PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duncan Trussell (ranked 5162 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lio Rush (ranked 5469 p4p, 0 weight class). Lio Rush is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Trussell
vs
Rush

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Duncan Trussell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lio Rush!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rush.
Trussell scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Trussell forces Rush back against the cage and clinches.
Trussell tries to throw a body punch but Rush avoids it by throwing Trussell back against the cage.
Trussell lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Trussell lands with a light punch inside.
Trussell is trying to pull guard but Rush has him pressed against the cage.

Rush gets control of Trussell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rush will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rush looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rush has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Trussell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rush is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trussell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rush swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Trussell trying to control but Rush is working from the bottom.
Trussell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rush has his hands on Trussell's head, controlling the position.
Rush looking to hit a scissor sweep but Trussell is one step ahead there.
Rush is pulling down on Trussell's head. It's preventing any offense from Trussell, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Trussell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Trussell turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rush dives in for a single leg takedown but Trussell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Trussell changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Trussell wants to clinch.
Trussell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rush throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Trussell throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.
Nice takedown defense from Trussell. No joy for Rush on that attempt.
Duncan Trussell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lio Rush.
Rush throws a lazy right hand but Trussell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rush.
Trussell tries to counter by clinching up but Rush breaks away and moves out of range.

Rush has Trussell up against the cage in a clinch.
Rush is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Trussell is keeping busy.

Trussell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Trussell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rush.
Rush is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Trussell with a body shot.
Trussell shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rush but Rush pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rush drives through and clinches with Trussell against the cage.

Rush breaks the clinch.
Trussell throws a series of strikes that have Rush backpedaling.

Rush instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush managing to block the knees to the body from Trussell.
Rush tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Trussell manages to break the clinch.
Trussell lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rush backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rush stuffs the takedown attempt from Trussell. Trussell gets slowly back to his feet.
Trussell shoots for a double leg takedown but Rush sprawls well. He's pushed Trussell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Trussell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rush checks it well.
Trussell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rush swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Duncan Trussell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Trussell.
The fight stays on the outside here - Trussell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Trussell scores with a one two! Rush had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Trussell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rush fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Trussell, pushing him back against the cage.

Trussell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rush shoots in and drives through. Trussell sprawls well.
Trussell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Trussell lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rush or not.
Rush tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Trussell smiles and moves away.
Trussell shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Trussell shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rush manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rush has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Trussell has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
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!
Trussell goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Trussell is trying to drag Rush to the mat but Rush just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trussell stalls.
Trussell tries for a takedown but Rush manages to get underhooks.

Trussell breaks the clinch.
Duncan Trussell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rush takes the fight into the clinch.

Trussell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Trussell lunges at Rush with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rush's hand.
Duncan Trussell is winning the standup battle so far.
Rush keeps the fight on the outside.
Rush tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rush stuffs the takedown attempt from Trussell. Trussell gets slowly back to his feet.
Rush changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duncan Trussell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Trussell looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rush tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Trussell defends well and Rush ends up having to push Trussell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Trussell is defended easily by Rush.
Trussell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rush defends it nicely.
Trussell throws a leg kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Trussell. No joy for Rush on that attempt.
Trussell half committed to a counter leg kick.
Trussell tries a head kick but it misses.
Trussell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trussell pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rush back to the cage. Trussell follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Trussell doesn't manage to clinch there - Rush circles away.
Rush shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Trussell defends it nicely.
Rush doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Trussell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Rush gets a clinch.
Lio Rush seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Rush breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush looks to land a combination but Trussell avoids it well.
Rush shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Trussell counters with a one-two to the body.
Trussell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rush.
Trussell tries a head kick but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rush throws a series of punches but Trussell avoids them all with ease.
Rush keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice combination there by Trussell.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Trussell sprawls well. Trussell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rush gets slowly back to his feet.

Rush gets tackled into the cage by Trussell. Trussell maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duncan Trussell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jab from Trussell.
Trussell lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Trussell has a takedown stuffed.

Rush fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Trussell, pushing him back against the cage.
Rush is looking to take this one to the mat.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Trussell.
Rush is working for takedown but Trussell is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Trussell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rush avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rush fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Duncan Trussell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lio Rush.
Rush prevents a body shot from Trussell.

Trussell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Rush. Those never looked like landing.
Trussell throws a one two combo.
No luck for Rush with that takedown attempt.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rush shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Trussell pinned against the cage. Trussell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Trussell throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rush tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Trussell swivels and escapes.
Trussell misses with a head kick.
Trussell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little jabbing left from Rush on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Trussell is looking to clinch.
Rush circles away from the clinch attempt.

Trussell has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trussell wants to break free but Rush has control.
Rush throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Trussell blocks it with crossed arms.
Rush looking to slow down the pace here.
Rush stops a takedown attempt from Trussell.

Trussell successfully pulls guard.
Rush looking to pass the guard.

Rush stands up from Trussell's guard - Rush perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rush misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trussell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Horrible takedown attempt by Trussell or perhaps it was just good defense by Rush, which made it look bad.
Rush dodges the punch combination from Trussell.
Duncan Trussell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rush shoots in but Trussell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rush throws a half hearted mid kick.
Trussell darts in looking for a takedown but Rush gets double underhooks and turns Trussell into the cage.
Rush shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Trussell counters with a left and a right that stings Rush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush avoids the head kick by Trussell.
Trussell tries to clinch up but Rush circles away and keeps his distance.
Trussell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Trussell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rush can do to turn this around?
Rush fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Trussell manages to avoid it.
Rush misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Trussell scores with a three punch combo!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trussell throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.
Rush shoots in but Trussell avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duncan Trussell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Trussell, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duncan Trussell!