PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 2497 p4p, 2203 weight class) and Tayaen Porfirigo (ranked 302 p4p, 275 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rusev
vs
Porfirigo

170 cm
24
174
10 - 10 - 0

185 cm
34
178
17 - 35 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Seventh Circle Clothing

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 10 - 10 - 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 17 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tayaen Porfirigo!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Porfirigo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Porfirigo looking to score a takedown here. Rusev is defending well but Porfirigo drives through and ends up in Rusev's guard.
Porfirigo postures up.
Rusev wants to sweep but no luck.
Rusev trying to control the position.
Porfirigo postures up in Rusev's guard and throws a big left but Rusev blocks it.
Rusev is trying to control the position but Porfirigo postures up.
Rusev managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Porfirigo stopping the sweep attempt from Rusev.
Rusev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porfirigo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rusev's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alexander Rusev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Porfirigo takes the fight into the clinch.
Rusev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Porfirigo to keep the fight standing.

Porfirigo has clasped his hands together around Rusev's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rusev's coaches at California Top Team have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Porfirigo working away.
Rusev is trying to improve his position.

Porfirigo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rusev has escaped the position, nice work there.

Porfirigo stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porfirigo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rusev tries to counter with a takedown but Porfirigo is quick to defend against it.
Rusev misses with a straight left.
Rusev shoots in but Porfirigo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Porfirigo slaps away a takedown attempt from Rusev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rusev shoots in but no luck this time.
Rusev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Porfirigo pinned against the cage. Porfirigo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt - Porfirigo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Porfirigo drives through with a takedown into Rusev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Porfirigo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rusev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Porfirigo, into his guard.

Rusev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Porfirigo is keeping the position for now.
Porfirigo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Porfirigo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Porfirigo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rusev manages to get himself to full guard.

Rusev is working an open guard so Porfirigo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rusev tries to sprawl but Porfirigo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rusev has a hand on Porfirigo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Porfirigo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Rusev is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Porfirigo stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev darts in looking for a takedown but Porfirigo gets double underhooks and turns Rusev into the cage.
Rusev sets himself, and Porfirigo steps forward looking for the clinch! Rusev avoids it this time.

Rusev is fighting off a takedown attempt but Porfirigo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rusev to the mat. Rusev regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Porfirigo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tayaen Porfirigo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Porfirigo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rusev shoots in and drives through. Porfirigo sprawls well.
Rusev tries for a takedown but Porfirigo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rusev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Porfirigo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Porfirigo sneaks out the side door and pushes Rusev away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Porfirigo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rusev.
Porfirigo wants to counter with a clinch but Rusev pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Porfirigo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rusev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rusev with a poor takedown
and Porfirigo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Porfirigo but Porfirigo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown but Porfirigo shows good takedown defense.
Porfirigo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rusev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Porfirigo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rusev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Porfirigo counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rusev tries for a takedown but Porfirigo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Porfirigo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Porfirigo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rusev regains guard.
Rusev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rusev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Porfirigo's guard.

Porfirigo keeping full guard, as Rusev tries to pass.
Porfirigo has control of Rusev's left arm, preventing Rusev from doing any damage.
Rusev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Porfirigo working a defensive guard here.
Rusev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rusev advances to half guard.
Rusev tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Porfirigo.
Rusev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rusev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Porfirigo is pressing down on Rusev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Porfirigo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rusev landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porfirigo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Porfirigo is pulling down on Rusev's head to control his posture.
Rusev throws a strike but Porfirigo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rusev trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Porfirigo trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Porfirigo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rusev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Porfirigo throws a big elbow that misses.
Porfirigo trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Porfirigo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Porfirigo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Porfirigo is looking to clinch.
Rusev closes the distance and clinches up with Porfirigo, looking for a takedown. Rusev pushes Porfirigo against the cage but Porfirigo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tayaen Porfirigo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Rusev sizes up Porfirigo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rusev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Porfirigo is fending him off so far but Rusev persists. Nope, Porfirigo circles away and we're back to standing.

Porfirigo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Porfirigo seems content to control.
Porfirigo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Porfirigo prevents Rusev from improving his position.
Rusev is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Porfirigo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rusev trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porfirigo prevents Rusev from improving his position.

Porfirigo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rusev has managed to free his arm - good work.
Porfirigo is trying to control the action in half guard but Rusev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rusev is pressing down on Porfirigo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Porfirigo has his hands on Rusev's head, controlling the position.
Porfirigo working a defensive guard here.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Porfirigo's head.
Rusev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rusev trying to control the position from guard on top but Porfirigo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rusev wants to get up but he can't break Porfirigo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Our spies down at at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies inform us that Porfirigo has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Porfirigo has control of Rusev's left arm, preventing Rusev from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Porfirigo shoots in and gets a takedown into Rusev's guard.
Porfirigo postures up in Rusev's guard and throws a big left but Rusev blocks it.
Porfirigo tries to stand but Rusev is controlling from the bottom.
Alexander Rusev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rusev keeping moving, preventing Porfirigo from controlling successfully.
Porfirigo wants to stand and escape but instead Rusev has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porfirigo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rusev trying to control here.
Porfirigo blocks the strikes from Rusev.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rusev controlling the position for now.

Porfirigo wants to work for an arm triangle but Rusev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tayaen Porfirigo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Porfirigo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tayaen Porfirigo!
Tayaen Porfirigo gave a mention to Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥ in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).