin connects with a couple of short punches.

Rasputin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rasputin stands up from Dignam's guard - Rasputin perhaps looking for a knockout.
Horrible takedown by Rasputin or perhaps it was just good defense by Dignam which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dignam closes the distance and clinches.

Dignam breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Rasputin as Dignam shoots in.
Dignam fails with the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rasputin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rasputin misses with a leg kick.
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 Tyler Dignam's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rasputin's corner calls for a 1-2. Rasputin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dignam shoots in looking for a takedown. Rasputin tries to sprawl out of it but Dignam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rasputin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dignam circles away from the clinch attempt

and Dignam holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rasputin has had enough of the clinch but Dignam keeps him there for the moment.
Rasputin can't get the takedown.
Dignam prevents Rasputin from breaking the clinch.
Rasputin is trying to break free.

Dignam breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dignam lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin wants to clinch but Dignam slips to the side

and Dignam moves into the clinch.
Rasputin stops a takedown attempt from Dignam.

Dignam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dignam tries to clinch up.

Dignam has closed the distance and engaged Rasputin in a clinch.
Dignam is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rasputin to keep the fight standing.
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Dignam.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dignam.
Rasputin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dignam avoiding damage.
Dignam can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin has picked Dignam up - he's going for a ride! Rasputin dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rasputin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rasputin seems to be looking for submissions.
Dignam wants to get back to full guard.
Rasputin is looking to take a break and control but Dignam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dignam defends it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rasputin is stalling here. Dignam is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rasputin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dignam has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
You can see the frustration on Rasputin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dignam throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Rasputin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dignam trying to control the position but Rasputin is working away.

Dignam tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rasputin sneaks back into half guard.
Rasputin wants to get back to full guard.
Rasputin looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin actively working from the bottom here.
Rasputin is trying to control but can't.
Dignam content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dignam trying to mount his opponent but Rasputin defends it.
Dignam trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rasputin tries to get to full guard but Dignam has control of the leg.
Rasputin won't allow Dignam to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tyler Dignam's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dignam connects with a jab.
Rasputin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dignam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rasputin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rasputin looking to score a takedown here. Dignam is defending well but Rasputin drives through and ends up in Dignam's guard.
Dignam is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rasputin is controlling him.
Rasputin trying to control but Dignam is working from the bottom.
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dignam utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rasputin wants to get up but he can't break Dignam's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dignam controls Rasputin momentarily but Rasputin frees himself.
Dignam wants to stand but Rasputin is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control but Dignam is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rasputin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dignam is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rasputin, into his guard.

Rasputin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dignam can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rasputin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dignam is aware though and is defending well.

Rasputin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dignam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tyler Dignam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dignam is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rasputin.
You can see the frustration on Rasputin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dignam works to advance to full mount. Rasputin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Dignam sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rasputin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Dignam tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rasputin tries to reverse the position but Dignam maintains control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rasputin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dignam.
Rasputin is trying desperately to improve position.
Dignam thowing shots but they're missing.
Rasputin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Dignam there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Dignam tries to control but Rasputin wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dignam dominating with strikes here.
Rasputin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Dignam avoids the attempt from Rasputin to control.
Rasputin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rasputin tries to hold on but Dignam postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rasputin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dignam throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyler Dignam.
I think Rasputin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

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.