PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Rossi (ranked 6192 p4p, 579 weight class) and Aslan Smagulov (ranked 5698 p4p, 561 weight class). Aslan Smagulov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rossi
vs
Smagulov

180 cm
18
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development
Annihilation Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aslan Smagulov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossi scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Aslan Smagulov has been cut.
Rossi connects with an inside leg kick.
Rossi misses with a wild combination.
Rossi with a jab.
Rossi lands a jab to the nose.
Smagulov has his takedown stuffed
and Rossi counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheers as Rossi lands an impressive looking overhand right. Smagulov doesn't seem phased though.
Smagulov misses with a takedown attempt - Rossi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smagulov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rossi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mario Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aslan Smagulov.
Rossi works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smagulov fails with a takedown attempt.
Smagulov tries to clinch up.
Smagulov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rossi delivers a nice body kick.

Rossi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smagulov looks winded!
Rossi wants to sweep but no luck.

Smagulov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smagulov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rossi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rossi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smagulov passes Rossi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rossi holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Rossi is trying to control but can't.
Smagulov content to control rather than advance.
Smagulov is trying to control. Rossi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smagulov is thwarting Rossi's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rossi.
Rossi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smagulov.
A leg kick checked by Rossi.
Smagulov misses with a takedown
and Rossi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smagulov thinking.
Smagulov fails with a takedown attempt.
Rossi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mario Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smagulov gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That has opened up Aslan Smagulov's cut even more.
We've been told by Rossi's head coaches at Project Cadmus that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Nice straight punches there by Rossi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rossi.
Rossi scores with a punch to the head.
Smagulov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Rossi drops Smagulov with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Smagulov looks back up at him and smiles so Rossi waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Smagulov is rocked!

The cut above Aslan Smagulov's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rossi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smagulov.
Rossi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rossi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smagulov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rossi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rossi lands with an uppercut that bounces Smagulov off the cage and back into range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Rossi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aslan Smagulov's cut.
That's time! Rossi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rossi lands an overhand right.
Aslan Smagulov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smagulov fails with a takedown attempt.

Rossi sends Smagulov crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Rossi is motioning to the referee to let Smagulov up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Smagulov is still on wobbly legs! Can Rossi finish him?
Smagulov shoots for a takedown but Rossi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
It looked like Rossi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Smagulov seems to have recovered his senses.
Aslan Smagulov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rossi lands a big uppercut and Smagulov crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Smagulov looks OK. Rossi waves Smagulov back to his feet!

Smagulov is rocked!
Rossi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smagulov can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi fakes the body blow, causing Smagulov to drop his hands! Left hook to the temple! Smagulov goes stiff, and falls face first into the mat. Goodnight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mario Rossi!
Mario Rossi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.