PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Split Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vito Corleone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rush
vs
Corleone

185 cm
23
175 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

173 cm
32
180 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Split Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vito Corleone!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Rush or perhaps it was just good defense by Corleone, which made it look bad.
Rush dives in and grabs Corleone's left leg, looking for a takedown. Corleone pushes down on Rush's head and hops out.
Corleone throws the left hand but Rush avoids the punch easily.
Rush shoots for a takedown but Corleone saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little jabbing left from Corleone on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Split Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Corleone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rush.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It seemed like Corleone was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Corleone dives in and grabs Rush's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rush pushes down on Corleone's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Corleone shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Corleone was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rush dodges the ground and pound from Corleone.
Rush gets back to half guard.
Rush is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Corleone's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Corleone's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corleone has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Rush.
Corleone is in bad spot here.
Corleone looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rush.
Corleone rolls, trying to escape but Rush keeps control of the position.
Rush scores with strikes from the back.
Corleone grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Rush lands with a hammerfist to the side of Corleone's head.
Rush landing with strikes.
Rush lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Corleone.
Rush will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a shot to the body.
Corleone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rush. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rush. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rush softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Corleone is trapped and Rush is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Rush is hanging on to Corleone's back as he tries to escape.
Rush is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Corleone. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Corleone trying to control the hands but Rush won't let him.
Rush is working the ground and pound. Can Corleone escape?

Corleone is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is punishing Corleone with some ground and pound.
Rush loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Corleone hold on?
Corleone is still in real trouble! Can Rush finish him?
Corleone takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Corleone trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Corleone seems to have recovered his senses.
What can Corleone do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Rush 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.
Corleone wants to control his opponent's hands but Rush gets his hands free.
Corleone is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Rush off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Rush lands shots from the back.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rush. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Rush scores with punches to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush controlling well, preventing Corleone from escaping the position.
Rush connects with a big shot to the side of Corleone's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
I really don't envy Corleone right now.
Rush not allowing Corleone to control his hands.
Corleone tries to escape but Rush has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Rush has Corleone flattened out and is raining down punches.
Corleone can't escape the position.
Rush has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Corleone.
Rush lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Rush.
Corleone trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rush definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Corleone is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Rush lands a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Split Rush dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Corleone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rush.
A little jabbing left from Corleone on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rush shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rush fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Split Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Split Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Corleone misses with a two punch combination.
Rush shoots in but Corleone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corleone stuffs the takedown.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Corleone! But no joy.
Rush is trying hard to land a takedown here. Corleone sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Corleone as Rush shoots in.
Nice defenses there by Rush.
Corleone looks to land a right hand but Rush moved out of range.
Rush appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rush looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Corleone is fending him off so far but Rush persists. Nope, Corleone circles away and we're back to standing.
Rush looks for a takedown but Corleone sprawls well.
Rush gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Corleone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Corleone slaps away a takedown attempt from Rush, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rush tries for a takedown but Corleone circles away easily
and Corleone counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corleone avoids the head kick by Rush.

Rush decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Corleone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rush tries to pass the half guard into mount. Corleone knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Corleone wants to improve his position but Rush is controlling well.
Rush slips a nice elbow through Corleone's hands, connecting with Corleone's forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Corleone is staying active underneath Rush, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Corleone wants to get back to full guard.

Corleone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Rush.
Rush winds up and cracks Corleone with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rush lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Corleone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Corleone wants to get back to full guard.
Rush working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Corleone trying to control here.
Rush working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Corleone is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rush scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Corleone is looking to control Rush's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Corleone avoid being mounted?
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 Split Rush will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rush looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Corleone is fending him off so far but Rush persists. Nope, Corleone circles away and we're back to standing.
Corleone keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rush has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Split Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rush fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Corleone is fending him off so far but Rush persists. Nope, Corleone circles away and we're back to standing.
Corleone now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Corleone lands a nice looking body shot.
Rush does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rush shoots and misses
and Corleone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rush misses with a takedown
and Corleone counters with a straight right hand.
Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Corleone tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Corleone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Corleone is looking for the big counter here.
Corleone uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rush has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush closes the distance and clinches up with Corleone, looking for a takedown. Rush pushes Corleone against the cage but Corleone circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Corleone on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rush shoots for a double leg takedown but Corleone sprawls well. He's pushed Rush's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rush darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Split Rush overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rush trying to control the action but Corleone is working from the bottom.

Corleone looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rush is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Corleone can do to turn this around?
Rush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Corleone defending well though.

Corleone looking for subs from the bottom but Rush mounts him!
Rush lands with some strikes.
Corleone tries to lock up and control but Rush gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rush landing shots from mount.
Vito Corleone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Corleone is wriggling around trying to escape.
Corleone taking shots to the head.
Corleone is desperately trying to improve his position but Rush has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Corleone that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Corleone is working to get back to half guard.
Corleone wants to control but Rush is having none of it.
Rush lands a big shot there that rocks Corleone but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rush looking to finish Corleone with some ground and pound. This is bad for Corleone!
Rush landing punches.
Rush scoring with strikes but Corleone is staying in there.
Rush landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Corleone goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Rush!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Split Rush!
An out of breath Split Rush thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.