PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Pushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Best
vs
Pushkin

221 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocco Best!
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, Alexander Pushkin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Best tries to keep at a distance but Pushkin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Best blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pushkin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pushkin prevents Best from breaking the clinch.

Pushkin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Pushkin is looking for submissions but instead, Best has regained full guard.

Best looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Best looking for a sweep. Not yet Best, not yet.
Pushkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Best throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Pushkin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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

Best is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pushkin is aware though and is defending well.
Best looking for a sweep. Not yet Best, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Best trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Best 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.
Pushkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Best is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pushkin is in close to Best's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Best really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Best trying to strike off his back.

Best has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Pushkin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Pushkin avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Best's elbow.
Pushkin throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Pushkin wants the takedown. Best is fighting it off but Pushkin persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Best's guard against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pushkin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pushkin landing some decent shots from guard.
Pushkin looking to sit in guard and control but Best gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Best wants to control from the top but Pushkin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pushkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Best can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pushkin looks winded!
Pushkin keeping moving, preventing Best from controlling successfully.
Best slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Best is fighting to break Pushkin's control of his arms but Pushkin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Best not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rocco Best just wasn't active enough.

Pushkin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pushkin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pushkin won't allow Best to get back to his feet.
Best will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Best striking off his back but it's not causing Pushkin any problems.
Pushkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pushkin stopping the sweep attempt from Best.
Best will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Best thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pushkin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pushkin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pushkin showed some decent athleticism there.
Pushkin wants to free his trapped foot but Best is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pushkin is looking to stall here but Best recovers full guard.

Best looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Alexander Pushkin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Best throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Pushkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkin wants to control from the top but Best keeps moving.
Pushkin wants to stand but Best is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pushkin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pushkin trying to control but Best is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Best throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Pushkin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Best escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pushkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pushkin wants to control from the top but Best keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Best is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pushkin is aware though and is defending well.
Best thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Pushkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Best keeping moving, preventing Pushkin from controlling successfully.
Pushkin controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pushkin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Pushkin.

Pushkin moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best wants to break the clinch but can't.
Best avoiding damage as Pushkin throws knees to the body.
Pushkin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Best in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Pushkin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pushkin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Best is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pushkin has control of Best's left arm, preventing Best from doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Best preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pushkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Best's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pushkin closes the distance and clinches.

Pushkin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Best has hold of Pushkin's hands but Pushkin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Pushkin seems to be looking for submissions.
Best throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Best missing with punches from the bottom.
Best flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Best wants to get back to full guard.
Best gets back to full guard.
Pushkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Best is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkin keeping hold of Best's head, controlling as best he can.

Pushkin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Best pulls his head out easily.
Best takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Best seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pushkin for as long as he can get away with.
Best wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pushkin keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Best is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rocco Best.
Pushkin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pushkin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alexander Pushkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pushkin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Best's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best is looking for a sweep. Pushkin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pushkin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Best is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Best lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Best wants to get back to full guard but Pushkin has passed into side control.

Pushkin decides to stand back up. Pushkin steps back and let's Best get back to his feet.

Pushkin rushes Best and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Best being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Best wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Alexander Pushkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Best lands a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Pushkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pushkin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Pushkin!
During a confident post fight interview, Alexander Pushkin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.