PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carlito Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonid Rublev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernandez comes to the cage accompanied by Boom Bomm Pow. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fernandez
vs
Rublev

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carlito Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leonid Rublev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rublev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fernandez is looking for a sweep.

Rublev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rublev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fernandez tries to bench press Rublev off him but Rublev keeps the position.
Rublev trying to control the position but Fernandez is working away.

Rublev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fernandez looks to land a body kick but Rublev moved away.

Rublev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rublev trying to control the action but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
Fernandez tries to improve position but can't.
Rublev happy to just control the position for now.
Fernandez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rublev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fernandez is staying active underneath Rublev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fernandez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rublev is working away from the top position though.
Rublev wants to free his trapped foot but Fernandez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rublev tries to stand and escape but Fernandez is controlling the position.
Fernandez manages to get to full guard.
Fernandez keeping moving, preventing Rublev from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rublev won't allow Fernandez to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rublev thumps Fernandez with a low kick.

Fernandez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rublev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rublev looking to sit in guard and control but Fernandez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fernandez won't allow Rublev to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rublev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rublev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rublev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rublev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rublev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rublev isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fernandez stacks Rublev 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 Fernandez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonid Rublev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rublev gets a clinch.

Rublev has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Fernandez clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Fernandez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Fernandez is trying to get back to his feet but Rublev has full control of the position and if anything, Fernandez has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Rublev patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Rublev has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Fernandez rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rublev is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rublev trying to control from Fernandez's half guard. Fernandez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Fernandez wants to stand but Rublev is controlling the position.
Rublev tries to free his leg and advance position but Fernandez is retaining full guard.

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

Fernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fernandez stopping the sweep attempt from Rublev.
Fernandez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez looking to pass the guard.
Fernandez throwing strikes from guard but Rublev blocks nicely.
Rublev is looking to sweep but instead, Fernandez has passed into half guard.
Rublev wants to improve his position but Fernandez is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is pressing down on Rublev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rublev is holding on for now.
Fernandez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rublev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fernandez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rublev's guard.
Rublev is wriggling around but Fernandez manages to pass to half guard.
Fernandez trying to control the action but Rublev is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rublev can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez working Rublev over with strikes.
Fernandez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rublev is trying to get back to full guard.
Rublev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fernandez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leonid Rublev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rublev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fernandez was covering up waiting for the punch and Rublev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rublev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fernandez is proving hard to escape from.

Rublev stands up and waves to Fernandez to follow him.
Rublev shoots in but no luck this time.

Rublev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Fernandez!
Rublev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fernandez is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rublev lands a big elbow.
Fernandez regains half guard.
Rublev wants to take a breather but Fernandez is having none of it.
Fernandez tries to get to full guard but Rublev has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rublev is trying to control the action in half guard but Fernandez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rublev sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fernandez is pressing down on Rublev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rublev landing some decent shots from guard.
Rublev wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
Leonid Rublev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rublev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fernandez's guard.

Fernandez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rublev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rublev landing some decent shots from guard.
Rublev looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fernandez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rublev's guard.
Rublev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fernandez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rublev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rublev working a defensive guard but Fernandez passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leonid Rublev.
Well Rublev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonid Rublev!