PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Star (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Rush has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rush
vs
Star

187 cm
23
245 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

200 cm
21
280 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrew Rush !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ken Star!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush is trying hard to land a takedown here. Star sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Star shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rush looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rush won't allow Star to get back to his feet.
Star really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rush . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rush wants to control from the top but Star keeps moving.
Rush throwing strikes from guard but Star blocks nicely.
Rush is looking to work some ground and pound but Star has wrist control.
Rush wants to control from the top but Star keeps moving.
Rush is really struggling to control Star but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rush might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rush is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Star tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rush counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rush .
Star wants to stand and escape but Rush is having none of it.
Star has momentary wrist control but Rush slips an elbow through the middle.
Rush throwing strikes from guard but Star blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Star pulls Rush in to control the position.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Star is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rush is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Star has escaped the position, nice work there.
Star is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rush is controlling him well.

Rush looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rush trying to control the position but Star is working away.

Rush working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rush is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Star wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush wants to lay and pray for a moment but Star keeps working.
Star is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Rush decides to stand back up. Rush steps back and let's Star get back to his feet.
Rush has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Star tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rush counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rush prevents Star from getting back to his feet.
Rush sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Star's guard.
Star wants to get back to full guard.

Rush is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Star is just riding it out for now. Rush eventually gives up the hold.
Star pushes Rush off looking to stand but Rush dives back in and keeps control.
Star has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rush is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Star takes the fight into the clinch.
Rush keeps control of Star as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rush tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Star is looking to break free of the clinch but Rush has double underhooks.
Rush is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Star is defending well for now.
Rush has had enough of the clinch but Star keeps him there for the moment.
Rush is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Star gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Star's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rush keeps control of Star as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Star working hard to break the clinch.
Star is looking to break free of the clinch but Rush has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Star is trying to force a seperation but Rush has the dominant position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rush here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Star wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rush manages to break the clinch.

Star closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rush tries to roll over but Star keeps him under control.
Star wants to stand up but Rush is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Star is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rush is trying to maintain the position but Star is very close to passing his half guard.

Rush looking for submissions off his back.
Star wants to stand up but Rush is controlling the position.
Rush wants to control but Star is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rush throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Star shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense.
Star fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Star throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rush tries to clinch up but Star circles away and keeps his distance.
Rush looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Star is fending him off so far but Rush persists. Nope, Star circles away and we're back to standing.
Star tries a head kick but it misses.
Star throws a series of punches but Rush moves out of range.
Star clinches but Rush breaks the clinch
and Rush counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Star sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rush somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrew Rush . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Star clinches up against the cage.
Star wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Star wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rush looking for a takedown.

Star pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rush leaves Star with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rush shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Star looks to land a combination. Rush sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Star tries to clinch

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

Rush is trying to get an arm triangle but Star is defending well.

Rush tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rush has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rush working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Star is looking to regain half guard here but Rush keeps moving and retains side control.
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 Andrew Rush will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Star closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Star lands in his opponent's guard.
Rush is trying to control the position but Star postures up.
Star won't allow Rush to sweep him here.
Star would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rush is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Star defends well.

Rush looking for a guillotine here but Star defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Star is looking to stand up but Rush won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Star gets to his feet. Rush looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Star wants to clinch.

Star has managed to clinch.
Star wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Star wants to get back to striking at distance but Rush won't allow it.

Star breaks the clinch.
Rush misses with a two punch combination.
Star throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rush counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Star is defending against the submission attempts here by Rush .
Star is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Star blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush .
Star is looking to escape.
Rush is keen to just control but Star is a slippery customer.
Star is trying to stand up here but Rush is controlling him well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Star can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rush is looking for a kimura but Star is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rush to get the leverage.

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

Star scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Rush 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is trying to improve his position.
Rush struggling a bit here.
Ken Star has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rush tries to buck Star off but Star is having none of it.
Star happy to just control the position for now.
Rush tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Star closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Star is trying to force a seperation but Rush has the dominant position.
Rush keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Star's efforts to push away.
Rush trying to land knees to the body.
Star gets underhooks to prevent Rush 's takedown attempt.
Star is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Star is trying to break the clinch but Rush has him pressed against the cage.
Star wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Star tries to circle away but Rush has him pinned against the cage.
Rush tries to score a body lock takedown but Star shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Star's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Andrew Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Star manages to break the clinch.
Star connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rush 's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Star comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrew Rush !