PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Azevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Hagush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azevedo comes to the cage accompanied by Puddle Of Mudd - Psycho . The key to victory for Thiago Azevedo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Azevedo
vs
Hagush

179 cm
21
151 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

150 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ruthless Violence Clothing Association

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Azevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ruslan Hagush!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azevedo misses with a head kick.
Hagush fails with a takedown attempt.
Azevedo misses with a head kick.
Azevedo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azevedo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hagush shoots in for a takedown but Azevedo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hagush shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've been hearing good reports from Azevedo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagush is thwarting Azevedo's attempts to control the position.
Hagush prevents Azevedo from improving his position.
Hagush throwing shots but Azevedo is blocking nicely.
Azevedo wants to improve his position but Hagush is controlling well.
Azevedo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hagush.
Hagush tries to pass the half guard into mount. Azevedo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hagush missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagush working over Azevedo with some ground and pound. Azevedo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hagush scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Azevedo is looking to control Hagush's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Azevedo avoid being mounted?
Hagush thows a huge punch but Azevedo dodges it nicely.
Azevedo is trying to control but can't.
Nice strikes from Hagush there.
Hagush wants to control but Azevedo is keeping him busy.
Hagush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Azevedo moves into full guard.
Azevedo controlling Hagush's posture.
Hagush content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Azevedo working a defensive guard here.
Hagush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Azevedo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hagush!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azevedo controlling from the full mount.
Hagush regains half guard.
Azevedo prevents Hagush from improving his position.
Azevedo is keen to just control but Hagush is a slippery customer.
Azevedo prevents Hagush from improving his position.
Hagush wants to control but Azevedo is keeping busy.

Azevedo has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hagush defend it? Azevedo steps over the head and cranks it - Hagush is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Azevedo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thiago Azevedo!
After winning the bout, Thiago Azevedo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.