PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Schwartz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigori Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaun Schwartz has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Schwartz
vs
Rasputin

183 cm
25
279 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

210 cm
25
277 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shaun Schwartz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigori Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasputin throws a right hand that misses
and Schwartz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Schwartz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rasputin to score with a decent uppercut.

It looks like Shaun Schwartz has been cut.
Rasputin throws a looping overhand right but Schwartz ducks down to avoid it.
Schwartz is looking to counter with head kicks.

Rasputin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Schwartz did well to prevent Rasputin getting side control.
Rasputin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rasputin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Schwartz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Schwartz has hold of Rasputin's hands but Rasputin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rasputin slows the pace down in half guard.
Schwartz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Schwartz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rasputin slips a nice elbow through Schwartz's hands, connecting with Schwartz's forehead.
Rasputin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rasputin content to control rather than advance.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rasputin working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Rasputin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rasputin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Schwartz is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rasputin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Schwartz with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rasputin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Schwartz really is a fat lump.
It looks like Rasputin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin is continuing to stall.
Rasputin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rasputin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Schwartz!
Rasputin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasputin lands a few punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grigori Rasputin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shaun Schwartz's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rasputin waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Schwartz. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Schwartz to the canvas! Can he finish him!?
Oh Schwartz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Schwartz can't keep his opponent in guard - Rasputin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Schwartz seems to have got his legs back now.
Rasputin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rasputin passes to full mount!
Rasputin unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Schwartz wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Rasputin celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Grigori Rasputin!
A relieved looking Grigori Rasputin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.