PBP Commentary

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

Rugalov
vs
Hart

183 cm
25
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
224 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Rugalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Hart!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugalov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hart fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rugalov to the ground. Hart is now in Rugalov's guard.
Hart not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rugalov controls Hart momentarily but Hart frees himself.
Rugalov looking for a sweep. Not yet Rugalov, not yet.
Hart content to stall in guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gabriel Hart hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fighters circling - Rugalov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Rugalov has closed the distance and engaged Hart in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rugalov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hart tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hart gets through Rugalov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rugalov wants a takedown.
Hart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rugalov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hart just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Rugalov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rugalov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hart after a bit of a struggle.
Rugalov is breathing heavily.

Rugalov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hart is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rugalov to the mat. Rugalov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
My spies in Warrior BJJ and Fitness inform me that Hart has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hart is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hart passes Rugalov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hart looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rugalov defending well though.
Hart content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hart is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rugalov!
Rugalov is working to get back to half guard.
Hart content just to control the position here.
Hart looking to finish Rugalov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rugalov!

Hart is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rugalov is surviving well by controlling Hart's body position as best he can.
Hart tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov is in a horrible position here. Hart smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hart controlling from mount.
Hart's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
You get the feeling that Rugalov really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rugalov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rugalov tries to get out of the position.
Hart raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hart cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hart connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hart controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like Hart might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Hart dominated that round.
That's time! Rugalov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hart shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rugalov defends it nicely.
Rugalov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hart moves away.

Hart gets a clinch.
Hart gets underhooks to prevent Rugalov's takedown attempt.
Rugalov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hart.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hart.
A body shot lands from Hart.

Hart has Rugalov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hart pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rugalov tumbling to the mat - Hart dives into Rugalov's guard.
Hart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugalov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hart controls the pace.
Hart working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rugalov being controlled here, momentarily.
Gabriel Hart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rugalov trying to control the position.
Hart's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Hart has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ivan Rugalov.

Hart gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hart breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hart moves into range and clinches up with Rugalov.
Nice body punch from Hart - that landed with a thud.

Hart has picked Rugalov up - he's going for a ride! Hart dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rugalov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hart on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hart passes to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugalov is trying to get back to half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gabriel Hart hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Hart darts in and clinches Rugalov up against the cage.
Hart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hart gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hart uses his free foot to push down on Rugalov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rugalov.
Hart controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart avoids the attempt from Rugalov to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hart controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gabriel Hart was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rugalov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hart sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rugalov somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Hart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hart tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rugalov swivels and escapes.

Rugalov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hart sprawls well initially but Rugalov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hart trying to control but Rugalov postures up.
Rugalov seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hart regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rugalov looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hart pulls Rugalov in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hart slows the pace down in half guard.
Rugalov trying to hold on to Hart's head to control him but Hart postures up.

Rugalov is defending against the submission attempts here by Hart.
Hart is taking a breather. Rugalov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hart works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart misses with a head shot.
Hart sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gabriel Hart was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hart misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hart misses with a straight left.
Hart stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hart wants it to stay on the feet.
Hart fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rugalov stuffs the takedown.
Ivan Rugalov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Hart.
Rugalov throws a right and a left that both miss.
A bone on bone clash there as Hart blocks the leg kick.
Hart tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rugalov defends well and Hart ends up having to push Rugalov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hart tightens his grip and picks Rugalov up, before dumping him to the ground. Rugalov manages to land in guard.
Hart passes Rugalov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hart is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hart sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hart working the ground and pound effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rugalov tries to lock up and control but Hart gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ivan Rugalov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Hart is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Hart comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hart 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Gabriel Hart!
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Gabriel Hart!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Gabriel Hart!

Gabriel Hart wins by unanimous decision!