PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 1367 p4p, 1585 weight class) and Alexander Cotilla (ranked 201 p4p, 238 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rusev
vs
Cotilla

189 cm
24
223
11 - 6 - 0

191 cm
24
215
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexander Rusev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Cotilla!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cotilla lands a head kick!

It looks like Alexander Rusev has been cut.
No luck for Rusev with that takedown attempt.
Rusev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cotilla pinned against the cage. Cotilla gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rusev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cotilla counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rusev seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cotilla got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rusev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cotilla has managed to get both his arms back between Rusev's legs - danger averted.
Rusev has a closed guard, preventing Cotilla from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotilla controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is trying to keep Cotilla in close.

Cotilla gets to his feet. Rusev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Horrible takedown attempt by Rusev or perhaps it was just good defense by Cotilla, which made it look bad.
Rusev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cotilla avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rusev is defended easily by Cotilla.
Rusev avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Cotilla lands but Rusev takes it in his stride.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rusev or perhaps it was just good defense by Cotilla, which made it look bad.
Nice cross by Cotilla.
Rusev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rusev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cotilla counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rusev won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rusev can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev tries to improve position but can't.

Cotilla decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rusev takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rusev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cotilla.
Rusev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cotilla tries to avoid it but Rusev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cotilla to the ground. Cotilla escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rusev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cotilla defends it nicely.
Rusev shoots for a takedown but Cotilla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rusev shoots for a takedown but Cotilla saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cotilla scores with a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Cotilla. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cotilla feints the counter takedown.
Alexander Rusev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cotilla is fending him off so far but Rusev persists. Nope, Cotilla circles away and we're back to standing.

Rusev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Cotilla throws Rusev to one side and escapes!
Rusev is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Rusev with that takedown attempt.
Rusev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cotilla with a jab.
Cotilla looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cotilla misses with an uppercut.
Rusev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cotilla throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rusev sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Cotilla dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Rusev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Rusev shoots in for a takedown but Cotilla shows good takedown defense.
Rusev shoots for a double leg takedown but Cotilla sprawls well. He's pushed Rusev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And Cotilla tries to counter it with a takedown but Rusev pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cotilla keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cotilla works over Rusev's head and body with a nice combination.
Cotilla jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cotilla lands with a kick to the temple. Rusev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Alexander Rusev's cut is getting worse.
Rusev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cotilla changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev shoots in looking for a takedown. Cotilla tries to sprawl out of it but Rusev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cotilla manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cotilla lands with a hook. Rusev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotilla throws a looping overhand right but Rusev ducks down to avoid it.
Cotilla misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rusev fails with a takedown attempt.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cotilla but Cotilla pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cotilla stuffs the takedown attempt from Rusev. Rusev gets slowly back to his feet.
Rusev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cotilla defends it nicely.
Rusev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rusev.
Rusev shoots in looking for a takedown but Cotilla manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rusev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cotilla misses with a kick to the body.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cotilla sprawls well. Cotilla wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rusev gets slowly back to his feet.
Rusev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cotilla's waist but Cotilla gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rusev off to one side.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rusev fails to land the takedown.
Rusev needs to keep his hands up - Cotilla had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rusev shoots in but Cotilla avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cotilla misses with a body shot.
Cotilla throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cotilla misses with a double jab.
Cotilla scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Alexander Rusev's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rusev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cotilla's waist but Cotilla gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rusev off to one side.
Cotilla tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Cotilla throws a leg kick which misses Rusev's front leg but catches the back leg as Rusev tries to avoid it.
Cotilla lands a head kick!
Rusev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cotilla avoids it really well and circles away.
Cotilla tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Cotilla.
Rusev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cotilla changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A nice leg kick from Cotilla, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cotilla tries to sprawl but Rusev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cotilla is trying to stand.

Cotilla pushes Rusev off and gets back to his feet.
Cotilla stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cotilla wants it to stay on the feet.
Rusev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cotilla defends it nicely.
Cotilla displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rusev.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Cotilla 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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A left and a right from Cotilla both land. Nice combination.
Rusev dives in for a single leg takedown but Cotilla sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cotilla drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rusev defends it well.
Cotilla stalls.

Cotilla breaks the clinch.
Rusev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cotilla defends it nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Cotilla as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotilla jabs at Rusev's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cotilla throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cotilla has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cotilla digs a good hook to Rusev's body.
Cotilla connects with a leg kick.
A cross from Cotilla lands.
Alexander Cotilla seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rusev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cotilla's waist but Cotilla gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rusev off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rusev fails with the takedown.
Cotilla paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Cotilla throws out a powerful jab.
Cotilla lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rusev's sensitive parts.
Cotilla lands a slapping body shot.
Cotilla stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cotilla wants it to stay on the feet.
And Cotilla tries to counter it with a takedown but Rusev pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla with a jab.

Rusev is rocked!

Jeez, Alexander Rusev's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cotilla lands with a shot to the body.
Oh Rusev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rusev on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Cotilla lands a big head kick that sends Rusev to the canvas! Cotilla follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Cotilla!
Our winner, Alexander Cotilla, 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.