PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mudrc Bukviconte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Egg-Walking Away . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rush
vs
Bukviconte

189 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 Amsterdam, Joe Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mudrc Bukviconte!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Rush duly obliges.
Horrible takedown by Bukviconte or perhaps it was just good defense by Rush which made him look bad.
Nice uppercut there from Rush.
Bukviconte closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rush circles away.
Rush slaps away a takedown attempt from Bukviconte, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Joe Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mudrc Bukviconte.
Bukviconte throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rush's waist but Rush gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bukviconte off to one side.
Bukviconte throws a head kick that misses.

Bukviconte shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rush's guard.
Rush is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rush takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Bukviconte looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bukviconte tries to get to full guard but Rush has control of the leg.
Rush perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rush has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush trying to control the action but Bukviconte is working from the bottom.
Rush content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Rush just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bukviconte scores a takedown into full mount!
Rush tries to hold on but Bukviconte pushes him away.
Rush gets back to half guard.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bukviconte is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bukviconte is looking for a kimura here.
Bukviconte looks gassed!

Bukviconte is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rush trying to control here.
Rush tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Rush is defending against the submission attempts here by Bukviconte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bukviconte missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rush throws out a powerful jab.
Rush lands an overhand right.
Rush lands with an overhand left.
Joe Rush is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bukviconte fails with the takedown.
Rush misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bukviconte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jab by Rush.
Rush wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rush lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rush dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rush stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rush wants it to stay on the feet.
Rush throws a series of punches but Bukviconte avoids them all with ease.
Rush throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A right-left combo lands from Rush.
Good standup being displayed there by Rush as he connects with a hook.
Mudrc Bukviconte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush leaves Bukviconte with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Rush scores with a four punch combination!
Rush lands a nice hook to Bukviconte's body. Bukviconte takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bukviconte shoots in for a double leg but Rush sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rush lands a jab to Bukviconte's midsection.
Rush lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rush fails to land with a series of punches.

Bukviconte fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rush sprawls well initially but Bukviconte persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Rush dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rush scores with a one two! Bukviconte had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bukviconte has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rush finds it's way round the side to connect with Bukviconte's head.
Joe Rush is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bukviconte is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rush sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bukviconte on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Bukviconte shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rush manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Bukviconte drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rush manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bukviconte has Rush in his guard.
Rush is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bukviconte is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bukviconte looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rush passes into side control.
Rush controls the position.
Bukviconte is trying to improve his position.
Bukviconte wants to control but Rush postures up.
Rush happy to just control the position for now.
Rush's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bukviconte is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.
Rush wants to control but Bukviconte is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bukviconte shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rush is trying to defend but Bukviconte finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bukviconte thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rush to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush trying to control the position here.
Bukviconte in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bukviconte stops Rush from standing up.

Bukviconte 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.
Bukviconte is looking to advance position but Rush has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Bukviconte tries to hold on but Rush postures up.
Bukviconte is squirming around, avoiding Rush's attempts to control the action.
Bukviconte is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bukviconte working to try and regain half guard.
Rush trying to control but Bukviconte is having none of it.
Bukviconte gets back to half guard.
Bukviconte is trying to get back to full guard.
Rush is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bukviconte wants to improve his position but Rush is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Rush will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rush stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bukviconte keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bukviconte changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rush looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Bukviconte is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rush is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rush is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bukviconte off and has taken his back!
Bukviconte is in bad spot here.
Bukviconte has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
What can Bukviconte do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Bukviconte wants to escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
What can Bukviconte do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bukviconte rolls, trying to escape but Rush keeps control of the position.
Rush is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Bukviconte turns into Rush and is now in his guard.
Bukviconte throwing strikes but missing.

Bukviconte has gone for a leg lock! Rush slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bukviconte's guard.

Bukviconte had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rush defends it easily.
Rush has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

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.
Rush trying to control but Bukviconte is working from the bottom.
Bukviconte pulls Rush in to control the position.

Bukviconte throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bukviconte isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rush stacks Bukviconte on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rush!
Bukviconte misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush wants to control but Bukviconte is keeping him busy.
Rush avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bukviconte.
Bukviconte is looking for a sweep.
Bukviconte is pushing Rush's head away, looking to escape. Rush manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rush wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bukviconte keeps working.
Mudrc Bukviconte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bukviconte shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense.
Rush scores with a jab. Bukviconte acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Horrible takedown by Bukviconte or perhaps it was just good defense by Rush which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rush works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bukviconte misses with a body shot.
Bukviconte shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joe Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mudrc Bukviconte.
Bukviconte takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Joe Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bukviconte jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rush throws a right hand that Bukviconte ducks under and follows up with a left that Bukviconte also avoids with ease.
Bukviconte tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rush paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rush scores with a nice strike.
Rush bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rush fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown by Bukviconte or perhaps it was just good defense by Rush which made him look bad.
Rush uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bukviconte has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mudrc Bukviconte.
I think Rush has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Rush!