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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 2310 p4p, 3061 weight class) and Paul Herrera (ranked 285 p4p, 349 weight class). Paul Herrera has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Alexander Rusev's chin.
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| 170 cm
25
174
11 - 11 - 0 |
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185 cm
29
180
10 - 21 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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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 11 - 11 - 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 10 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera misses with a body kick.
Herrera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rusev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rusev throwing strikes but missing.
Rusev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Herrera's head.
Rusev postures up in Herrera's guard and throws a big left but Herrera blocks it.
Rusev is looking to work some ground and pound but Herrera has wrist control.
Herrera 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herrera has Rusev pulled in close to control his posture.
Herrera controls Rusev momentarily but Rusev frees himself.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herrera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Herrera has his feet on Rusev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Alexander Rusev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown attempt by Herrera or perhaps it was just good defense by Rusev, which made it look bad.
Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rusev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Herrera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rusev's waist but Rusev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herrera off to one side.
Herrera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alexander Rusev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Herrera.
Rusev rushes Herrera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Herrera tries for a takedown but Rusev manages to get underhooks.
Herrera has hold of one of Rusev's legs. Rusev is fighting the takedown attempt but Herrera gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rusev trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is fighting to break Rusev's control of his arms but Rusev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rusev wants to sweep but no luck.
Herrera trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Rusev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Herrera's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rusev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Herrera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rusev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Herrera manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rusev has Herrera in his guard.
Rusev keeping full guard, as Herrera tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev keeping moving, preventing Herrera from controlling successfully.
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 not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rusev keeping full guard, as Herrera tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Herrera trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Herrera's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Herrera decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Rusev enables Herrera to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rusev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Herrera postures up.
Herrera controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusev has his foot on Herrera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herrera works his way back into a safe position though.
Herrera content to stall in guard here.
Herrera has gone for a leg lock! Rusev slips out almost immediately though and dives into Herrera's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Alexander Rusev will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Herrera shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rusev's guard.
Herrera is looking to stand up but Rusev won't let him.
Herrera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rusev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herrera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rusev 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.
Herrera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Herrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Herrera misses with a takedown attempt - Rusev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Herrera has Rusev up against the cage in a clinch.
Herrera turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Herrera manages to end up in side control.
Herrera trying to control the position but Rusev is working away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera decides to stand back up. Herrera steps back and let's Rusev get back to his feet.
Herrera has Rusev up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Herrera looking for a takedown.
Herrera pulls guard successfully.
Herrera is trying to keep Rusev in close.
Herrera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Herrera wants to sweep here but Rusev controlling him for the moment.
Paul Herrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rusev connects with a couple of short punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev landing with the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rusev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rusev trying to control but Herrera is working from the bottom.
Herrera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rusev throws an elbow that misses. Herrera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rusev's guard. Nice move by Herrera!
Herrera is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rusev is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rusev has escaped and now he's on top!
Rusev lands a couple of digs.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Herrera's guard.
Herrera makes his way to full guard, as Rusev worked for a kimura.
Rusev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rusev throws a strike but Herrera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rusev controls Herrera momentarily but Herrera frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Herrera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Herrera wants to control from the top but Rusev keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Herrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Herrera gets a takedown into half guard.
Rusev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rusev throwing short punches from the bottom.
Herrera trying to control but Rusev is working from the bottom.
Rusev is looking for a triangle but Herrera pushes his legs off easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Herrera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Herrera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is looking to sweep but instead, Herrera has passed into half guard.
Herrera stalling.
Herrera is stalling here. Rusev is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Herrera seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rusev has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rusev scoring with punches and elbows.
Rusev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rusev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is trying to get back to half guard.
Herrera gets back to half guard.
Herrera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rusev is working away from the top position though.
Rusev winds up and cracks Herrera with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Herrera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rusev.
Rusev with the ground and pound but Herrera uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rusev throws an elbow that misses. Herrera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rusev's guard. Nice move by Herrera!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rusev looking for a sweep. Not yet Rusev, not yet.
Rusev is trying to control the position but Herrera postures up.
Rusev keeping moving, preventing Herrera from controlling successfully.
Rusev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Herrera is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herrera wants to control from the top but Rusev keeps moving.
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.
Herrera advances position into side control!
Herrera is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rusev has escaped the position, nice work there.
Herrera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Herrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Herrera has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Herrera!
A relieved looking Paul Herrera thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
31% |
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