PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Ruslanas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruslanas has chosen Hymn of the Soviet Union as his entrance music. Dmitri Ruslanas struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Dmitri Ruslanas told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Michaels
vs
Ruslanas

170 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Ruslanas!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michaels throws a body punch but Ruslanas moves out of range.

Ruslanas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Michaels working for a triangle but Ruslanas defends it easily.
Ruslanas wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Ruslanas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Michaels has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ruslanas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michaels working a defensive guard here.

Michaels kicks Ruslanas off and gets to his feet.
A combination from Michaels does no damage.
A swing and a miss from Michaels.

Ruslanas gets a clinch.
Ruslanas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ruslanas is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruslanas won't allow it.

Ruslanas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels tries for a takedown but Ruslanas circles away easily

so Ruslanas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Michaels is breathing heavily.

Ruslanas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Michaels gets caught flat footed, as Ruslanas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Michaels wants to stand and escape but Ruslanas is having none of it.

Ruslanas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Michaels, up you get!

Ruslanas forces Michaels back against the cage and clinches.
Ruslanas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ruslanas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Ruslanas manages to break the clinch.
Michaels throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ruslanas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Michaels's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michaels looking to control.
Michaels striking off his back but it's not causing Ruslanas any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michaels managing to control the position.
Michaels looking to control.
Michaels has control of Ruslanas's left arm, preventing Ruslanas from doing any damage.
Michaels wants to sweep but no luck.
Ruslanas trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels looking for a sweep. Not yet Michaels, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Michaels drives through and clinches with Ruslanas against the cage.
Michaels has had enough of the clinch but Ruslanas keeps him there for the moment.
Michaels has had enough of the clinch but Ruslanas keeps him there for the moment.
Michaels prevents a takedown attempt there.
Michael Michaels has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Ruslanas.
Michaels wants to get back to striking at distance but Ruslanas won't allow it.
Michaels has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ruslanas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruslanas wants a takedown.
Michaels lands a nice shot to the body.
Ruslanas lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Ruslanas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michaels misses with a takedown attempt

and Ruslanas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ruslanas.
Ruslanas wants to pass the guard but Michaels is keeping the position.
Ruslanas trying to control but Michaels is working from the bottom.
Michaels can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ruslanas controls the pace.
Ruslanas wants to control from the top but Michaels keeps moving.
Ruslanas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Michaels kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ruslanas works over Michaels with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ruslanas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Michaels, up you get!
Michaels throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ruslanas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ruslanas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Ruslanas there.

Michaels is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ruslanas prevents Michaels from standing back up.
Michaels wants to control but Ruslanas is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Michaels has one foot on Ruslanas's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ruslanas gets a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ruslanas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Michaels holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ruslanas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Michaels prevents it.
Michaels drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ruslanas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitri Ruslanas dominated that round.
That's time! Michaels's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Michaels throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ruslanas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Michaels!
Dmitri Ruslanas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ruslanas goes for an armbar but Michaels turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Michaels.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ruslanas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Michaels stands and steps away. Ruslanas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Michaels tries to clinch

and Ruslanas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Michaels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michaels keeping moving, preventing Ruslanas from controlling successfully.

Michaels kicks Ruslanas off and gets to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruslanas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ruslanas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Michaels pinned against the cage. Michaels gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michael Michaels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Ruslanas or perhaps it was just good defense by Michaels which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslanas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ruslanas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Michaels.
Michael Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Michaels shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Michaels controlling the pace for now.
Ruslanas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Michaels working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Michaels content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruslanas working to try and regain half guard.
Ruslanas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruslanas gets back to half guard.
Michaels is taking a breather. Ruslanas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Michaels seems to be looking for submissions.

Ruslanas kicks off Michaels and gets to his feet.
Michaels swinging wilding here.
Michaels wants to clinch

and Ruslanas counters with a single leg into guard. Michaels didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Michaels lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ruslanas!
Michaels working the ground and pound effectively.
Michaels is landing with some decent strikes but Ruslanas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michaels is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Ruslanas is rocked!
Michaels controlling the position easily from mount.
Ruslanas is still in real trouble! Can Michaels finish him?

Ruslanas is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Michaels locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Ruslanas is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Michaels!