PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Rugalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Hathaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rugalov
vs
Hathaway

183 cm
26
230 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
267 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Rugalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Peter Hathaway!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugalov slips a straight right by Hathaway.
Rugalov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hathaway will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hathaway misses with a series of wild punches.
Hathaway stuffs the takedown attempt from Rugalov. Rugalov gets slowly back to his feet.
Hathaway misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rugalov moves into the clinch.
Hathaway is trying to break the clinch but Rugalov is controlling him.
Hathaway is pressed up against the cage. Rugalov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hathaway down to the mat. Hathaway avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hathaway throws an overhand right that lands on Rugalov's shoulder, as Rugalov tries to avoid the shot.
Rugalov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hathaway.
Hathaway misses with a series of wild punches.
Rugalov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hathaway paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hathaway misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hathaway looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hathaway throws a series of strikes that have Rugalov backpedaling.

It looks like Ivan Rugalov has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Hathaway. Those never looked like landing.
A combination from Hathaway does no damage.

Hathaway forces Rugalov back against the cage and clinches.

Rugalov successfully pulls guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hathaway looking to sit in guard and control but Rugalov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rugalov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rugalov wants to control from the top but Hathaway keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hathaway is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Rugalov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hathaway misses with the combination.
Rugalov shoots in but Hathaway avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Rugalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rugalov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rugalov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hathaway keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway taking some punishment here, with Rugalov in his half guard.
Hathaway won't allow Rugalov to pass to mount.

Rugalov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hathaway sees it coming and defends easily.
Rugalov passes to full mount!
Rugalov throwing strikes here but Hathaway is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov landing punches.
Rugalov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Rugalov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rugalov wants to control the pace but Hathaway is squirming around nicely.
Rugalov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hathaway taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Rugalov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Rugalov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A punch combination from Hathaway misses.
A combination from Hathaway does no damage.
A combination from Hathaway does no damage.
Rugalov moves out of range of the strikes.

Rugalov clinches up with Hathaway and pushes him back against the cage.
Rugalov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hathaway is defending well for now.

Rugalov jumps guard and drags Hathaway to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hathaway postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rugalov keeping moving, preventing Hathaway from controlling successfully.
Hathaway trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hathaway in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hathaway wants to control from the top but Rugalov keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice defenses there by Rugalov.
Hathaway misses with a few strikes there.
Hathaway misses with an uppercut. Rugalov saw that one coming.
Rugalov wants to clinch.
Hathaway lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rugalov circles away quickly and effectively.

Rugalov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rugalov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rugalov is looking to take a break and control but Hathaway is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rugalov decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rugalov staying out of range there.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rugalov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
A swing and a miss from Hathaway.
Hathaway throws a series of punches but Rugalov moves out of range.
Hathaway looks to land a combination but Rugalov avoids it well.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hathaway enables Rugalov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hathaway manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rugalov trying to control but Hathaway is working from the bottom.
Hathaway is pulling down on Rugalov's head. It's preventing any offense from Rugalov, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rugalov dodges the punch combination from Hathaway.

Rugalov moves into the clinch.
Rugalov is looking to control Hathaway's arms but Hathaway gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rugalov has his back to the cage.

Hathaway escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hathaway throws a series of punches but Rugalov avoids them all with ease.

Rugalov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rugalov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rugalov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hathaway knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway tries to roll over but Rugalov keeps him under control.
Rugalov throwing shots but Hathaway is blocking nicely.
Rugalov 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.
Rugalov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rugalov is trying to control. Hathaway wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Rugalov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Rugalov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hathaway misses with a combination
and Rugalov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rugalov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hathaway enables Rugalov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hathaway manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rugalov trying to control but Hathaway is working from the bottom.
Hathaway avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rugalov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Rugalov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hathaway throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rugalov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov fails with a takedown attempt.
Rugalov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hathaway jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hathaway misses with a wild body shot.
Hathaway throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rugalov slips a straight right by Hathaway.
Rugalov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Rugalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hathaway dodges the punch combination from Rugalov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hathaway looks to score with a jab to the body but Rugalov is just out of range.
Hathaway scores with the left hand. Rugalov knows he should have avoided that one.
Hathaway lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rugalov circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hathaway misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Peter Hathaway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hathaway throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rugalov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Peter Hathaway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hathaway throws a jab when Rugalov was well out of range.
Hathaway fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hathaway looks to land a left hand but Rugalov moved out of range nicely.
Peter Hathaway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hathaway misses with a double jab.
Hathaway misses with a straight left.
Rugalov slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rugalov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hathaway might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hathaway misses with a few strikes there.
Rugalov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hathaway misses with a wild combination.

Hathaway gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rugalov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hathaway keeping moving, preventing Rugalov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rugalov drops back looking for a leg! Hathaway is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hathaway manages to kick Rugalov off! Rugalov jumps back into Hathaway's guard.
Hathaway utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hathaway working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rugalov.
Rugalov wants to control from the top but Hathaway keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Rugalov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hathaway misses with a few strikes there.
Rugalov misses with a takedown attempt - Hathaway sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ivan Rugalov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hathaway throws a right hand that Rugalov ducks under and follows up with a left that Rugalov also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Peter Hathaway.
I think Rugalov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Rugalov!