PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antoine Rushe (ranked 4031 p4p, 6585 weight class) and Jon Masvidal (ranked 540 p4p, 677 weight class). Masvidal has chosen Pop smoke - got it on me as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rushe
vs
Masvidal

182 cm
17
180
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
175
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antoine Rushe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masvidal throws a looping overhand right but Rushe ducks down to avoid it.
Rushe throws a front kick aimed at Masvidal's knee but Masvidal avoids it well.
Rushe uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masvidal.
Rushe scores with a nice strike.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Masvidal is defended easily by Rushe.
Rushe throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rushe takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rushe tries to close the distance and clinch but Masvidal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Masvidal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Masvidal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circle momentarily. Masvidal darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Masvidal looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Masvidal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rushe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal misses with a wild body shot.
Rushe scores with a nice head shot.
Masvidal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Masvidal takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Masvidal throws a looping overhand right but Rushe ducks down to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Rushe as he connects with a hook.
Masvidal swats away the attempt to clinch by Rushe.
Rushe looks for the body kick but Masvidal saw that one coming.
Antoine Rushe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Masvidal has Rushe up against the cage in a clinch.
Rushe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Masvidal backwards.
Masvidal lands a nice uppercut.
Rushe lands an elbow that stopped Masvidal in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Jon Masvidal has been cut.
Nice body punch from Masvidal - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rushe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Masvidal's brow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rushe just misses with a elbow thrown towards Masvidal's brow.
Masvidal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rushe backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rushe.
Rushe misses with an elbow over the top.
Masvidal is pushing Rushe up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A right hand to the body from Masvidal.
Rushe working aggressively here.
Rushe has a couple of punches blocked by Masvidal.

Masvidal gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rushe regains guard.
Masvidal trying to control the position from guard on top but Rushe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rushe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Masvidal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Masvidal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rushe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masvidal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rushe's guard.
Masvidal throws an elbow that misses. Rushe uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Masvidal's guard. Nice move by Rushe!

Masvidal keeping moving, preventing Rushe from controlling successfully.
Rushe controlling from the top position.
Rushe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masvidal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rushe controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masvidal can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masvidal throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rushe escapes and throws Masvidal's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Masvidal trying to remain calm as Rushe controls from the top position.
Masvidal is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rushe is controlling him well.
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 Antoine Rushe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jon Masvidal's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Masvidal rushes Rushe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masvidal lands a right hand.

Masvidal lands a takedown into guard.
Masvidal throwing strikes from guard but Rushe blocks nicely.
Rushe keeping moving, preventing Masvidal from controlling successfully.
Rushe controls Masvidal momentarily but Masvidal frees himself.
Masvidal trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rushe's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rushe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Masvidal manages to get himself to full guard.

Masvidal trying to control the position.
Masvidal trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rushe controlling from the top position.
Rushe advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Masvidal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rushe trying to control the action but Masvidal is working from the bottom.
Rushe controlling from side mount.
Masvidal tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rushe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Masvidal is trying to control Rushe's posture but Rushe avoids it.
Rushe trying to control the action but Masvidal is working from the bottom.
Rushe working away.
Masvidal throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Masvidal tries to bench press Rushe off him but Rushe keeps the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rushe trying to control the position but Masvidal is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rushe uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Masvidal throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rushe counters with a straight right hand.
Masvidal dives in and grabs Rushe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rushe pushes down on Masvidal's head and hops out.
Masvidal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Masvidal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Masvidal.
Rushe lands an elbow that stopped Masvidal in his tracks for a moment.
Rushe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rushe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Masvidal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rushe backwards.
Masvidal taking a breather.
Masvidal lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rushe throws a head punch that misses.
A body shot lands from Masvidal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Masvidal scores with a nice hook to the head.
Masvidal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Antoine Rushe has been cut.
Masvidal dodges an elbow strike from Rushe.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rushe.
Masvidal is pushing Rushe up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rushe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rushe misses with a knee to the head.
Masvidal blocks the elbow strike.
Rushe has a couple of punches blocked by Masvidal.
Masvidal blocking some punches.
A short left from Masvidal.
Masvidal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rushe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rushe lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Masvidal drags the fight down to the ground.
Rushe stands and throws Masvidal's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rushe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masvidal keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antoine Rushe will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Masvidal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rushe keeps Masvidal at a distance using the push kick.
Antoine Rushe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masvidal ducks right into an uppercut from Rushe.
Masvidal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rushe is fending him off so far but Masvidal persists. Nope, Rushe circles away and we're back to standing.
Masvidal throws a head kick but Rushe moves out of range.
Good exchange - Rushe coming out on top.
Rushe keeps the fight on the outside.
Jon Masvidal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Masvidal throws a sloppy head kick and Rushe moves out of range easily.
Masvidal ducks right into an uppercut from Rushe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rushe cracks Masvidal with an open hand slap.
Nice defenses there by Masvidal.
Masvidal steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Rushe goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Despite the aggression on Masvidal's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rushe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masvidal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masvidal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rushe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rushe to score with a decent uppercut.
Rushe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rushe looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rushe tries to clinch but Masvidal moves out of range.
Rushe misses with an uppercut
and Masvidal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Masvidal looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rushe lands with a nice body kick.

Masvidal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rushe blocks an elbow strike.
Masvidal lands with a short shot to the head.
A short left from Masvidal.
Jon Masvidal seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Masvidal breaks the clinch.
Masvidal takes a swing at Rushe's ribcage but misses.
Rushe swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Good leg kick by Masvidal.
Masvidal throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rushe throws a jab when Masvidal was well out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Masvidal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rushe works the jab nicely.
Rushe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Masvidal displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rushe throws out the jab.
Masvidal is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Masvidal fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rushe, pushing him back against the cage.
Rushe lands an elbow inside that Masvidal shrugs off.
Rushe throws a punch but it's blocked by Masvidal.
Masvidal avoids the elbow strike from Rushe, against the cage.
Masvidal scores with a shot to the side of Rushe's head.
Masvidal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Masvidal avoids a wild elbow strike from Rushe.
Masvidal is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rushe is defending well.
A short uppercut from Masvidal.
Masvidal digs a right hand into Rushe's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rushe's gas tank.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rushe prevents it.
Antoine Rushe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jon Masvidal.
Masvidal lands with a short shot to the head.
Rushe gets underhooks to prevent Masvidal's takedown attempt.
Masvidal lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Masvidal.
Masvidal avoids a wild elbow strike from Rushe.
Masvidal throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Masvidal jumps into guard, dragging Rushe to the mat.
Masvidal wants to sweep but no luck.

Masvidal is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rushe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Masvidal 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rushe passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Masvidal!
Rushe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Masvidal tries to lock up and control but Rushe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Masvidal is squirming around, avoiding Rushe's attempts to control the action.
Rushe content just to control the position here.
Rushe prevents Masvidal from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jon Masvidal.
I think Rushe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!