PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rasul Mirzaev (ranked 1841 p4p, 216 weight class) and Lazuran Riku (ranked 1286 p4p, 158 weight class). Mirzaev comes to the cage accompanied by Killshot - Eminem. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mirzaev
vs
Riku

170 cm
32
157 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

175 cm
32
163 lbs
21 - 6 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rasul Mirzaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lazuran Riku!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mirzaev connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mirzaev pivots, looking for a leg kick but Riku is out of range and Mirzaev settles back down.
Mirzaev lands an overhand right.
Mirzaev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mirzaev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mirzaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mirzaev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riku.
Mirzaev lands with an uppercut that bounces Riku off the cage and back into range.
Riku jabs at Mirzaev's body.
Mirzaev misses with a hook.
Mirzaev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mirzaev tries to clinch but Riku is having none of it.
Mirzaev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riku's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mirzaev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Riku scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mirzaev misses with a hook.
Mirzaev moves in looking to clinch but Riku pushes him off.
Riku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mirzaev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riku getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Riku finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A swing and a miss from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev throws a leg kick but Riku sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mirzaev throws an overhand right that lands on Riku's shoulder, as Riku tries to avoid the shot.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mirzaev listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Riku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mirzaev.
Riku now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Riku tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Riku scores with a shot to the body.
Mirzaev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mirzaev swinging wildly here.
Riku takes a swing at Mirzaev's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mirzaev. Riku does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev throws a series of punches but Riku avoids them all with ease.
Mirzaev throws an off balance right hand
and Riku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Rasul Mirzaev has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirzaev moves out of range as Riku throws a body kick.
Mirzaev moves to clinch but Riku breaks away
and Riku counters with a nice kick to the body.
Riku ducks right into an uppercut from Mirzaev.
Riku throws a nice head kick!
Mirzaev wants to clinch.
Mirzaev throws a low kick but Riku moves out of range easily.
Mirzaev is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A cross from Mirzaev lands.
Mirzaev misses with a straight left.
Mirzaev blocks a jab.
Riku lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mirzaev at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev throws an off balance right hand
letting Riku counter with a right hand.
Riku misses with a low kick.
Riku defending well as Mirzaev loads up on a big left hand.
Riku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mirzaev misses the body punch
and Riku connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mirzaev throws a looping overhand right but Riku ducks down to avoid it.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mirzaev misses with a wild body shot.
Riku jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mirzaev stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Riku.
Riku looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Riku misses with an uppercut. Mirzaev saw that one coming.
Mirzaev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Riku moves out of range as Mirzaev strikes.
Riku thuds his right hand into Mirzaev's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riku swings for the body but Mirzaev moves out of range.

Mirzaev drives through and clinches with Riku against the cage.
Riku misses with a hook to the ribs.

Riku escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mirzaev is looking to clinch.
Mirzaev misses with the combination.
Riku doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Riku throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mirzaev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mirzaev lands a slapping body shot.
Mirzaev throws the kick towards the body but Riku avoids it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mirzaev.
Mirzaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Riku circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A swing and a miss from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Riku circles away quickly and effectively.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Riku! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rasul Mirzaev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rasul Mirzaev's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mirzaev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rasul Mirzaev is winning the standup battle so far.
Riku slips a jab from Mirzaev.
Riku stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mirzaev misses with a body shot.
Riku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mirzaev moves away.
Riku blocks a leg kick.
Riku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mirzaev throws a series of punches but Riku avoids them all with ease.
Mirzaev jabs Riku to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Riku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riku just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirzaev lands a lovely overhand right.
Mirzaev lands with an uppercut that bounces Riku off the cage and back into range.
Mirzaev cracks Riku with a good jab.
Riku slips a straight right by Mirzaev.
A shot to the liver by Mirzaev. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mirzaev throws a one two combo.
Rasul Mirzaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mirzaev fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Riku on the side of the head.
Riku throws a jab but it's blocked by Mirzaev.
Riku slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mirzaev misses with an uppercut. Riku saw that one coming.
Riku with a hook.
Mirzaev doesn't manage to clinch there - Riku circles away.
Riku lands a jab to the head.
Riku slips a jab from Mirzaev.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mirzaev 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.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mirzaev misses with a head kick.
Mirzaev misses with a straight left.
Mirzaev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mirzaev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riku.
A bone on bone clash there as Mirzaev blocks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riku blocks a low kick nicely.
Riku slips a straight right by Mirzaev.
Riku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mirzaev.
Riku throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mirzaev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mirzaev takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mirzaev throws a lazy uppercut
and Riku counters with a straight right hand.
Mirzaev misses with a body punch
letting Riku counter with a right hand.
A punch combination from Mirzaev misses.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mirzaev rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Riku counters with a right hand to the body.
Riku lands with a nice body punch.
Riku slips under a jab.
Riku tries a quick counter leg kick but Mirzaev is wise to it.
Riku looks to land a left hand but Mirzaev moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riku misses with a wild body shot.
Riku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Riku takes a swing at Mirzaev's ribcage but misses.
Mirzaev throws a body shot but no joy.
Mirzaev fails to land with a series of punches.
A little jabbing left from Riku on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Riku scores with a jab.
Mirzaev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Riku! But no joy.
Riku connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mirzaev cracks Riku with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mirzaev misses with a body shot
and Riku counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Rasul Mirzaev's cut is getting worse.
Mirzaev lands with a straight right. Riku didn't see that one coming.
Riku walks into a straight right hand from Mirzaev.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mirzaev throws a body punch but Riku moves out of range.
Mirzaev throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mirzaev misses with a lunging right hand
letting Riku counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Mirzaev.
Riku tries a quick counter leg kick but Mirzaev is wise to it.
Mirzaev misses with a kick to the body.
Mirzaev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Riku.
Mirzaev lands with a right hand.
Riku blocks a jab.
Riku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mirzaev scores with the left hand. Riku knows he should have avoided that one.
Mirzaev throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Riku counters with a series of strikes. Mirzaev will be more careful next time no doubt.

Mirzaev is rocked!
The fight stays on the outside here - Mirzaev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riku slips under a jab from Mirzaev.
Riku moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasul Mirzaev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rasul Mirzaev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mirzaev moves into the clinch.

Mirzaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mirzaev fails to land with a series of punches.
Mirzaev throws a leg kick but Riku moved away.
Riku looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mirzaev swings away with a body shot that misses
and Riku counters with a nice body shot.
Riku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mirzaev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Riku bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Riku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mirzaev. Mirzaev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mirzaev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Riku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riku throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mirzaev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Mirzaev clobbers Riku with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mirzaev misses with a hook. Riku ducked under it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riku throws a shot from downtown. Mirzaev moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Riku.
Riku misses with a low kick as Mirzaev jumps back.
Riku takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mirzaev swinging wildly here.
Mirzaev throws a looping overhand right but Riku ducks down to avoid it.
Riku swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mirzaev jabs Riku right on the nose. Riku blinks but takes it well.
Riku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mirzaev misses with a series of wild punches.
Riku misses with a few strikes there.
Mirzaev staying out of range there.
Riku takes one to the side of the head.
Mirzaev throws a body punch but Riku moves out of range.
Riku follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riku checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mirzaev is looking to clinch but Riku is avoiding it.
A telegraphed right hand from Mirzaev misses the target.
Riku chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mirzaev can pounce on him.
A jab from Mirzaev finds it's way through Riku's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mirzaev throws a poor cross that misses
and Riku counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Mirzaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Riku! But no joy.
Mirzaev takes a swing at Riku's ribcage but misses.
Riku looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Riku throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mirzaev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Riku doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Riku uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev scores with a decent looking hook.
Riku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mirzaev.
Mirzaev moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riku moves forwards but Mirzaev connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from Mirzaev misses.
Mirzaev throws a leg kick
and Riku counters with a stiff right hand.
Riku misses with a kick to the body.
Mirzaev looks to land a right hand but Riku moved out of range.

Mirzaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Riku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mirzaev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mirzaev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Riku avoids the body shot from Mirzaev.
Riku swings widly with a right hand
and Mirzaev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Riku scores with a jab.
Rasul Mirzaev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mirzaev throws an overhand right that lands on Riku's shoulder, as Riku tries to avoid the shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Riku blocks the leg kick.
Riku doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mirzaev throws a jab when Riku was well out of range.
Mirzaev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mirzaev throws a right and a left that Riku avoids nicely.
Mirzaev cracks Riku with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Riku on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mirzaev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riku is trying to counter with his kicks.
Nice defenses there by Riku.
Riku throws a push kick but Mirzaev slaps the foot to one side.
Lazuran Riku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mirzaev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mirzaev getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mirzaev with a jab.
A lazy left from Mirzaev finds it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasul Mirzaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mirzaev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasul Mirzaev!