PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pavel Rurikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Rice has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rurikov
vs
Rice

200 cm
19
260 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pavel Rurikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jim Rice!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice throws a right and a left that Rurikov avoids nicely.
Rice swings for the body but Rurikov moves out of range.
Rice throws a nice looking combination but Rurikov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rurikov avoids the head kick by Rice.

Rurikov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rice's guard.
Rice looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rice has his foot on Rurikov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rurikov works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rurikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rurikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rurikov 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.

Rurikov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rurikov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rurikov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rurikov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rice knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rurikov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rurikov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rice is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rice is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Rurikov is working for a kimura but Rice is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rurikov is trying to work for a kimura but Rice is defending well.
Rice is pressing down on Rurikov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rice tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rurikov drops back looking for a leg! Rice is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rice manages to kick Rurikov off! Rurikov jumps back into Rice's guard.

Rurikov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rurikov drops back looking for a leg! Rice is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rice manages to kick Rurikov off! Rurikov jumps back into Rice's guard.
Rice wants to stand but Rurikov is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rurikov 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.
Rice looking for a sweep. Not yet Rice, not yet.

Rurikov 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.
Rurikov stopping the sweep attempt from Rice.

Rurikov 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.

Rurikov 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.
Rice looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rurikov is one step ahead there.

Rurikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rurikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rurikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rurikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rurikov prevents Rice from getting back to his feet.
Rice trying to strike off his back.
Rurikov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rice's guard.

Rurikov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rice throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Rice is defending against the submission attempts here by Rurikov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rice manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Rurikov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rice looks to score with a jab to the body but Rurikov is just out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rice, as that shot connected.

It looks like Pavel Rurikov has been cut.
Rice fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rice throws a body punch but Rurikov moves out of range.
Rice misses with a double jab.
Rice throws a looping overhand right but Rurikov ducks down to avoid it.
Rice lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rice misses with a wild combination.
Rice scores with a one two! Rurikov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Jim Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rice misses with a series of wild punches.
Jim Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rice lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rurikov circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rurikov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rice as he avoids it easily.
Rice scores with a jab to the body.
Rice throws a series of punches but Rurikov avoids them all with ease.
Rice tries to clinch

and Rurikov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rice's guard now.
Rice is breathing heavily.
Rice working a defensive guard but Rurikov passes into half guard.

Rurikov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rice sees it coming and defends easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rice is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rurikov jumps into side control!

Rurikov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rice pushes Rurikov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rurikov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Rurikov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rice has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rice is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rurikov is trying to get an arm triangle but Rice is defending well.

Rurikov tries for a kimura but Rice is defending well.
Rice tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rurikov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rurikov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rice has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rurikov prevents Rice from escaping the position.

Rurikov has hold of Rice's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Rice tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Rurikov cranks the arm and Rice screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Rice, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Pavel Rurikov!