PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Loratcho Bradock (ranked 363 p4p, 694 weight class) and Alexander Rusev (ranked 58 p4p, 102 weight class). Bradock comes to the cage accompanied by BRUNO MARTINI - LIVING ON THE OUTSIDE . Alexander Rusev has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bradock
vs
Rusev

190 cm
28
225
10 - 3 - 1

189 cm
24
223
11 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

HELLBENT
BE Younick

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Loratcho Bradock!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bradock as he avoids it easily.
Bradock throws out a loose jab but Rusev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bradock slaps away a takedown attempt from Rusev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bradock throws a hook but Rusev blocks it.
Bradock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bradock lands a lovely overhand right.
Rusev fails to land the takedown.
Loratcho Bradock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.
Rusev walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bradock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rusev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

It looks like Alexander Rusev has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt - Bradock sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Bradock. No joy for Rusev on that attempt.
Bradock misses with a two punch combination.

Bradock gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rusev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rusev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradock keeping full guard, as Rusev tries to pass.
Rusev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rusev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rusev slips nicely into half guard.
Rusev not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rusev seems to be working for a kimura but Bradock defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bradock blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rusev.

Rusev is looking for a kimura but Bradock is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rusev to get the leverage.
Bradock is controlling Rusev's trapped leg to prevent Rusev from advancing to side control.
Rusev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rusev throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bradock to regain full guard.
Bradock keeping moving, preventing Rusev from controlling successfully.
Rusev throwing strikes but missing.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rusev working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Bradock preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev pushing down on Bradock's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rusev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rusev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rusev passes the guard and advances to mount!
Bradock is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Alpha Brasil, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Bradock tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bradock on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bradock tries to get out of the position.
Rusev throws a wild left hand from mount and Bradock manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Rusev is trying to control. Bradock wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusev is looking to advance position but Bradock won't allow it.
Rusev slips a nice elbow through Bradock's hands, connecting with Bradock's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev winds up and cracks Bradock with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rusev is keen to just control but Bradock is a slippery customer.
Bradock trying to control but Rusev postures up.

Rusev is working for a submission of some sort.
Rusev is looking to stall here but Bradock recovers full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Rusev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Rusev's cut.
That's time! Bradock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rusev shoots in but Bradock avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Rusev shoots in and gets a takedown into Bradock's guard.
Rusev lands a couple of elbows.
Rusev chips away with some ground and pound.
Bradock keeping full guard, as Rusev tries to pass.
Bradock pulls Rusev in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rusev has gone for a leg lock! Bradock slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rusev's guard.

Rusev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rusev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rusev throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bradock trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexander Rusev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bradock is really struggling to control Rusev but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rusev looking to control.

Rusev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rusev wants to sweep but no luck.

Bradock got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rusev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bradock has managed to get both his arms back between Rusev's legs - danger averted.

Rusev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bradock can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rusev is trying to keep Bradock in close.

Rusev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rusev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rusev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev is trying to control the position but Bradock postures up.

Rusev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rusev is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rusev working a defensive guard here.
Bradock sitting in guard here, content to control.

Rusev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rusev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bradock preventing the sweep.

Bradock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bradock avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rusev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rusev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexander Rusev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bradock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rusev moves out of range as Bradock strikes.
Rusev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rusev takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bradock slaps away a takedown attempt from Rusev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rusev shoots for a double leg takedown but Bradock sprawls well. He's pushed Rusev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bradock clinches with his opponent.
Bradock scores with a shot to the side of Rusev's head.
Bradock lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bradock scores with a nice hook to the head.
A knee to the head by Bradock.
Bradock unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bradock lands a knee to the body.
Bradock comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bradock gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A bit of stalling here from Bradock.
Rusev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bradock makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That has opened up Alexander Rusev's cut even more.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev has a couple of punches blocked by Bradock.
Bradock is struggling to control the position.
Rusev misses with a punch to the body.
Rusev working aggressively here.
Bradock lands an elbow just above Rusev 's eye.
Rusev wants to take the fight to the mat but Bradock manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Loratcho Bradock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Rusev.
A short right from Bradock.
Rusev tries to throw a body punch but Bradock avoids it by throwing Rusev back against the cage.
Bradock lands an elbow just above Rusev 's eye.

The cut above Alexander Rusev's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Bradock lands an elbow just above Rusev 's eye.
Bradock working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Rusev is rocked!

Alexander Rusev's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

Bradock drops Rusev with a big knee straight up the middle! Rusev is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!
Rusev is still on wobbly legs! Can Bradock finish him?

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Alexander Rusev's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Loratcho Bradock!
Loratcho Bradock retains his light heavyweight title!
Our winner, Loratcho Bradock, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.