PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonid Rublev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Luka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leonid Rublev has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rublev
vs
Luka

225 cm
26
300 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Rublev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Luka!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rublev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Luka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Luka enables Rublev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Luka manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Luka 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're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Luka has eaten all the pies!
Rublev postures up.
Rublev advances position into side control!
Luka pushes Rublev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rublev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Luka tries to improve position but can't.
Rublev working away.
Rublev moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rublev has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rublev has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Rublev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rublev won't let Luka get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rublev controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luka in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rublev connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rublev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Luka tries to hold on but Rublev postures up.
Rublev looking to control and managing it successfully.

Rublev is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Luka can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rublev looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luka is trying desperately to improve position.
Rublev controlling from mount.
Rublev scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Rublev.
Luka tries to control the position but Rublev now has his back.
Good control from Rublev.
Luka trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rublev lands a shot to the head.
You can see the frustration on Luka's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Rublev scores with punches and elbows.
Luka is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Luka can't escape the position.
Rublev controls the action.
Rublev doesn't have the hooks in and Luka manages to turn into his guard.
Rublev 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.
Rublev keeping moving, preventing Luka from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Rublev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Luka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luka wants it to stay on the feet.
Luka closes the distance but Rublev moves to the side

and Rublev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Luka wants to stand up but Rublev is controlling him.
Luka is trying to keep Rublev in close.
Rublev stays in close to Luka's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leonid Rublev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rublev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rublev counters with a one-two to the body.
Luka wants to clinch
and Rublev counters with a three punch combo that has Luka backing up. Luka nods at Rublev to acknowledge the strikes.
Rublev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rublev gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rublev controlling the position.

Rublev stands up and beckons Luka to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luka tries to clinch but Rublev moves away

and Rublev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Luka is refusing to be controlled, as Rublev sits in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Luka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rublev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Luka is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Luka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leonid Rublev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Luka actively working from the bottom here.
Rublev wants to take a breather but Luka is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Leonid Rublev.
Luka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rublev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Luka wants to clinch

and Rublev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luka!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luka tries to hold on but Rublev pushes him away.
Rublev trying to control but Luka is having none of it.
Luka is looking to improve his position but Rublev isn't that keen on the idea.
Luka wants to hold on but Rublev pushes him away.
Rublev prevents Luka from getting the reversal.
Rublev looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four 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.
Luka wants to hold on but Rublev pushes him away.
Luka is desperately trying to improve his position but Rublev has a good base and remains in mount.
Rublev controlling from mount.
Rublev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rublev wants to control the pace but Luka is squirming around nicely.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Luka tries to lock up and control but Rublev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luka tries to reverse the position but Rublev maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Rublev dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Luka closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rublev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Luka working for a triangle but Rublev defends it easily.
Rublev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Luka is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rublev sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rublev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Luka's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rublev won't allow Luka to sweep him here.
Rublev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leonid Rublev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Luka moves to clinch but Rublev breaks away
and Rublev counters with a head kick. That will keep Luka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Luka tries to clinch but Rublev moves away

and Rublev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Luka is looking for a triangle but Rublev pushes his legs off easily.
Luka controls Rublev momentarily but Rublev frees himself.
Rublev won't allow Luka to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rublev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Leonid Rublev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Luka closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rublev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Luka's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Luka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rublev advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rublev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Luka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rublev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Luka tries to roll over but Rublev keeps him under control.
Rublev is thwarting Luka's attempts to control the position.
Luka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Luka wants to control but Rublev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Don Luka.
Luka tries to clinch but Rublev moves away

and Rublev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Luka!
Luka is looking to improve his position but Rublev isn't that keen on the idea.
Rublev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Luka wants to control but Rublev is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leonid Rublev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rublev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:25
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonid Rublev!