PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Wang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashad Gustaffson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wang
vs
Gustaffson

220 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Wang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashad Gustaffson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wang connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gustaffson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wang paws at him with a jab and circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gustaffson enables Wang to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gustaffson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wang trying to control but Gustaffson is working from the bottom.
Wang pushes down on Gustaffson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wang wants to stand up but Gustaffson is controlling the position.
Wang controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustaffson is refusing to be controlled, as Wang sits in half guard.
Wang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Wang wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Wang darts in and clinches Gustaffson up against the cage.
Gustaffson is trying to pull guard but Wang has him pressed against the cage.

Wang has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gustaffson regains guard immediately.
Gustaffson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wang is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wang tries to free his leg and advance position but Gustaffson is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang advances position into side control!
Gustaffson can't do much from the bottom here.

Wang decides to stand back up. Wang steps back and let's Gustaffson get back to his feet.
Gustaffson misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gustaffson slaps away a takedown attempt from Wang, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Wang throws a head kick but Gustaffson moves out of range.
Wang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wang is breathing heavily.
Wang shoots in for a takedown but Gustaffson shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Wang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustaffson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wang tries for a takedown but Gustaffson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wang wants it to stay on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gustaffson.
Gustaffson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gustaffson shoots in but no luck this time.

Gustaffson instigates a clinch.
Gustaffson jumps guard but Wang stands there with Gustaffson around his waist. Gustaffson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gustaffson pulls Wang into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gustaffson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wang is one step ahead there.

Gustaffson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gustaffson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Wang dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wang gets a double leg takedown into Gustaffson's guard.
Wang trying to control the position from guard on top but Gustaffson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wang is really struggling to control Gustaffson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gustaffson is trying to keep Wang in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Wang wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Wang stuffs the takedown attempt from Gustaffson. Gustaffson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustaffson closes the distance and pushes Wang back into the cage.
Gustaffson tries to break free but Wang pushes him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Wang drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gustaffson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Gustaffson drives through and clinches with Wang against the cage.
Wang is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gustaffson is defending well.
Gustaffson tries to break the clinch but Wang is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to throw a body punch but Gustaffson avoids it by throwing Wang back against the cage.
Gustaffson misses with an elbow over the top.
Gustaffson is working for takedown but Wang is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gustaffson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dan Wang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Gustaffson.

Wang breaks from the clinch.
Gustaffson tries to close the distance and clinch but Wang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gustaffson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gustaffson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wang to score an easy takedown into full guard.
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!
Wang is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gustaffson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Dan Wang overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gustaffson is trying to control but Wang manages to pass to mount!
Wang trying to control but Gustaffson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustaffson can't escape the position.
Gustaffson tries to hold on but Wang pushes him away.
Gustaffson is looking to improve his position but Wang isn't that keen on the idea.
Gustaffson wants to hold on but Wang pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wang wants to control the pace but Gustaffson is squirming around nicely.
Wang controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Wang dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Gustaffson is looking to clinch.
Dan Wang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Wang. No joy for Gustaffson on that attempt.
Gustaffson shoots in for a takedown but Wang shows good takedown defense.
Gustaffson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gustaffson avoids the head kick by Wang.
Gustaffson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gustaffson wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wang closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gustaffson to the mat! Gustaffson manages to get full guard.
Wang stopping the sweep attempt from Gustaffson.
Wang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gustaffson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wang is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang tries to stand but Gustaffson is controlling from the bottom.
Gustaffson keeping moving, preventing Wang from controlling successfully.
Gustaffson looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gustaffson keeping moving, preventing Wang from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Wang wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gustaffson misses with a double jab.
Gustaffson tries for a takedown but Wang circles away easily
and Wang makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gustaffson really felt that one!
Dan Wang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rashad Gustaffson.
Gustaffson blocks the body kick.
Gustaffson shoots in but Wang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Wang shoots for a double leg takedown but Gustaffson sprawls well. He's pushed Wang's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gustaffson with a poor takedown

and Wang counters with a shoot takedown. Gustaffson fights it but they end up in guard.
Wang postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gustaffson controls Wang momentarily but Wang frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustaffson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Gustaffson is looking for a triangle here but Wang uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Wang tries to score with some ground and pound. Gustaffson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Wang stands up.
Gustaffson fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gustaffson has time to react.
Gustaffson blocks a head kick by Wang.
Horrible takedown by Gustaffson or perhaps it was just good defense by Wang which made him look bad.
Wang misses with a looping right.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gustaffson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wang swivels and escapes.
A head kick by Gustaffson misses

and Wang counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wang.
Rashad Gustaffson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Wang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wang wants to control from the top but Gustaffson keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Wang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wang, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Wang!