PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jethro Rusted (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Amaral
vs
Rusted

189 cm
34
194 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

185 cm
29
194 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Max Octane Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Amaral!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jethro Rusted!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusted throws a push kick but Amaral slaps the foot to one side.
Amaral looks to land a right hand but Rusted moved out of range.
Rusted drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Amaral defends it well.
Amaral tries to clinch but Rusted is having none of it.
Amaral misses with a few strikes there.
Amaral on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rusted. Rusted obviously looking to wear him down.
Rusted lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Amaral will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rusted lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Amaral thuds his shin into the meat of Rusted's side.
Good shot there by Amaral.
Rusted pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Amaral cracks Rusted with an open hand slap.
Amaral throws a leg kick that is checked

and Rusted counters with a shoot takedown. Amaral fights it but they end up in guard.
Rusted has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Coffee Shop. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Amaral wants to get back to his feet but Rusted is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rusted controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rusted controlling from the top position.
Rusted throws a big elbow that misses.
Amaral keeping moving, preventing Rusted from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rusted throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Amaral works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rusted accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Amaral lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Amaral has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Amaral trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rusted's guard.
Rusted pulls Amaral in to control the position.
Amaral trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rusted's guard.
Rusted has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rusted keeping full guard, as Amaral tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rusted is looking for a triangle but Amaral pushes his legs off easily.
Rusted has his hands on Amaral's head, controlling the position.
Rusted keeping moving, preventing Amaral from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rusted's corner calls for a 1-2. Rusted obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rusted on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rusted keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice cross by Rusted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral misses with a leg kick.
Rusted lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rusted throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Amaral fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rusted manages to avoid it.
Rusted blocks a head kick by Amaral.
A good leg kick by Rusted.
Amaral doesn't manage to clinch there - Rusted circles away.
Amaral is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Amaral connects with a solid leg kick.
Amaral lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rusted swats away the attempt to clinch by Amaral.
Amaral stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rusted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted dominated that 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.

Amaral throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rusted just misses with a punch to the body.
Amaral throws a leg kick but Rusted sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rusted feints the counter takedown.
Amaral takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Amaral throws a quick inside leg kick.
Amaral throws out a leg kick but Rusted moves out of range and Amaral only half commits.
Rusted changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rusted tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Amaral clobbers Rusted with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Amaral misses with a head kick.
Rusted circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rusted looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusted keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rusted looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rusted tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Amaral scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Amaral throws a chopping leg kick but Rusted manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rusted tries to score with a low kick but Amaral moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral tries to clinch but Rusted moves out of range.
Amaral throws a jab but it's blocked by Rusted.
Amaral lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Amaral throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rusted changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rusted thuds his shin into the meat of Amaral's side.
Amaral connects with a single shot there.
Rusted avoids a punch combination nicely.
Amaral wants to land a leg kick but Rusted is out of range.
Rusted throws a wild body kick that Amaral sees coming a mile off.
Rafael Amaral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusted blocks a leg kick.
Rusted feints the counter takedown.
Amaral wants to clinch up but Rusted keeps it at a distance.
Rusted walks into a straight right hand from Amaral.
Amaral throws a chopping leg kick but Rusted manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And Rusted tries to counter it with a takedown but Amaral pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rusted on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rusted tries to land a front kick but Amaral steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rusted scores with a sloppy right hand. Amaral should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Amaral scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Amaral throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Amaral is looking to score with low kicks.
Amaral throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Amaral takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A low kick from Amaral misses
and Rusted cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rafael Amaral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body punch from Rusted.
Amaral throws a leg kick

and Rusted counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Amaral kicks off Rusted and gets to his feet.
Rusted's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rusted pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Amaral.
A telegraphed right hand from Rusted misses the target.
Rusted takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rusted checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Amaral looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Amaral throws a low kick but Rusted moves out of range easily.
Rusted throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rusted keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Amaral.
Rusted throws out a counter right but Amaral avoids it with no problem.
Amaral throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rusted counters with a good, hard body kick but Amaral shrugs it off.
Rusted slips a straight right by Amaral.
Rusted feints a counter leg kick.
Amaral fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rusted checks it well.
Rusted blocks a head kick by Amaral.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Amaral. Rusted shrugs it off though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Amaral throws a low kick but Rusted avoids it.
A punch lands to the side of Amaral 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rusted throws a lazy right hand but Amaral sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Amaral tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rusted manages to circle out of the way.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Amaral blocks a jab.
A head kick from Rusted lands but Amaral takes it in his stride.
Amaral throws a leg kick

and Rusted counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Amaral!
Rusted has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Amaral is looking for a sweep.
Amaral defending against the ground and pound.
Amaral is pushing Rusted's head away, looking to escape. Rusted manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amaral tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jethro Rusted has got the better of the ground game so far.
Amaral is trying to escape the position but Rusted is controlling the position.
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 Rafael Amaral will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Amaral lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rusted pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amaral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Amaral finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rusted lands a glancing blow to the side of Amaral's head.
Amaral throws a big shot that misses.
Rusted steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Amaral closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Amaral tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amaral checks a leg kick nicely.
Amaral tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice side step and Rusted releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Amaral misses with a head kick.
Rusted stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Amaral.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral throws a nice inside leg kick.
Amaral feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rusted's calf.
Amaral throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rusted tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Amaral misses with a right hand
and Rusted connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice defenses there by Amaral.
Rafael Amaral is winning the standup battle so far.

Amaral pushes Rusted up against the cage in a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Amaral just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rusted's brow.
Rusted fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Amaral is looking to break free of the clinch but Rusted has double underhooks.

Rusted escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rusted checks a low kick from Amaral.
Amaral misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Amaral.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusted misses with the combination.
Amaral scores with a leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rusted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rusted feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Amaral's calf.
Amaral misses with a leg kick

and Rusted counters with a takedown into side control.
Amaral is letting Rusted control him for a moment.
Amaral tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Amaral is not content to let Rusted control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusted controls the position.
Amaral wants to get back to his feet.
Rusted trying to control the position but Amaral is working away.
Rusted taking a breather here.
Amaral wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rusted lands with an uppercut that bounces Amaral off the cage and back into range.
Amaral feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rusted's calf.
Amaral doesn't manage to clinch there - Rusted circles away.
Rusted scores with a hook to the body. Amaral takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Amaral lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rusted's sensitive parts.
Amaral tries to clinch up but Rusted circles away and keeps his distance.
Amaral is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rusted with the counter takedown but Amaral avoids it easily.
Amaral thows a leg kick but Rusted checks it
and Rusted counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rusted throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Amaral stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rusted takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jethro Rusted just about did enough to take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rusted scoring well with a low kick there.
Good leg kick by Rusted there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Amaral avoids a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rusted.
Amaral throws out a leg kick but Rusted moves out of range and Amaral only half commits.
Amaral avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rusted takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Amaral tries a low kick but Rusted avoids it.
Rusted is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Amaral fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rusted on the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amaral is looking to clinch but Rusted is avoiding it.
Rusted checks a low kick from Amaral.
Amaral misses with a low kick.
Amaral cracks Rusted with a right hand to the side of the head.
Amaral is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rusted.
And Rusted responds with a good body kick, but Amaral manages to step out the way in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral wants to clinch.
Rusted scores with the left hand. Amaral knows he should have avoided that one.
Amaral attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Amaral tries a low kick but Rusted avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Amaral.
Amaral throws a head kick that misses

and Rusted counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Amaral is looking to escape.
Amaral is staying active underneath Rusted, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rusted is taking a breather. Amaral says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral tries to roll over but Rusted keeps him under control.
Amaral is trying to stand back up but Rusted is controlling him
Rusted content to control rather than advance.
Rusted trying to mount his opponent but Amaral defends it.
Amaral wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rusted throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rusted.
Rusted scores with a nice strike.
Rusted misses with a straight left.
Rusted tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rusted tried to score with a low kick but Amaral checks it.
Amaral is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rusted.
Amaral throws a quick inside leg kick.
Amaral throws the kick towards the body but Rusted avoids it.
No joy there for Rusted, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Amaral moves out of range as Rusted throws a body kick.
Amaral scores with a jab to the head.
Amaral blocks a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Amaral.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Amaral 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.
Rusted feints a counter leg kick.
A jab lands there for Amaral.
Rusted fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Amaral has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rusted keeps the fight on the outside.
Rusted goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Amaral throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rusted counters with a nice body shot.
Rusted throws the kick towards the body but Amaral avoids it.
Amaral's corner calls for a 1-2. Amaral obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rusted ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rusted, as that shot connected.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Amaral, right into the meat.
Amaral lands with an uppercut that bounces Rusted off the cage and back into range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rusted dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rusted misses with a low kick.
Amaral tries to counter by clinching up but Rusted breaks away and moves out of range.
Rusted scores with a jab to the jaw.
Amaral fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rusted checks it well.
Amaral takes one to the side of the head.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Amaral.
Amaral throws a leg kick

and Rusted counters with a takedown into side control.
Amaral tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rusted wants to control for a moment but Amaral uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Rusted throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusted slows the pace down in half guard.
Rusted is trying to control. Amaral wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Amaral looks like he's trying to stand up.
Well, if Rusted 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.
Rusted working the head and body with strikes.
Still in half guard, Rusted seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rusted is trying to control the action in half guard but Amaral is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rusted wants to free his trapped foot but Amaral is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Amaral is not content to let Rusted control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Amaral is looking to slow Rusted down with leg kicks.
Amaral's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rusted under the eye.
Rusted cracks Amaral with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rusted looks to score with a jab to the body but Amaral is just out of range.
Amaral walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rusted.
Amaral needs to keep his hands up - Rusted had a free shot at his head there.
Amaral closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jethro Rusted is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Amaral moves in looking to clinch but Rusted pushes him off.
Rusted tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rusted pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rusted has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Amaral.
Amaral feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rusted's calf.
Amaral swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rusted only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Rusted tried to score with a low kick but Amaral checks it.
Rusted blocks a head kick by Amaral.
Rusted throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Amaral half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rusted throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Amaral on the side of the head.
Amaral misses with a hook. Rusted ducked under it nicely.
A low kick from Amaral is predictable there

and Rusted counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rusted.
Rusted's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Rusted has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rusted stopping the sweep attempt from Amaral.
Rusted is looking to pass into half guard but Amaral pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Amaral is in guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rusted controlling Amaral's posture.
Rusted 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.
Rafael Amaral has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Amaral controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jethro Rusted.
I think Rusted has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 46:49
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jethro Rusted! Jethro Rusted retains his middleweight title!
Jethro Rusted decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Rafael Amaral stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back!!!!'.