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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Rusev (ranked 2671 p4p, 1912 weight class) and Isoa Tawake (ranked 363 p4p, 263 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!
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| 170 cm
25
174
12 - 13 - 0 |
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193 cm
24
185
7 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong |
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Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank |
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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 12 - 13 - 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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Isoa Tawake!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusev slips a jab and a cross from Tawake.
Tawake lands the left hand.
Tawake stuffs the takedown.
Rusev tries to keep at a distance but Tawake has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tawake misses with an elbow over the top.
Tawake throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tawake tries a body shot but Rusev blocks it.
Rusev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tawake gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tawake told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
A short left from Tawake.
Rusev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tawake avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tawake misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tawake looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tawake pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tawake lands a left hand.
Tawake prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rusev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tawake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tawake lands a shot to the body.
Tawake misses with an elbow strike.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tawake landing knees to the body.
Rusev is breathing heavily.
Tawake stalling.
Tawake lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tawake misses with a knee to the head.
Rusev takes an elbow to the forehead.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tawake.
Tawake pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Tawake stalling in the clinch.
Tawake lands a damaging elbow.
Tawake misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rusev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tawake after a bit of a struggle.
Tawake avoiding damage.
Tawake misses with an elbow strike.
Tawake tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rusev's elbow.
Rusev avoids the elbow strike from Tawake, against the cage.
Tawake lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rusev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tawake fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tawake connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rusev's hands.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rusev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tawake is fending him off so far but Rusev persists. Nope, Tawake circles away and we're back to standing.
Rusev fails with a takedown attempt.
Tawake steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rusev.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt - Tawake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tawake lands with a good body shot.
Tawake throws a head kick that half lands.
Tawake lands an overhand right.
Rusev has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rusev there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rusev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tawake.
Tawake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tawake is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tawake lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tawake!
Rusev fails to land the takedown.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tawake lands with a cross.
Tawake fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rusev, pushing him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Tawake as the two fighters clinch.
Rusev blocks an elbow strike.
Tawake misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rusev.
Rusev dodges an elbow strike from Tawake.
Rusev drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tawake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tawake creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rusev's defenses.
Tawake has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tawake creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rusev's defenses.
Rusev takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rusev turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rusev manages to end up in side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tawake wants to get back to his feet but Rusev is dominant here and he's now got Tawake's back!
Rusev working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusev throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tawake covering up well and avoiding damage.
Rusev is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tawake wants to get back to his feet.
Rusev tightening his grip on Tawake, looking for the choke.
Tawake is trying to get back to his feet but Rusev has full control of the position and if anything, Tawake has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Isoa Tawake dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Rusev keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tawake connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rusev momentarily.
Tawake scores with a jab. Rusev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rusev is defended easily by Tawake.
Both fighters circling a little - Tawake finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rusev shoots in for a takedown but Tawake shows good takedown defense.
Rusev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Rusev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tawake works the jab nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Tawake. No joy for Rusev on that attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Tawake misses.
Rusev dives in for a single leg takedown but Tawake sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tawake lands an elbow just above Rusev 's eye.
Tawake lands an elbow inside that Rusev shrugs off.
Tawake comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rusev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tawake smiles and moves away.
Tawake connects with a jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tawake lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tawake.
Nice uppercut there from Tawake.
Isoa Tawake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rusev misses with a takedown attempt - Tawake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Alexander Rusev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rusev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tawake's waist but Tawake gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rusev off to one side.
Rusev gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tawake.
Tawake slips a jab and a cross from Rusev.
Rusev shoots in for a double leg but Tawake sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tawake has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tawake rushes Rusev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rusev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tawake lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rusev is rocked!
A short right from Tawake.
Oh Rusev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tawake dips a shoulder and cracks Rusev with a mighty uppercut! Rusev falls back against the cage and Tawake unloads with a barrage of strikes! Rusev is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Tawake screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Isoa Tawake!
In his post fight interview, Isoa Tawake started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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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
63% |
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