PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Plusnin (ranked 1502 p4p, 810 weight class) and Stevo Caruga (ranked 180 p4p, 111 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Plusnin
vs
Caruga

180 cm
30
220
11 - 10 - 0

183 cm
31
220
18 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Plusnin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stevo Caruga!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Plusnin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Caruga napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Caruga tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Plusnin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Plusnin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Plusnin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Plusnin controls the position.
Caruga is looking for a sweep.
Caruga manages to get back to half guard.
Caruga is trying to control but can't.

Caruga looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caruga trying to hold on to Plusnin's head to control him but Plusnin postures up.
Well, if Plusnin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Plusnin is working for a submission of some sort.
Caruga has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Jungle Room. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.
Caruga is looking to control Plusnin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Caruga avoid being mounted?
Plusnin controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plusnin is trying to control. Caruga wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.

Caruga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.
Caruga is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Plusnin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Caruga is just riding it out for now. Plusnin eventually gives up the hold.

Caruga actively working from the bottom here.
Caruga wants to control but Plusnin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Plusnin has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Plusnin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Caruga is just riding it out for now. Plusnin eventually gives up the hold.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura here.

Caruga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Plusnin wants to work for an arm triangle but Caruga is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Caruga defends it well.

Plusnin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Caruga sees it coming and defends easily.

Caruga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Caruga is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Plusnin wants to work for an arm triangle but Caruga is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Caruga wants to improve his position but Plusnin is controlling well.

Plusnin seems to be working for a kimura but Caruga defends the submission attempt.

Plusnin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caruga regains full guard. Nicely done.

Plusnin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Caruga has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Plusnin has managed to get both his arms back between Caruga's legs - danger averted.
Plusnin trying to control but Caruga is working from the bottom.
Plusnin distracts Caruga with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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

Caruga is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Caruga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Caruga has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Plusnin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Caruga avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Caruga takes one to the chin there.
Plusnin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Caruga can do to turn this around?
Caruga looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Plusnin lands with a hook. Caruga tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Plusnin jabs Caruga right on the nose. Caruga blinks but takes it well.
Caruga moves out of range as Plusnin strikes.
Plusnin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vladimir Plusnin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Plusnin loads up on a big right hand but Caruga slips the punch.

Caruga is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Plusnin's half guard.

Caruga is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Plusnin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Caruga.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Plusnin tries to roll over but Caruga keeps him under control.

Caruga is trying to work for a kimura but Plusnin is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caruga is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Caruga is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Plusnin manages to get to full guard.

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

Plusnin has his foot on Caruga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caruga works his way back into a safe position though.
Plusnin is trying to keep Caruga in close.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Caruga drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Caruga jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Caruga is pushing down on Plusnin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Plusnin is fighting to maintain full guard but Caruga has managed to sneak the leg through.

Plusnin actively working from the bottom here.

Caruga wants to work for an arm triangle but Plusnin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Caruga is working for a kimura but Plusnin is defending it quite comfortably.

Plusnin looking for submissions off his back.

Plusnin is defending against the submission attempts here by Caruga.
Plusnin manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin working a defensive guard here.

Caruga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Caruga advances to half guard.

Caruga looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Caruga wants to work for an arm triangle but Plusnin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Caruga is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Plusnin is defending against the submission attempts here by Caruga.

Caruga wants to work for an arm triangle but Plusnin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Plusnin actively working from the bottom here.
Plusnin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Caruga is working away from the top position though.

Caruga is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Plusnin won't allow Caruga to pass to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stevo Caruga will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Plusnin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Plusnin throws a hook but Caruga blocks it.
Caruga slips under a jab from Plusnin.

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

Plusnin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Caruga sees it coming and defends easily.

Caruga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Plusnin working the head and body with strikes.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.
Caruga is not content to let Plusnin control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Caruga gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plusnin trying to control but Caruga is working from the bottom.
Plusnin working some strikes from top position.

Caruga had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Plusnin defends it easily.
Plusnin passes Caruga's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura here.

Caruga actively working from the bottom here.
Plusnin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin wants to free his trapped foot but Caruga is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Caruga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Caruga actively working from the bottom here.
Caruga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Plusnin works his foot free and advances to mount.

Caruga defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Plusnin.
Vladimir Plusnin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee warns Caruga that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Caruga is wriggling around trying to escape.
Caruga bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Caruga drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Plusnin dives on top into guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Plusnin wants to pass the guard but Caruga is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caruga is trying to hold Plusnin in close to prevent damage but Plusnin has managed to pass into half guard.

Caruga looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Caruga trying to hold on to Plusnin's head to control him but Plusnin postures up.

Plusnin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Caruga sees it coming and defends easily.

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

Plusnin is working for a kimura but Caruga is defending it quite comfortably.
Caruga is not content to let Plusnin control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Caruga looking for submissions off his back.
Caruga wants to improve his position but Plusnin is controlling well.

Caruga is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Plusnin pulls his head out easily.
Plusnin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Caruga!
Caruga is looking to get to half guard.
Plusnin lands with some strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Plusnin jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Caruga manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Caruga is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Plusnin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Plusnin 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Plusnin!
During a confident post fight interview, Vladimir Plusnin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.