PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Corey Waho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Rusty (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.

Waho
vs
Rusty

182 cm
21
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Corey Waho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikhail Rusty!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusty avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Waho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Waho shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rusty's guard.

Rusty is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Waho preventing the sweep.
Rusty bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Waho's guard.
Rusty advances to half guard.
Rusty is pressing down on Waho's thigh, looking to free his foot. Waho is holding on for now.
Waho has hold of Rusty's hands but Rusty slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Waho is defending against the submission attempts here by Rusty.
Waho blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rusty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waho tries to get to full guard but Rusty has control of the leg.

Rusty is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Waho is just riding it out for now. Rusty eventually gives up the hold.
Rusty looks gassed!
Rusty frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Waho is looking to improve his position but Rusty isn't that keen on the idea.
Waho is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Waho tries to hold on but Rusty pushes him away.
Waho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rusty throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Waho is working to get back to half guard.
Waho sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Rusty seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Waho has recovered full guard.
Rusty tries to free his leg and advance position but Waho is retaining full guard.
Waho trying to keep a closed guard but Rusty is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusty works over Waho with some ground and pound from guard.

Rusty is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rusty slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Rusty working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rusty cracks Waho with a big elbow.
Rusty landing strikes.
Rusty connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Waho some visible discomfort.

Rusty tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rusty is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Waho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waho sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rusty working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Waho's thigh. Waho counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Waho uses the cage to get back to his feet.
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!
Rusty with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Waho to score with a decent uppercut.
Waho swinging wilding here.
Rusty looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Rusty dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rusty throws and low kick but Waho moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Waho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Waho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rusty swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Waho darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rusty wants to get back to full guard.
Rusty is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rusty is breathing heavily.
Waho content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rusty should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Waho passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusty is working to avoid the ground and pound but Waho connects with a decent elbow.
Waho in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rusty is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Waho off and has taken his back!
Waho turns into Rusty and is now in his guard.
Waho slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rusty is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rusty is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rusty is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusty moves into full guard.
Rusty bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Waho's guard.
Rusty throws a big right hand that misses.
Rusty working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Waho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rusty drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Waho manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rusty has Waho in his guard.
Waho advances to half guard.
Waho not doing much here.
Waho seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rusty does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusty gets full guard.

Rusty escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Waho gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Waho drops back looking for a leg! Rusty is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rusty manages to kick Waho off! Waho jumps back into Rusty's guard.
Waho stopping the sweep attempt from Rusty.
Rusty keeping moving, preventing Waho from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rusty is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Waho stands up and waves to Rusty to follow him.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rusty - that will leave a mark!
Corey Waho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rusty bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Waho's head.
Rusty fails with the takedown

and Waho counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rusty won't be happy with that.

Waho is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rusty is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rusty manages to work his way to half guard, despite Waho's best efforts.
Corey Waho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rusty wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Waho dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Waho takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rusty connects with a solid leg kick.
A jab lands there for Rusty.
Rusty scores with a crisp jab that stopped Waho in his tracks.
Waho walks into a straight right hand from Rusty.
Waho drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rusty lands a jab to the head.
Rusty lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rusty jabs Waho right on the nose. Waho blinks but takes it well.
Rusty misses with a wild combination.
Rusty lands a nice hook to Waho's body. Waho takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rusty throws a nice outside leg kick.
Waho misses with a combination
letting Rusty counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusty swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Waho has Rusty up against the cage in a clinch.
Rusty tries for a takedown but Waho manages to get underhooks.
Rusty takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rusty drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rusty looking for a takedown.
Corey Waho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Rusty.
Rusty tries for a takedown. No joy.

Waho manages to break the clinch.

Rusty gets caught flat footed, as Waho shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Waho is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rusty is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rusty working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Waho doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Waho manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rusty looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Waho stands up from Rusty's guard - Waho perhaps looking for a knockout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Waho gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusty can't break the clinch.
Rusty tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Waho gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rusty.
Rusty on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Waho is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rusty wants a takedown.

Waho gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rusty is on top in guard.
Rusty tries to free his leg and advance position but Waho is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waho is trying to control the position but Rusty postures up.
Rusty won't allow Waho to sweep him here.
Rusty forces his way into half guard.

Rusty seems to be working for a kimura but Waho defends the submission attempt.
Rusty wants to free his trapped foot but Waho is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Waho wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rusty thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Rusty is trying to work for a kimura but Waho is defending well.
Waho slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Rusty comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rusty 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Rusty!