PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasputin comes into the arena with TURISAS - Rasputin blaring out of the sound system. Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Yefimovich Rasputin
vs
Thompson

225 cm
27
300 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

190 cm
21
268 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thompson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rasputin gets back to half guard.
Rasputin trying to control from the bottom.
Thompson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Thompson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Thompson wants to work for an arm triangle but Rasputin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rasputin trying to control here.

Thompson is working for a submission of some sort.

Thompson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rasputin is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin looking for submissions off his back.

Thompson seems to be working for a kimura but Rasputin defends the submission attempt.

Thompson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thompson moves nicely into side control.

Thompson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rasputin manages to get back to half guard.

Thompson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rasputin sees it coming and defends easily.
Rasputin wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rasputin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thompson.

Rasputin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.
Rasputin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rasputin throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

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

Rasputin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thompson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rasputin is retaining full guard.

Thompson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rasputin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rasputin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rasputin!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to bench press Rasputin off him but Rasputin keeps the position.

Rasputin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rasputin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thompson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rasputin's guard! Nice work there by Thompson!
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rasputin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.

Thompson 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.

Rasputin wriggles free and stands up.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Tony Thompson has been cut.
Horrible takedown by Rasputin or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt
and Rasputin counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Thompson off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Rasputin follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Thompson was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin!
Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin retains his super heavyweight title!