PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dexter Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jelio Rusev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jelio Rusev will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Solomon
vs
Rusev

208 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

165 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dexter Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jelio Rusev!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rusev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rusev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Solomon makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Solomon.
Solomon pulls Rusev in close to prevent any damage.

Rusev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Solomon dives on top into guard.
Solomon connects with a couple of short punches.
Rusev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Solomon lands a couple of elbows.
Solomon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon chips away with some ground and pound.
Solomon connects with a couple of short punches.
Solomon lands a couple of elbows.
Rusev trying to control the position here.
Solomon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rusev's head.
Rusev looking to control.
Solomon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Solomon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Solomon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Solomon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rusev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Solomon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Solomon scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solomon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rusev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Solomon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rusev looking for a sweep. Not yet Rusev, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rusev working a defensive guard here.
Solomon landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rusev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon distracts Rusev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Solomon gets to his feet. Rusev looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Rusev tries to keep at a distance but Solomon has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rusev works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rusev looks winded!

Solomon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Solomon keeping full guard, as Rusev tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rusev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Solomon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rusev has managed to get both his arms back between Solomon's legs - danger averted.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rusev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rusev tries to stand but Solomon is controlling from the bottom.
Solomon wants to sweep here but Rusev controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Solomon is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Solomon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rusev pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Solomon throws a head kick but Rusev moves out of range.

Rusev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rusev with the ground and pound but Solomon uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rusev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Solomon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rusev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rusev wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.

Rusev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rusev looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev throws a strike but Solomon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Solomon postures up.
Solomon cracks Rusev with a solid left hand.
Solomon scoring with some ground and pound.
Rusev working a defensive guard but Solomon passes into half guard.
Rusev tries to kick Solomon off in order to stand up. Solomon Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Rusev is breathing heavily.
Solomon has control of an arm but Rusev manages to advance to Solomon's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusev controlling well, preventing Solomon from escaping the position.
Rusev is trying to stick to Solomon's back but Solomon is turning into Rusev. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rusev's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Solomon.
Rusev wants to stand and escape but Solomon is having none of it.
Solomon works over Rusev with some ground and pound from guard.
Solomon landing some decent shots from guard.
Solomon distracts Rusev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rusev has momentary wrist control but Solomon slips an elbow through the middle.
Solomon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rusev controls Solomon momentarily but Solomon frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon working some strikes from top position.
Solomon postures up and lands a big shot to Rusev's brow.
Dexter Solomon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rusev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Solomon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Solomon stands up over Rusev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Solomon cracks Rusev with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Solomon landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Solomon dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Solomon misses with a head kick.
Rusev doesn't manage to clinch there - Solomon circles away.
Rusev misses with a low kick.
Rusev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Solomon swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Solomon rushes Rusev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rusev is looking to break free of the clinch but Solomon has double underhooks.

Solomon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Solomon manages to end up in side control.
Solomon scoring with punches and elbows.
Solomon is working Rusev over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rusev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Solomon tries for a kimura but Rusev is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusev is trying to get back to half guard.
Rusev keeps trying to improve his position.
Rusev can't do much from the bottom here.
Rusev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rusev takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Solomon connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rusev some visible discomfort.
Solomon is putting a hurting on Rusev here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusev tries to control but Solomon manages to take his back.
Solomon is punishing Rusev with some ground and pound.
Solomon is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Rusev. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Solomon lands with a hammerfist to the side of Rusev's head.
Rusev can't escape the position.
Solomon controlling from the back.
Solomon lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Solomon is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Solomon gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Solomon gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Solomon apologises and we restart here on the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon is working for takedown but Rusev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Solomon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rusev walks away with a smile on his face. Solomon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Solomon blocks a head kick by Rusev.
Rusev wants to clinch but Solomon slips to the side

and Solomon holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rusev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Solomon keeps control of Rusev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Solomon has hold of one of Rusev's legs. Rusev is fighting the takedown attempt but Solomon gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Solomon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Solomon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rusev's head.
Rusev controls Solomon momentarily but Solomon frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusev has momentary wrist control but Solomon slips an elbow through the middle.
Rusev looking to control.
Solomon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Solomon with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Solomon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Solomon chips away with some ground and pound.
Solomon landing some decent shots from guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Solomon works over Rusev with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dexter Solomon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Solomon, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Solomon!