PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timur Rubin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nickey Spillane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rubin
vs
Spillane

190 cm
30
256 lbs
27 - 11 - 0

190 cm
30
262 lbs
24 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill
Unity Clothing

Sully's Bar & Grill
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timur Rubin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nickey Spillane!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spillane turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Spillane.
Rubin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spillane.
Rubin tries to counter with a takedown but Spillane is quick to defend against it.
A big left from Spillane misses.
Spillane defending well as Rubin loads up on a big left hand.
Rubin misses with a few strikes there.
Spillane misses with the body kick

and Rubin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rubin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spillane with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rubin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubin wants to take a breather but Spillane is having none of it.
Rubin thows a huge punch but Spillane dodges it nicely.
Rubin trying to control the action but Spillane is working from the bottom.
Spillane wants to improve his position but Rubin is controlling well.
Rubin controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubin is nestled in close to Spillane, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rubin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Spillane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Spillane desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Spillane keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rubin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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.
Rubin stalling.
Spillane trying to hold on to Rubin's head to control him but Rubin postures up.
Rubin trying to control the action but Spillane is working from the bottom.
Rubin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Spillane is not content to let Rubin control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Spillane tries to land a leg kick but Rubin saw it coming and moves away.
Rubin slips under a jab from Spillane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spillane tries to clinch up but Rubin circles away and keeps his distance.
Rubin scores with a jab to the head.
Rubin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spillane.
Spillane throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Spillane's coach down at The Charles Martel School of Greatness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Spillane's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Spillane throws a leg kick which misses Rubin's front leg but catches the back leg as Rubin tries to avoid it.
Spillane throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rubin misses with a lunging right hand
and Spillane counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Spillane fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rubin to the ground. Spillane is now in Rubin's guard.
Spillane preventing the sweep.
Rubin pulls Spillane in close to prevent any damage.
Rubin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spillane manages to get himself to full guard.

Rubin throwing strikes from guard but Spillane blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spillane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rubin.
Rubin throwing strikes from guard but Spillane blocks nicely.
Rubin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spillane is keeping the position for now.
Rubin 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.
Spillane is trying to control the position but Rubin postures up.
Rubin is looking to work some ground and pound but Spillane has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rubin looking to pass the guard.
Spillane is trying to control the position but Rubin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Rubin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spillane keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Spillane cracks Rubin with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rubin seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rubin with a jab.
Rubin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Spillane just misses with a punch to the body.
Spillane uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rubin.
Spillane lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Spillane throws a body punch but Rubin moves out of range.
Rubin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rubin feinted with a counter takedown.
Rubin connects with a jab.
Rubin looks to land a right hand but Spillane moved out of range.
Rubin lands with a cross.
Rubin 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.
Rubin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spillane can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spillane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rubin.
Rubin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Spillane 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Spillane tries to land a front kick but Rubin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Timur Rubin is winning the standup battle so far.
Rubin takes one on the button.
Spillane fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rubin manages to avoid it.
Rubin digs a good body shot into Spillane's ribs.
Spillane lands with a shot to the body.
Spillane looks to land a body kick but Rubin moved away.
Spillane pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rubin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spillane.
Sloppy strikes from Rubin. Those never looked like landing.
Rubin throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Spillane counters with a body kick.
Spillane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rubin appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Spillane throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rubin's waist but Rubin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Spillane off to one side.
Spillane darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spillane ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
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!
Rubin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Spillane tries to avoid it but Rubin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Spillane to the ground. Spillane escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Spillane uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rubin.
Spillane lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rubin misses with a body shot.
Rubin throws an overhand right that lands on Spillane's shoulder, as Spillane tries to avoid the shot.
Rubin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rubin throws a body shot but no joy.
Spillane lands a body shot.
Spillane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Spillane loads up on a big right hand but Rubin slips the punch.
Rubin tries to counter with a takedown but Spillane is quick to defend against it.
Spillane ducks under a wild hook from Rubin.
Spillane throws the kick towards the body but Rubin avoids it.
Rubin connects with a nice looking jab.
Rubin misses the shot to the body.
Spillane takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spillane connects with a leg kick. Rubin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Spillane tries to close the distance and clinch but Rubin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rubin tried to score with a low kick but Spillane checks it.
Spillane swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Spillane throws a jab but it's blocked by Rubin.
A shot to the liver by Rubin. Beautiful body shot.
Spillane takes a jab right on the kisser.
Spillane tries to clinch but Rubin moves out of range.
Rubin half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rubin throws a shot from downtown. Spillane moves away and avoids it.
Spillane lands a head shot.
Spillane throws the left hand but Rubin avoids the punch easily.

Rubin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rubin lands in his opponent's guard.
Spillane is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rubin dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rubin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rubin looking to control but instead Spillane has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Spillane wants to improve his position but Rubin is controlling well.
Rubin wants to control but Spillane is keeping him busy.
Spillane is concentrating on defense, preventing Rubin from advancing position.
Spillane wants to control but Rubin is keeping busy.
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 Timur Rubin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rubin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rubin throws a looping overhand right but Spillane ducks down to avoid it.
Rubin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Spillane thuds his shin into the meat of Rubin's side.
Spillane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It seemed like Spillane was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rubin misses with a lunging right hand
and Rubin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rubin misses with a jab to the body
and Spillane counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spillane tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Spillane throws a jab when Rubin was well out of range.
Spillane throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spillane fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rubin on the side of the head.
Rubin swats away the attempt to clinch by Spillane.
Rubin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spillane tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rubin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spillane misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rubin moves out of range as Spillane throws a body kick.
Spillane throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Spillane throws a right and a left that Rubin avoids nicely.
Rubin moves out of range of the body kick.
Spillane throws a lazy uppercut

so Rubin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rubin throws a big elbow that misses.
Spillane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spillane keeping moving, preventing Rubin from controlling successfully.
Spillane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rubin.
Rubin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spillane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rubin is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Spillane holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rubin won't allow Spillane to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rubin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spillane slips under a jab from Rubin.
Rubin avoids the body shot from Spillane.
Rubin jabs Spillane to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Spillane dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rubin. That did some damage!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spillane shoots for a takedown but Rubin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubin misses with a hook.
Rubin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Spillane moves away.
Spillane throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rubin on the side of the head.
Decent striking displayed by Spillane there.
A clash of legs there as Rubin blocks the low kick.
Rubin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Spillane in his tracks.
Rubin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rubin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Rubin shoots in and bounces Spillane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Spillane tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Spillane preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rubin trying to control the position from guard on top but Spillane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rubin passes Spillane's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rubin prevents Spillane from improving his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rubin thows a huge punch but Spillane dodges it nicely.
Rubin controlling the action here.
Rubin 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Timur Rubin did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rubin loads up on a big right hand but Spillane slips the punch.
Spillane scores with a hook.
Rubin looks to land a right hand but Spillane moved out of range.
Spillane misses with a body shot.
Spillane dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Rubin. No joy for Spillane on that attempt.
Spillane fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rubin checks it well.
Rubin thuds his right hand into Spillane's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Spillane slips a straight right by Rubin.
Spillane wants to counter with a clinch but Rubin pushes him away.
Spillane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rubin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spillane has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rubin.
Some wild striking there from Rubin.
Rubin lands a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spillane sizes up Rubin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Spillane misses with an uppercut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rubin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Spillane - the referee stops the clock and Rubin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Spillane. Rubin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Spillane misses with a body kick.
Rubin throws a looping overhand right but Spillane ducks down to avoid it.
Rubin misses with a kick to the body.
Spillane lands a nice looking body kick.
Spillane misses with a body kick.
Spillane tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Spillane misses the jab.
Spillane tries to score with a low kick but Rubin moves his leg out of the way.
Rubin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Spillane wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spillane throws a front kick that sends Rubin stumbling back into the cage.
A combination from Rubin does no damage.
Good leg kick by Spillane there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rubin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rubin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Spillane.
Rubin throws the left hand but Spillane avoids the punch easily.
Rubin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Spillane throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Rubin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Spillane's guard.
Rubin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rubin throwing strikes but missing.
Spillane keeping moving, preventing Rubin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spillane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rubin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rubin trying to control the position from guard on top but Spillane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spillane is trying to keep Rubin in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rubin misses with a straight left.
Spillane wants to slow Rubin down by chopping away at his legs.
Spillane is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubin works Spillane's body with a nice hook.
Rubin slips under a jab from Spillane.
Rubin feinted with a counter takedown.

Rubin drives through with a takedown into Spillane's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rubin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Spillane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spillane wants to improve his position but instead Rubin has moved into half guard.
Spillane is trying to get back to full guard.
Rubin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spillane does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spillane has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rubin is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Rubin had his way with Nickey Spillane in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A cross from Rubin lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Spillane misses the target.
Spillane steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rubin.
Spillane with a nice cross.
Rubin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rubin lands a slapping body shot.
Rubin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rubin defending well as Spillane loads up on a big left hand.
Rubin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spillane tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rubin is able to avoid easily.
Rubin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Spillane sprawls and moves away.
Spillane looks to score with a jab to the body but Rubin is just out of range.
Rubin throws the left hand but Spillane avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubin scores with a nice body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Spillane.
Spillane misses with a hook. Rubin ducked under it nicely.
Spillane lands a lovely overhand right.
Spillane takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rubin cracks Spillane with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Spillane moves forwards but Rubin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rubin shoots in but Spillane avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rubin moves out of range as Spillane strikes.
Spillane fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rubin is out of range.
Rubin feinted with a counter takedown.
Rubin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rubin tests Spillane's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rubin.
Nickey Spillane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Timur Rubin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Good work by Rubin as he checks the leg kick.
Spillane scores with a shot to the body.
Spillane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rubin moves away.
Rubin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Spillane pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rubin tries to counter with a takedown but Spillane is quick to defend against it.
Rubin closes the distance and clinches up with Spillane, looking for a takedown. Rubin pushes Spillane against the cage but Spillane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Spillane looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Spillane throws a leg kick

and Rubin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rubin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spillane can't keep his opponent in guard - Rubin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Spillane is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubin sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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.
Rubin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rubin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Spillane misses with a straight left.
Spillane takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Spillane misses the jab.
Rubin feinted with a counter takedown.
Spillane takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rubin moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rubin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spillane as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timur Rubin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rubin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 50:45
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 50:46
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Rubin!
Timur Rubin retains his heavyweight title!
Timur Rubin thanked the fans post fight for their support.