PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Victor Karmin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rizzo Rushino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Karmin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Eyes of the World. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Karmin
vs
Rushino

190 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Fast

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 Tokyo, Victor Karmin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rizzo Rushino!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karmin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rushino slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Karmin looking for a guillotine here but Rushino defends easily.
Rushino really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Karmin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rushino showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rushino trying to control but Karmin is working from the bottom.
Rushino throws a big right hand that misses.
Rushino trying to control but Karmin is working from the bottom.
Rushino not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karmin wants to sweep here but Rushino controlling him for the moment.
Rushino 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.
Rushino wants to control from the top but Karmin keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Karmin moves into the clinch.
Karmin wants to break the clinch but can't.

Rushino breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rushino darts in trying to clinch

and Karmin counters by moving into the clinch.
Rushino throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A nice left hand lands by Karmin.
Karmin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rushino is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rushino drags the fight down to the ground.
Karmin is fighting to break Rushino's control of his arms but Rushino is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Karmin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rushino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karmin postures up in Rushino's guard and throws a big left but Rushino blocks it.
Rushino throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rushino trying to keep a closed guard but Karmin is proving a slippery customer.
Karmin wants to pass the guard but Rushino is keeping the position.
Karmin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rushino is proving hard to escape from.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rushino can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rushino is pulling down on Karmin's head. It's preventing any offense from Karmin, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Rushino decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rushino is keen to just control but Karmin is a slippery customer.
Rushino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karmin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rushino content to control rather than advance.

Karmin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rushino looks gassed!
Karmin swinging wilding here.
Rushino throws a series of punches but Karmin moves out of range.
Karmin fails to land with a series of punches.
Rushino throws a leg kick which misses Karmin's front leg but catches the back leg as Karmin tries to avoid it.
Rushino has his takedown stuffed
and Rushino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushino digs a good hook to Karmin's body.

Karmin has Rushino up against the cage in a clinch.
Rushino wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Karmin has him pressed against the cage.
Rushino using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Karmin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rushino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Karmin clinches up against the cage.
Rushino is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karmin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Victor Karmin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rizzo Rushino.

Karmin tightens his grip and picks Rushino up, before dumping him to the ground. Rushino manages to land in guard.
Karmin postures up.
Rushino controlling Karmin's posture.
Rushino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rushino wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rushino is trying to control the position but Karmin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rizzo Rushino will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rushino has a takedown stuffed.
Rushino tries to land a body kick

and Karmin counters by clinching up.

Rushino pulls guard successfully.
Karmin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Karmin postures up.

Rushino is looking for a triangle but Karmin pushes his legs off easily.
Karmin postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karmin wants to control from the top but Rushino keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A good leg kick by Rushino.
Nice takedown defense from Karmin. No joy for Rushino on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Karmin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rushino doesn't seem phased though.
Karmin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rushino counters with an inside leg kick.
Rushino shoots and misses
and Karmin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rushino thinking.
Victor Karmin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rizzo Rushino.
Karmin tries to clinch up but Rushino circles away and keeps his distance.
Karmin darts in trying to clinch

and Rushino counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karmin keeping moving, preventing Rushino from controlling successfully.
Karmin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rushino controls the pace.

Rushino gets to his feet - Karmin follows without any prompting.
Rushino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rushino misses with a takedown
and Karmin counters with a three punch combo that has Rushino backing up. Rushino nods at Karmin to acknowledge the strikes.
Rushino looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Karmin is fending him off so far but Rushino persists. Nope, Karmin circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karmin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karmin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rushino counters with a shoot takedown. Karmin fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rushino stands up out of Karmin's guard for a moment - Karmin manages to land a nice upkick.

Rushino avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rushino postures up.

Karmin pushes Rushino off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rushino has his takedown stuffed

and Karmin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Karmin goes for a takedown attempt but Rushino pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Karmin shoots in for a takedown but Rushino shows good takedown defense.
Rushino shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karmin as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karmin scores with a three punch combo!
Rushino fails with the takedown

so Karmin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Karmin looking to pass the guard.

Rushino pushes Karmin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rushino with a lazy takedown attempt

and Karmin moves into the clinch.

Rushino breaks the clinch.
Karmin shoots in but no luck this time.

Karmin has managed to clinch.
Karmin has a couple of punches blocked by Rushino.
Rushino trying to stall but Karmin improves his position.
Rushino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karmin.

Karmin manages to break the clinch.

Rushino scores a takedown into full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rushino tries to control but Karmin wriggling away.
Karmin is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rushino in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Karmin is working to get back to half guard.
Karmin tries to hold on but Rushino postures up.
Karmin regains half guard.

Karmin actively working from the bottom here.
Karmin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karmin wants to improve his position but Rushino is controlling well.
Rushino trying to pass the guard but Karmin defending well.

Karmin looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rizzo Rushino will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Karmin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rushino circles away.
Karmin tries to clinch but Rushino moves away
and Rushino counters with an inside leg kick.
Karmin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rushino counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rushino stays in close to Karmin's body and controls the position.
Rushino wants to pass the guard but Karmin is keeping the position.
Rushino preventing the sweep.

Karmin working for submissions but it's allowed Rushino to get to half guard.
Rushino wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Karmin uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karmin looking for a guillotine here but Rushino defends easily.
Karmin keeping moving, preventing Rushino from controlling successfully.
Rushino must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Karmin wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Karmin pushes Rushino off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rushino walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Karmin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Karmin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karmin wants to clinch but Rushino slips to the side
and Rushino counters with a nice uppercut.
Karmin wants to clinch but Rushino slips to the side

and Rushino moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karmin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rushino is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Karmin holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rushino tries to score a body lock takedown but Karmin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rushino.
Rushino fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Rushino breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rushino misses with a takedown attempt - Karmin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Victor Karmin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rizzo Rushino.
Rushino gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Karmin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rushino has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Karmin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Karmin pulls Rushino into guard.
Rushino tries to stand but Karmin is controlling from the bottom.
Rushino preventing the sweep.

Karmin looking for a guillotine here but Rushino defends easily.

Karmin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rushino trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rizzo Rushino has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karmin striking off his back but it's not causing Rushino any problems.
Karmin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rushino's guard.
Karmin trying to control but Rushino is working from the bottom.
Karmin looking to pass the guard.
Karmin chips away with some ground and pound.
Karmin passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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.

Karmin stands up and beckons Rushino to his feet.

Karmin moves into the clinch successfully.

Rushino breaks the clinch.
Victor Karmin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rushino looks to clinch

and Karmin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Karmin.

Rushino jumps into guard, dragging Karmin to the mat.
Rushino wants to sweep here but Karmin controlling him for the moment.
Rushino is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rushino is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rushino has control of Karmin's left arm, preventing Karmin from doing any damage.
Karmin won't allow Rushino to sweep him here.
Victor Karmin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rushino is trying to keep Karmin in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Victor Karmin.
I think Rushino 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rizzo Rushino!