PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Slone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Ruskov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Slone
vs
Ruskov

170 cm
22
137 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chad Slone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mario Ruskov!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruskov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Slone napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ruskov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ruskov controlling the position from side mount.
Slone is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ruskov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruskov trying to control the position but Slone is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ruskov decides to stand back up.
Ruskov looks for the body kick but Slone saw that one coming.
Slone throws a head kick but Ruskov moves out of range.
Slone scores with a one two! Ruskov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Mario Ruskov has been cut.
Chad Slone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slone tries to work over Ruskov's front leg with a kick but Ruskov checks it.
Slone scores with a jab to the body.
Slone throws a series of punches but Ruskov moves out of range.
No joy there for Slone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ruskov throws a leg kick but Slone sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Slone throws a right and a left that Ruskov avoids nicely.
Slone is breathing heavily.

Ruskov gets a clinch.
Ruskov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Slone is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Slone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ruskov can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ruskov is looking to break free of the clinch but Slone has double underhooks.
Slone tries to land a knee to the head but Ruskov blocks with his arms.
Slone tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ruskov avoids it.
Ruskov is trying to break the clinch but Slone has him pressed against the cage.
Ruskov jumps guard but Slone stands there with Ruskov around his waist. Ruskov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Slone managing to block the knees to the body from Ruskov.
Slone blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ruskov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Slone to keep the fight standing.
Chad Slone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Ruskov.
Slone tries to land knees in the clinch but Ruskov avoids the damage to the body.
Ruskov throws an elbow but it misses.
Ruskov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Slone is defending well.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Slone.
Slone jumps guard but Ruskov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Slone breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruskov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ruskov controlling the pace.
Ruskov is trying to control the action in half guard but Slone is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Slone is looking to improve his position.
Ruskov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruskov is trying to control. Slone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mario Ruskov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Slone. Those never looked like landing.
Slone misses with a low kick.

Ruskov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ruskov stands up out of the half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Slone misses with a series of wild punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ruskov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ruskov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Slone gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slone as Ruskov tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Ruskov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mario Ruskov's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Slone throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Ruskov closes the distance and clinches.
Ruskov has had enough of the clinch but Slone keeps him there for the moment.

Slone jumps guard and drags Ruskov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ruskov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ruskov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Slone keeping full guard, as Ruskov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruskov trying to control but Slone is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mario Ruskov.

Ruskov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Slone looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee asks Ruskov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ruskov prefers to stall for the moment though.

Ruskov stands up.
Slone lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ruskov circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ruskov fails with a takedown attempt.
Slone throws a low kick, looking for Ruskov's leg but Ruskov calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ruskov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Slone trying to control here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruskov is keen to just control but Slone is a slippery customer.
Ruskov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mario Ruskov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Slone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ruskov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ruskov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Slone sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ruskov somewhat.

Ruskov has Slone up against the cage in a clinch.
Ruskov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slone just stands there and leans against the cage.
Chad Slone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Ruskov.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Slone takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Slone lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ruskov working aggressively here.
Slone tries to work over Ruskov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ruskov jumps guard but Slone turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Slone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slone has Ruskov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ruskov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Slone gets underhooks to prevent Ruskov's takedown attempt.
Ruskov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Slone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Slone is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ruskov to keep the fight standing.
Ruskov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Slone avoiding damage as Ruskov throws knees to the body.
Slone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Slone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slone misses with a body kick.
Slone misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chad Slone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ruskov has taken the fight to the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slone holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Slone as Ruskov tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Ruskov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mario Ruskov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Slone attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Ruskov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ruskov showed some decent athleticism there.
Slone pushes Ruskov off looking to stand but Ruskov dives back in and keeps control.
Ruskov is looking to advance position but Slone won't allow it.
Ruskov is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Slone manages to get to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ruskov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruskov wanted to stand there but Slone had control of the position.
Ruskov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ruskov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mario Ruskov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Slone throws a low kick, looking for Ruskov's leg but Ruskov calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slone misses with a body kick.
Ruskov dives in and grabs Slone's left leg, looking for a takedown. Slone pushes down on Ruskov's head and hops out.
Slone throws a series of punches but Ruskov moves out of range.
Slone throws a series of punches but Ruskov avoids them all with ease.
Slone throws a right hand that Ruskov ducks under and follows up with a left that Ruskov also avoids with ease.

Ruskov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ruskov showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ruskov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ruskov stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruskov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Slone's guard.
Slone being controlled here, momentarily.
Slone trying to keep a closed guard but Ruskov is proving a slippery customer.
Chad Slone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Slone throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ruskov.

Ruskov scores with a takedown into Slone's guard.
Slone keeping moving, preventing Ruskov from controlling successfully.
Ruskov postures up and lands a big shot to Slone's brow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ruskov passes Slone's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Ruskov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ruskov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Ruskov!