PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Beliy (ranked 604 p4p, 178 weight class) and Rudy Rhod (ranked 79 p4p, 23 weight class). Beliy comes to the cage accompanied by Havana. Rhod has chosen Prince - Kiss as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Beliy
vs
Rhod

175 cm
34
160
26 - 19 - 0

180 cm
37
155
32 - 19 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Core Combat
Voodoo Nutrition

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 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sasha Beliy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rudy Rhod!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beliy lands with an overhand left.
Rhod wants to clinch up but Beliy keeps it at a distance.

Rhod clinches up with Beliy and pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rhod.
Beliy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Beliy misses with a punch to the body.
Rhod presses Beliy against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Beliy prevents a body shot from Rhod.
Beliy blocking some punches.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod's coach down at Torcida MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rhod's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Beliy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rhod scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rhod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Beliy tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Beliy back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rhod fails to land.
Beliy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Beliy lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Rhod fails to land.
Beliy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Beliy struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.

Beliy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beliy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Beliy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rhod blocks a jab.
Rhod tries a quick counter leg kick but Beliy is wise to it.
Beliy misses with a leg kick
and Rhod counters with a thumping low kick.
Beliy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rhod on the side of the head.
Beliy misses with a low kick as Rhod jumps back.
Beliy chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rhod checks a low kick from Beliy.
Beliy lands with a thumping leg kick.

Beliy gets tackled into the cage by Rhod. Rhod maintains the clinch.
Rhod misses with the head strike.
A bit of stalling here from Rhod.
Rhod doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhod prevents a body shot from Beliy.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rhod lands an uppercut.
Rhod working aggressively here.

Beliy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Beliy misses with a double jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rhod checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Beliy thumps Rhod with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rhod closes the distance and clinches.
Beliy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rhod.

Beliy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhod lands a nice looking body shot.
Beliy throws a push kick but Rhod slaps the foot to one side.
A left lands for Rhod.

Rhod rushes Beliy and presses him up against the cage.
Beliy softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Beliy breaks from the clinch.
Rhod avoids the body shot from Beliy.
Rhod stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Beliy.

Rhod moves into the clinch successfully.
Beliy can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Rhod lands a shot to the body.
Good body shot from Beliy.
Rhod blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhod misses with a punch on the inside.
Beliy throws a head punch that misses.
Beliy has a couple of punches blocked by Rhod.
Beliy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rhod.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Beliy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhod gets through Beliy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Beliy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beliy.
A head punch on the inside from Rhod fails to land.
Beliy scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Rhod manages to break the clinch.
Beliy throws a low kick, looking for Rhod's leg but Rhod calmly moves out of range.
Beliy throws a head kick but Rhod moves out of range.

Rhod takes the fight into the clinch.
Beliy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rhod is working Beliy over against the cage.
Beliy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Beliy tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod lands a left hand.
Still in the clinch, Rhod scores with a nice short uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhod scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beliy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beliy lands with a right to the head.

Rhod drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beliy engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rhod wants to get back to his feet but Beliy is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Beliy stays in close to Rhod's body and controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rhod is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Rhod dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Beliy scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Beliy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sasha Beliy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rhod tries to clinch there but Beliy circles away.
Good work by Rhod as he checks the leg kick.
Rhod fails with an attempt to clinch.
Beliy throws a sloppy head kick
and Rhod counters with a good low kick that Beliy was not able to check.
Rhod uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Beliy.
Beliy throws a body shot but no joy.
A bone on bone clash there as Rhod blocks the leg kick.
Beliy misses with a kick to the body
and Rhod counters with a straight right hand.
Beliy buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Beliy lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Rhod moves into range and clinches up with Beliy.
Rhod misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rhod.

Rhod gets control of Beliy's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rhod will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Beliy wants to control from the top but Rhod keeps moving.
Beliy stays in close to Rhod's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhod has a closed guard, preventing Beliy from standing up.
Beliy trying to control but Rhod is working from the bottom.
Beliy's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Beliy trying to control the position from guard on top but Rhod is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhod is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Beliy is controlling him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rhod keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Beliy lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rhod will feel that in the morning.
Nice straight punches there by Beliy. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Beliy.

Rhod closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Beliy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Beliy lands an uppercut.
Rhod can't get the takedown.
Rhod prevents a body shot from Beliy.
Rhod blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhod misses with a body punch.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Beliy.
Rudy Rhod seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Beliy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod lands with a short shot to the head.
Rhod misses with a punch to the body.
Rhod gets through Beliy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rhod fails to land.
Beliy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Beliy misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beliy lands a left hand.
Beliy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhod lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rhod scores with a shot to the side of Beliy's head.
Beliy lands a shoulder strike.
Beliy swings wildly with an uppercut but Rhod uses good head movement to avoid it.

Beliy breaks the clinch.
Rhod blocks a leg kick.
Beliy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rhod.

Rhod forces Beliy back against the cage and clinches.
Good body shot from Beliy.
Beliy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod tries to work over Beliy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Beliy misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Beliy tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Beliy tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod has Beliy pressed against the cage, preventing Beliy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Beliy wants to get back to striking at distance but Rhod won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beliy swings wildly with an uppercut but Rhod uses good head movement to avoid it.

Rhod manages to break the clinch.
Rhod tries to clinch but Beliy is having none of it.
Beliy throws a leg kick but Rhod sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Beliy tenderised Rhod's leg. Rhod is trying to keep his angry face on.
Beliy throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rhod.
Rhod is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Beliy avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhod uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Beliy.
A nice leg kick from Beliy, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rhod moves in looking to clinch but Beliy pushes him off.
Beliy throws a half hearted mid kick.
Beliy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rhod is looking to clinch but Beliy is avoiding it.
Beliy misses with a looping right.
Rhod tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Beliy was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Beliy misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Beliy dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Beliy misses with a hook to the body
and Rhod counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Rhod rushes Beliy and presses him up against the cage.
Rhod lands a left hand that snaps the head of Beliy backwards.
Rhod blocks a body shot from Beliy.
Beliy pushes Rhod back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rhod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rhod looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Beliy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A low kick from Beliy is predictable there
and Rhod counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rhod tries to clinch there but Beliy circles away.
Beliy just misses with a punch to the body.

Rhod clinches up with Beliy and pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Beliy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rhod.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beliy.
Rhod lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rhod throws a punch but it's blocked by Beliy.
Rhod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Beliy tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Beliy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beliy tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rhod has a couple of punches blocked by Beliy.
Rhod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Beliy pushes Rhod back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Beliy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Beliy tries to throw a body punch but Rhod avoids it by throwing Beliy back against the cage.
Rhod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Beliy's elbow.
Rhod throws a head punch that misses.
Rhod blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhod scores with a hook to the body.
Rhod working aggressively here.
A short left from Beliy.
Rhod swings wildly with an uppercut but Beliy uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Beliy.
Beliy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Rhod has a couple of punches blocked by Beliy.
Rhod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rhod can't find room to land a body shot as Beliy controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhod blocks a body shot from Beliy.

Beliy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rhod bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Beliy's head backwards.
Rhod blocks a leg kick.
Beliy scores with a leg kick.
Rhod wants to clinch.
Beliy cracks Rhod with an open hand slap.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Beliy throws a sloppy head kick and Rhod moves out of range easily.
Rhod moves out of range of the body kick.
Rhod doesn't manage to clinch there - Beliy circles away.
Rhod connects with a crisp jab.

Rhod rushes Beliy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Beliy scores with a shoulder strike.
Beliy tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Beliy.
Beliy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Rhod misses with a hook to the ribs.
Beliy misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rhod swings wildly with an uppercut but Beliy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhod scores with a shot to the side of Beliy's head.
Beliy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rhod's elbow.
Beliy gets through Rhod's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rhod blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhod is stalling here.
Beliy struggles to land a body shot inside as Rhod controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Beliy.
A right hook to the body lands for Beliy.
Beliy lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Beliy misses with a hook to the ribs.

Beliy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Beliy looks for the body kick but Rhod saw that one coming.
Beliy looks to land a right hand but Rhod moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beliy looks to land a right hand but Rhod moved out of range.
Rhod avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rhod moves forwards but Beliy connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rhod is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Beliy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rhod on the side of the head.

Rhod darts in and clinches Beliy up against the cage.
A short right from Rhod on the inside.
Rhod pushes Beliy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Beliy takes a shot to the head.
Rhod tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rhod lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Beliy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rhod working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Beliy's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Beliy lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Beliy can't find room to land a body shot as Rhod controls the action.
Beliy scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sasha Beliy.
I think Beliy 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sasha Beliy!
Sasha Beliy looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Sorry Alex......'.