PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fighterisimo Aaa (ranked 5070 p4p, 0 weight class) and Costel Rusu (ranked 7229 p4p, 0 weight class). Rusu has chosen "Deșteaptă-te, române!" by Anton Pann as his entrance music. Fighterisimo Aaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aaa
vs
Rusu

185 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fighterisimo Aaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Costel Rusu!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aaa tries to clinch but Rusu moves out of range.
Aaa wants to clinch up but Rusu keeps it at a distance.
Rusu tries for a takedown but Aaa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aaa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rusu.
Aaa scores with a head kick. Rusu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Costel Rusu has been cut.
Aaa throws a lazy body kick

and Rusu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Rusu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Aaa connects with a body shot that sends Rusu's belly button to the back.
Aaa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rusu shoots in for a double leg but Aaa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Aaa tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rusu manages to circle out of the way.
Aaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Rusu's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aaa throws a sloppy head kick

and Rusu counters by clinching up.

Rusu successfully pulls guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusu managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aaa gets to his feet. Rusu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Aaa shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rusu but Rusu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aaa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rusu as he jumps to the side.
Aaa closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rusu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Aaa won't be happy with that.
Aaa tries to improve position but can't.

Rusu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rusu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusu working away.
Rusu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aaa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rusu just content to control the position.
Aaa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rusu controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Aaa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aaa tries to buck Rusu off but Rusu is having none of it.
Aaa sneaks back into half guard.
Aaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rusu.
Aaa is looking to improve his position.
Aaa is pressing down on Rusu's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aaa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Aaa looking for a guillotine here but Rusu defends easily.

Rusu decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Aaa, up you get!
Aaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aaa wants to clinch but Rusu slips to the side

and Rusu counters with a shoot takedown. Aaa fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rusu stands up from Aaa's guard - Rusu perhaps looking for a knockout.
Aaa feints and then cracks Rusu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rusu down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Costel Rusu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Costel Rusu'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.

Aaa shoots in for a takedown but Rusu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rusu shoots for a takedown but Aaa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aaa throws a lazy uppercut

and Rusu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aaa avoiding damage as Rusu throws knees to the body.
Aaa looking for a takedown.
Rusu has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Aaa after a bit of a struggle.

Aaa jumps guard and drags Rusu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rusu is stalling in the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aaa wants to sweep but no luck.
Aaa working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusu is stalling in the full guard.
Rusu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rusu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Aaa throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rusu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aaa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fighterisimo Aaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aaa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rusu's head.
Aaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Aaa wants to clinch up but Rusu keeps it at a distance.
Fighterisimo Aaa is winning the standup battle so far.
Aaa shoots in and drives through. Rusu sprawls well.
Rusu throws a big counter head kick but Aaa avoids it with no problem.
Aaa shoots in looking for a takedown. Rusu tries to sprawl out of it but Aaa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rusu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fighterisimo Aaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aaa looks to clinch
and Rusu counters with a one-two to the body.
Aaa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Aaa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rusu lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Aaa throws a sloppy head kick and Rusu moves out of range easily.
Aaa wants to clinch
and Rusu counters with a one-two to the body.
Aaa tries to clinch but Rusu moves out of range.
Rusu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Aaa.
Rusu keeps the fight on the outside.
Aaa swings widly with a right hand

and Rusu holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Rusu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusu prevents the takedown attempt.
Rusu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Aaa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rusu stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Aaa breaks from the clinch.
Aaa shoots for a takedown but Rusu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rusu steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Aaa.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aaa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aaa tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Aaa.
Rusu darts in looking for a takedown but Aaa gets double underhooks and turns Rusu into the cage.
Aaa half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Costel Rusu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Costel Rusu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Aaa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aaa tries for a takedown but Rusu circles away easily

and Rusu counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rusu.
A short right from Rusu.
Aaa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rusu.
Rusu stops a takedown attempt from Aaa.
Rusu gets underhooks to prevent Aaa's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fighterisimo Aaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rusu pulls guard successfully.
Rusu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rusu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rusu is adopting a defensive guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aaa wants to control from the top but Rusu keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aaa throws a strike but Rusu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aaa 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.
Rusu throwing strikes from guard but Aaa blocks nicely.
Aaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rusu prevents Aaa from getting back to his feet.
Aaa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rusu throws an elbow that misses. Aaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rusu's guard. Nice move by Aaa!

Rusu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aaa is aware though and is defending well.
Aaa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aaa preventing the sweep.

Rusu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aaa trying to control but Rusu is working from the bottom.

Aaa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rusu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aaa has managed to get both his arms back between Rusu's legs - danger averted.
Aaa wants to control from the top but Rusu keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Aaa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Aaa throws a nice outside leg kick.
Aaa fails to land the takedown.
Aaa shoots in for a takedown but Rusu shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rusu stalks Aaa and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Aaa's face. Aaa staggers backwards, shaken.
Aaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rusu counters with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aaa throws a head kick that misses.
Rusu blocks a low kick nicely.
Aaa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rusu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rusu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rusu throws a counter combo.

Rusu clinches up with Aaa and pushes him back against the cage.
Aaa is trying to drag Rusu to the mat but Rusu just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rusu has Aaa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Aaa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fighterisimo Aaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Costel Rusu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aaa misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Costel Rusu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rusu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Costel Rusu!
After winning the bout, Costel Rusu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.