PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reece Foy (ranked 5481 p4p, 4698 weight class) and Alexei Rodionovich (ranked 541 p4p, 498 weight class). Rodionovich comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Svarga & Drygva - Volnitsa kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Foy
vs
Rodionovich

175 cm
25
175
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
183
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Reece Foy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexei Rodionovich!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Foy dodges the punch combination from Rodionovich.
Foy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alexei Rodionovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rodionovich has taken the fight to the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodionovich just misses with a elbow thrown towards Foy's brow.

Foy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Foy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rodionovich looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rodionovich closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodionovich is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Foy is keeping busy.
Rodionovich trying to stall but Foy improves his position.
Rodionovich blocking some punches.
Rodionovich misses with a knee strike.
Rodionovich lands an elbow inside that Foy shrugs off.
Foy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foy looking to throw knees to the head but Rodionovich is blocking nicely.
Rodionovich tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Foy avoids it.
Foy avoids a wild elbow strike from Rodionovich.
Foy blocks an elbow strike from Rodionovich.
Nice elbow from Rodionovich.

It looks like Reece Foy has been cut.
Rodionovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rodionovich throws an elbow that misses.
Rodionovich throws an elbow that misses.
Rodionovich is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rodionovich looks winded!
Foy wants to break free but Rodionovich has control.
Rodionovich throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Foy breaks the clinch.

Foy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rodionovich misses with an elbow over the top.

Foy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rodionovich gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Foy lands a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Foy wants to stand but Rodionovich has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Foy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foy trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodionovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodionovich looking for a sweep. Not yet Rodionovich, not yet.
Foy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Rodionovich uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Foy shoots in for a double leg but Rodionovich sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foy goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Foy closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rodionovich's guard.

Rodionovich manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Foy throws a jab when Rodionovich was well out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Foy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reece Foy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Foy shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rodionovich defends it nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Rodionovich. No joy for Foy on that attempt.

Rodionovich has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Foy has hold of one of Rodionovich's legs. Rodionovich is fighting the takedown attempt but Foy gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rodionovich has Foy pulled in close to control his posture.
Foy chips away with some ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Foy has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodionovich throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rodionovich keeping moving, preventing Foy from controlling successfully.
Rodionovich working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Foy.
Foy wants to control from the top but Rodionovich keeps moving.
Rodionovich 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.
Foy tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodionovich is retaining full guard.
Foy slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Foy drops an elbow to the side of Rodionovich's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexei Rodionovich will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Reece Foy's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Foy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rodionovich swivels and escapes.
Foy shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodionovich sprawls well. He's pushed Foy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodionovich lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rodionovich tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Foy defends well and Rodionovich ends up having to push Foy into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Foy closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rodionovich circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reece Foy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rodionovich checks a leg kick.
Rodionovich wants to clinch.
Foy feinted with a counter takedown.

Foy tries to keep at a distance but Rodionovich has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Foy has clasped his hands together around Rodionovich's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rodionovich is looking to get back to his feet here but Foy is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rodionovich's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodionovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Foy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Foy has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Foy is persistently looking for the submission but Rodionovich is defending it well.
Rodionovich is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Foy looking for the RNC.

Foy is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rodionovich is defending well though. Foy let's go of the attempt for now.
Foy is landing with strikes. Rodionovich can't take much more of this.

Rodionovich defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Foy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rodionovich has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!

Rodionovich is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Foy gets his way!

Foy is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Rodionovich taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Foy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Reece Foy!
Alexei Rodionovich spoke after the fight, saying 'Every white has its black and every sweet its sour'.