PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dan Ruska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Krystov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Ruska has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ruska
vs
Krystov

170 cm
20
164 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

179 cm
23
163 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dan Ruska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Krystov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krystov shoots for a double leg takedown but Ruska sprawls well. He's pushed Krystov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ruska swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ruska lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Krystov doesn't manage to clinch there - Ruska circles away.
Krystov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Ruska gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Krystov tries to pull guard but Ruska holds him up against the cage and eventually Krystov drops back down to his feet.
Dan Ruska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Krystov.
Ruska tries a knee to the head but Krystov blocks it.
Krystov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ruska gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Krystov tries to pull guard but Ruska holds him up against the cage and eventually Krystov drops back down to his feet.

Krystov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ruska regains guard immediately.
Krystov throws and elbow that misses. Ruska uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Krystov's guard. Nice move by Ruska!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruska won't allow Krystov to sweep him here.
Ruska trying to control but Krystov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krystov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ruska gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ruska wants to control from the top but Krystov keeps moving.
Ruska is stalling in the full guard.
Ruska won't allow Krystov to sweep him here.
Krystov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ruska moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ruska connects with a solid leg kick.
Krystov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Dan Ruska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krystov looks gassed!
Ruska plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ruska connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Krystov to the floor! Ruska dives in looking for the finish!

Krystov is rocked!

Ruska decides to stand and escape the position.
Krystov is still on wobbly legs! Can Ruska finish him?
Ruska tries a head kick but it misses.
Ruska fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Krystov.
Krystov seems to have recovered his senses.
Ruska fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Krystov.
Ruska misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ruska misses with a wild combination.
A left and a right from Ruska both land. Nice combination.
Ruska throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ruska lands with an overhand left.
Ruska throws a series of punches but Krystov moves out of range.
Nice shot by Ruska.
Some wild striking there from Ruska.
Ruska connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ruska has managed to clinch.
Ruska lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ruska breaks from the clinch.

Krystov scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruska wants to hold on but Krystov pushes him away.
Ruska is working to get back to half guard.
Ruska bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ruska trying to control the position from guard on top but Krystov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ruska would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ruska trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krystov controls Ruska momentarily but Ruska frees himself.
Ruska pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krystov is keeping the position for now.

Ruska has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Krystov to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Ruska is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Krystov pulls down on the head and he's put Ruska to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Alexander Krystov!