PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Cotta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruki Rabota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Cotta looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Cotta
vs
Rabota

188 cm
20
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
225 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thiago Cotta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruki Rabota!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Rabota tries to clinch there but Cotta circles away.
Cotta swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Horrible takedown by Rabota or perhaps it was just good defense by Cotta which made him look bad.
We've been informed that Rabota has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Cotta misses with a takedown attempt

and Rabota counters by moving into the clinch.
Rabota has had enough of the clinch but Cotta keeps him there for the moment.
Rabota is looking to break free of the clinch but Cotta has double underhooks.

Cotta jumps guard.
Rabota not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rabota would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rabota stopping the sweep attempt from Cotta.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rabota decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cotta, up you get!

Cotta gets the takedown into side control.
Rabota is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cotta throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Cotta throws a strike aimed at the side of Rabota's head but Rabota avoids it well.
Cotta grinds an elbow into Rabota's temple.
Cotta working the ground and pound from side control.
Cotta sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rabota is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotta misses with the ground and pound.

Cotta tries for a kimura but Rabota is defending well.
Rabota taking punishment in the form of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotta throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Cotta is trying to get an arm triangle but Rabota is defending well.
Cotta in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Rabota's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Cotta in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabota tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rabota tries to escape but Cotta is in control.
Rabota can't do much from the bottom here.
Cotta cracks Rabota with a big right hand but Rabota just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rabota is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cotta asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Cotta tries for a kimura but Rabota is defending well.
Cotta scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cotta working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Cotta throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Cotta.
You can see the frustration on Rabota's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cotta landing a few strikes.
Rabota is pushing Cotta's head away, looking to escape. Cotta manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rabota closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cotta circles away.

Cotta changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rabota looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rabota managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cotta.
Cotta fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Cotta connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rabota some visible discomfort.
Rabota wants to control but Cotta postures up.
Rabota taking a bit of punishment here - Cotta scoring with strikes.
Rabota is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Cotta has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Cotta in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rabota is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cotta working the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rabota dodges the ground and pound from Cotta.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabota wants to control but Cotta postures up.
Cotta tries to advance to mount but Rabota denies him.
Rabota sneaks back into half guard.
Cotta working Rabota over with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cotta lands a nice short elbow.
Cotta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rabota tries to get to full guard but Cotta has control of the leg.
Cotta lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabota is trying to maintain the position but Cotta is very close to passing his half guard.
Cotta prevents Rabota from improving his position.
Cotta takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cotta scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cotta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cotta prevents Rabota from standing back up.
Cotta sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rabota defending well though.
Rabota is trying to stand back up but Cotta is controlling him
Cotta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabota keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotta wants to stand up but Rabota is controlling the position.
Cotta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rabota tries to roll over but Cotta keeps him under control.
Cotta is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rabota pushes Cotta off looking to stand but Cotta dives back in and keeps control.
Cotta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Cotta lands with a punch from half guard.
Rabota is trying to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cotta connects with a nice short shot to Rabota's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabota is trying to stand.

Cotta is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cotta wants to pass to mount but Rabota is defending the position.

Cotta is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Cotta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cotta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rabota's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Cotta dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Cotta gets caught napping as Rabota dives in and scores a takedown. Cotta manages to retain guard.
Rabota has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cotta is proving hard to escape from.
Cotta is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rabota decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cotta, up you get!
Rabota tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cotta swivels and escapes.
Rabota displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cotta.
Rabota tries to bum rush Cotta with a series of wild strikes but Cotta uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rabota closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cotta drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rabota gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rabota's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rabota is defended easily by Cotta.

Cotta shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cotta showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rabota manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cotta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cotta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cotta works over Rabota with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotta looking to sit in guard and control but Rabota gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cotta looking for subs off his back but Rabota has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rabota is pressing down on Cotta's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cotta is holding on for now.
Cotta wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cotta is refusing to be controlled, as Rabota sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabota is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Cotta manages to get to full guard.
Cotta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rabota is one step ahead there.
Cotta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Cotta is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rabota is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cotta's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cotta's back!
Cotta is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Iron Fist Training, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Cotta turns into Rabota and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabota manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rabota tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Cotta's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Cotta is desperately trying to improve his position but Rabota has a good base and remains in mount.
Rabota dominating with strikes here.
Rabota can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cotta is looking to escape.
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.
Rabota tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ruki Rabota.
I think Cotta 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Cotta!