PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Fedorov (ranked 767 p4p, 744 weight class) and Dusty Rhodes (ranked 111 p4p, 107 weight class). Fedorov's entrance music is Miyagi & Эндшпиль feat. Рем Дигга - I Got Love. A fine choice. Rhodes is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bury My Bones. Nathan Fedorov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Fedorov
vs
Rhodes

188 cm
22
185
8 - 5 - 1

178 cm
24
186
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Champion Apparel

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
The Pharmacy Phuket

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 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nathan Fedorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dusty Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Ben Watson and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes lands an overhand right.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rhodes.
Rhodes fails with the takedown.
Fedorov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fedorov swings for the body but Rhodes moves out of range.

Rhodes clinches up with Fedorov and pushes him back against the cage.

Fedorov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fedorov misses with a straight right.
Rhodes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fedorov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Fedorov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rhodes.
Fedorov is looking to counter punch.
Fedorov cracks Rhodes with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fedorov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rhodes blocks a jab.
Fedorov throws a jab but it's blocked by Rhodes.
Rhodes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rhodes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fedorov sprawls well. Fedorov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rhodes gets slowly back to his feet.
Nathan Fedorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Rhodes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fedorov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rhodes lands a nice looking body shot.
Fedorov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rhodes moves away.
Rhodes throws a lazy right hand but Fedorov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rhodes misses with an uppercut.
A jab lands there for Rhodes.
Rhodes moves out of range as Fedorov strikes.
Fedorov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rhodes.
Fedorov slips under a jab.
Fedorov looks to land a right hand but Rhodes moved out of range.
Rhodes takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rhodes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fedorov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fedorov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rhodes is able to avoid easily.
Fedorov connects with a leg kick.

Rhodes shoots in and bounces Fedorov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fedorov has Rhodes pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rhodes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rhodes landing some decent shots from guard.
Fedorov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rhodes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rhodes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rhodes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rhodes wants to control from the top but Fedorov keeps moving.
Fedorov has Rhodes pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes throws a big right hand that misses.
Fedorov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rhodes is one step ahead there.
Fedorov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Fedorov is trying to keep Rhodes in close.
Rhodes stands up over Fedorov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fedorov managing to control the position.
Rhodes wants to control from the top but Fedorov keeps moving.
Fedorov is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Heartless Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Rhodes looking to pass the guard.
Fedorov being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rhodes stands up over Fedorov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fedorov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fedorov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fedorov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rhodes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fedorov's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dusty Rhodes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fedorov swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.

Rhodes shoots in and gets a takedown into Fedorov's guard.
Rhodes trying to control the position from guard on top but Fedorov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhodes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Rhodes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Fedorov looking for a sweep. Not yet Fedorov, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhodes trying to control the position from guard on top but Fedorov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rhodes passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov wants to get back to his feet.
Fedorov is looking for a sweep.
Rhodes landing strikes.

Fedorov throws Rhodes to one side and escapes!
Rhodes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nathan Fedorov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rhodes throws an overhand right that lands on Fedorov's shoulder, as Fedorov tries to avoid the shot.
Fedorov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rhodes throws a series of punches but Fedorov moves out of range.
Rhodes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fedorov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rhodes scrambles back to his feet.
Rhodes looks to land a right hand but Fedorov moved out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Fedorov. No joy for Rhodes on that attempt.
Fedorov misses with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Fedorov.
Fedorov scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fedorov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fedorov throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Rhodes to counter with a crisp jab.
Rhodes throws an overhand right that lands on Fedorov's shoulder, as Fedorov tries to avoid the shot.
Rhodes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rhodes scores with a punch to the head.
Rhodes throws out a loose jab but Fedorov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fedorov.
Rhodes moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rhodes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fedorov defends well and Rhodes ends up having to push Fedorov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rhodes sizes up Fedorov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Fedorov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fedorov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rhodes was well out of range. Poor timing from Fedorov.
Rhodes throws a hook to the side of Fedorov's head but Fedorov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Rhodes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fedorov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rhodes.
Nathan Fedorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dusty Rhodes.
Rhodes scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhodes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fedorov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rhodes jumps guard but Fedorov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Fedorov stalling in the clinch but Rhodes improves position.
Rhodes scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fedorov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Rhodes successfully pulls guard.
Rhodes is trying to control the position but Fedorov postures up.
Rhodes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fedorov wanted to stand there but Rhodes had control of the position.
Rhodes is pulling down on Fedorov's head. It's preventing any offense from Fedorov, at least for the moment.
Fedorov wants to control from the top but Rhodes keeps moving.
Fedorov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fedorov wants to control from the top but Rhodes keeps moving.
Fedorov wants to pass the guard but Rhodes is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fedorov leaves Rhodes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rhodes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fedorov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fedorov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rhodes.
Fedorov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rhodes shoots for a double leg takedown but Fedorov sprawls well. He's pushed Rhodes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dusty Rhodes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rhodes missing with a left hand there. Fedorov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rhodes wants to clinch.

Rhodes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Nathan Fedorov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rhodes looking to pass the guard.
Rhodes throws a big right hand that misses.
Fedorov looking for a sweep. Not yet Fedorov, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fedorov seems keen to control Rhodes's posture.
Fedorov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rhodes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov working a defensive guard but Rhodes manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rhodes controls the position.
Rhodes is putting a hurting on Fedorov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rhodes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fedorov to see if he's OK.
Rhodes is chipping away with strikes.
Rhodes takes a little break here. Fedorov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Rhodes throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Fedorov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rhodes.
Fedorov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Fedorov trying to hold on to Rhodes's head to control him but Rhodes postures up.
Rhodes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rhodes throwing shots but Fedorov is blocking nicely.
Rhodes working the head and body with strikes.
Rhodes working Fedorov over with strikes.
Fedorov wants to get back to full guard.
Rhodes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fedorov tries to roll over but Rhodes keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fedorov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Fedorov has a hand on Rhodes's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Rhodes takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Fedorov tries to lock up and control but Rhodes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dusty Rhodes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fedorov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rhodes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Rhodes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Fedorov is surviving well by controlling Rhodes's body position as best he can.
Fedorov tries to hold on but Rhodes postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov can't escape the position.
Rhodes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fedorov is looking to escape.

Rhodes working for a submission but Fedorov is keeping him at bay.
Rhodes controlling from the full mount.
Fedorov is looking to get to half guard.
Dusty Rhodes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rhodes avoids the attempt from Fedorov to control.
Fedorov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rhodes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusty Rhodes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rhodes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dusty Rhodes!
Our winner, Dusty Rhodes, 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.