PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robert Bardugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronin Samurai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronin Samurai told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bardugo
vs
Samurai

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Bardugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronin Samurai!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bardugo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Samurai avoids the body shot from Bardugo.

Samurai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bardugo pulls Samurai in close to prevent any damage.
Samurai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bardugo is keeping the position for now.
Samurai works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Samurai wants to free his trapped foot but Bardugo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bardugo is trying to stand up here but Samurai is controlling him well.
Samurai is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Bardugo squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Samurai pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bardugo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Samurai working for a submission but Bardugo is keeping him at bay.

Samurai with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Samurai looks gassed!
Bardugo tries to buck Samurai off but he can't manage it.

Samurai looking for a guillotine from mount but Bardugo is having none of it.

Samurai jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bardugo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bardugo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Samurai is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bardugo tries to bench press Samurai off him but Samurai keeps the position.

Samurai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bardugo, who protects the arm well.
Bardugo is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samurai shoots for a takedown but Bardugo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Samurai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bardugo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Samurai closes the distance and clinches up with Bardugo, looking for a takedown. Samurai pushes Bardugo against the cage but Bardugo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Samurai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Robert Bardugo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronin Samurai.
Bardugo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bardugo duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Samurai with that takedown attempt.
Bardugo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Samurai shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bardugo's guard.
Bardugo is looking to stand up but Samurai isn't so interested in that idea.

Samurai drops back looking for a leg! Bardugo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bardugo manages to kick Samurai off! Samurai jumps back into Bardugo's guard.
Bardugo keeping full guard, as Samurai tries to pass.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samurai advances position into side control!

Samurai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Samurai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Samurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

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

Samurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronin Samurai dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bardugo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
No joy there for Bardugo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Samurai is looking to clinch but Bardugo is avoiding it.
Bardugo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Samurai.
Bardugo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bardugo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bardugo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Samurai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bardugo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Samurai shoots in and drives through. Bardugo sprawls well.

Samurai takes the fight into the clinch.
Samurai is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Robert Bardugo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronin Samurai.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bardugo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bardugo tries to break the clinch but Samurai is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samurai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bardugo prevents the takedown attempt.
Samurai is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Samurai wants a takedown but no success here.
Bardugo wants to get back to striking at distance but Samurai won't allow it.

Samurai turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Samurai manages to end up in side control.

Samurai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Samurai tries to move to mount but Bardugo blocks the move with his legs.
Bardugo is trying to buck Samurai off.
Bardugo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bardugo is trying to control Samurai's posture but Samurai avoids it.
Bardugo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Samurai on the ground.

Samurai tries for a kimura but Bardugo is defending well.
Samurai working away.

Samurai looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bardugo wants to get back to his feet but Samurai drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samurai advances to full mount.
Bardugo wants to get back to his feet.
Bardugo tries to hold on but Samurai postures up.

Samurai jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bardugo manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Samurai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Samurai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bardugo can't do much from the bottom here.
Bardugo is looking to regain half guard here but Samurai keeps moving and retains side control.
Bardugo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bardugo tries to get out of the position.

Samurai is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Bardugo looks calm but he's in trouble here. Samurai gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Bardugo is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Samurai lets go of the hold and Bardugo can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ronin Samurai!