PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 1983 p4p, 1163 weight class) and Lorenz Blackwater (ranked 260 p4p, 174 weight class). Blackwater is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: A$AP Rocky - Everyday. Lorenz Blackwater will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rusev
vs
Blackwater

170 cm
22
174
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
180
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Furnace Performance 🔥
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lorenz Blackwater!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackwater throws a jab when Rusev was well out of range.
A big left from Blackwater misses.
Rusev feinted with a counter takedown.
Blackwater defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rusev.
Rusev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rusev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rusev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rusev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Blackwater sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rusev somewhat.
Blackwater misses with a two punch combination.
Blackwater connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Rusev throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Blackwater tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rusev is in Blackwater's guard.
Rusev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rusev postures up in Blackwater's guard and throws a big left but Blackwater blocks it.
Blackwater keeping moving, preventing Rusev from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rusev prevents Blackwater from getting back to his feet.
Blackwater is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blackwater works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rusev lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rusev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rusev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rusev looking to pass the guard.
Rusev throwing strikes from guard but Blackwater blocks nicely.
Rusev looking to pass the guard.
Rusev preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blackwater's head.
Blackwater utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rusev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rusev wants to pass the guard but Blackwater is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Blackwater is on top in guard.

Rusev has a closed guard, preventing Blackwater from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rusev is on top in guard.

Blackwater is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rusev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blackwater looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blackwater looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blackwater!

You can see the frustration on Rusev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Blackwater stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Blackwater feints a jab promting Rusev to slip. Blackwater then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rusev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Blackwater looks to land a combination. Rusev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Blackwater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice takedown defense from Blackwater. No joy for Rusev on that attempt.
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 a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackwater thuds a left hand into Rusev's body.
Blackwater throws a good cross that connects.
Lorenz Blackwater is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rusev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blackwater counters with a left to the body.
Blackwater misses with a few strikes there.
Rusev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Blackwater tries to avoid it but Rusev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Blackwater to the ground. Blackwater escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Blackwater.
Rusev avoids a punch combination nicely.

Rusev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Rusev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blackwater knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blackwater is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rusev off and has taken his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenz Blackwater dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rusev shoots in but no luck this time.
Blackwater has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rusev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alexander Rusev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blackwater stuffs the takedown.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Blackwater, as that shot connected.
Rusev defending well as Blackwater loads up on a big left hand.
Lorenz Blackwater seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blackwater scores with a nice head shot.
Rusev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Blackwater bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rusev closes the distance and clinches up with Blackwater, looking for a takedown. Rusev pushes Blackwater against the cage but Blackwater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
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 a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rusev throws a series of punches but Blackwater avoids them all with ease.
Blackwater tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rusev was well out of range. Poor timing from Blackwater.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blackwater as he jumps to the side.
A cross from Blackwater lands.
Rusev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackwater.
Blackwater has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwater rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rusev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Blackwater as he avoids it easily.
Blackwater connects with a crisp jab.
Blackwater is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rusev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blackwater pinned against the cage. Blackwater gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Blackwater has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rusev is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Blackwater scores with the left hand. Rusev knows he should have avoided that one.
Blackwater misses with an uppercut.
Blackwater misses with a body shot.
Blackwater will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rusev shoots in looking for a takedown but Blackwater manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rusev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rusev slips a jab and a cross from Blackwater.
Rusev dives in for a single leg takedown but Blackwater sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blackwater avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Blackwater gets underhooks to prevent Rusev's takedown attempt.

Blackwater breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blackwater wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Blackwater lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rusev circles away quickly and effectively.
Rusev feinted with a counter takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rusev fails with the takedown.
Rusev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rusev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Blackwater.
Rusev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rusev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice defenses there by Rusev.
Rusev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blackwater is fending him off so far but Rusev persists. Nope, Blackwater circles away and we're back to standing.
Blackwater lands a head shot.
Blackwater lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Blackwater.
Blackwater works over Rusev's head and body with a nice combination.

Rusev is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackwater.
Oh Rusev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rusev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Blackwater but Blackwater pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rusev seems to have got his legs back now.
Blackwater scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jab by Blackwater.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt
and Blackwater counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Blackwater misses with a series of wild punches.
Rusev gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Rusev tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Blackwater is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Rusev buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Rusev!! Rusev is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Blackwater throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lorenz Blackwater!
Lorenz Blackwater was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.