PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wladimir Fukushenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Rossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wladimir Fukushenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fukushenko
vs
Rossa

186 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
179 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Wladimir Fukushenko!
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, Tony Rossa!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fukushenko tries to clinch

and Rossa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Fukushenko!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fukushenko gets back to half guard.
Rossa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rossa throws a strike but Fukushenko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fukushenko is trying to control the position but Rossa postures up.
Fukushenko wants to stand up but Rossa is controlling him.
Rossa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rossa is looking to work some ground and pound but Fukushenko has wrist control.
Rossa controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossa chips away with some ground and pound.
Rossa stopping the sweep attempt from Fukushenko.
Rossa with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossa throwing strikes but missing.
Fukushenko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rossa's guard.

Fukushenko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rossa keeping control of the position.
Rossa wants to get back to full guard.
Rossa keeping hold of Fukushenko's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rossa wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossa has hold of Fukushenko's hands but Fukushenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rossa punching from the bottom.
Fukushenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Rossa manages to get to full guard.
Fukushenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rossa tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossa is pulling down on Fukushenko's head to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rossa decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fukushenko is trying to control but can't.
Fukushenko wants to get back to his feet.
Rossa wants to control but Fukushenko is keeping him busy.
Rossa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rossa lands strikes from half guard.
Fukushenko is looking to control Rossa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fukushenko avoid being mounted?
Rossa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fukushenko tries to roll over but Rossa keeps him under control.
Fukushenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rossa working the head and body with strikes.
Rossa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fukushenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rossa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rossa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fukushenko punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rossa has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rossa prevents Fukushenko from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rossa dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rossa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fukushenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rossa somewhat.
Wladimir Fukushenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fukushenko throws a combination. Rossa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rossa slaps away a takedown attempt from Fukushenko, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rossa looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fukushenko stuffs the takedown.
Wladimir Fukushenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Rossa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rossa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fukushenko is looking to control Rossa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fukushenko avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rossa working Fukushenko over with strikes.
Rossa is looking to pass Fukushenko's guard but actually Fukushenko recovers to full guard.
Rossa stands up over Fukushenko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rossa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fukushenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rossa postures up in Fukushenko's guard and throws a big left but Fukushenko blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rossa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rossa trying to control the position from guard on top but Fukushenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rossa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossa throwing strikes from guard but Fukushenko blocks nicely.
Rossa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fukushenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rossa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rossa throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rossa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Fukushenko is trying to control the position but Rossa postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fukushenko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fukushenko keeps Rossa at a distance using the push kick.
Rossa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fukushenko is fending him off so far but Rossa persists. Nope, Fukushenko circles away and we're back to standing.

Rossa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fukushenko did well to prevent Rossa getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fukushenko works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rossa lands a couple of digs.
Rossa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rossa scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rossa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fukushenko wants to sweep here but Rossa controlling him for the moment.
Rossa pushes down on Fukushenko's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rossa scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fukushenko is trying to control but can't.
Rossa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rossa throwing shots but Fukushenko is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossa working Fukushenko over with strikes.
Rossa with the ground and pound but Fukushenko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rossa slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rossa trying to control the action but Fukushenko is working from the bottom.
Rossa scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rossa working the ground and pound from side control.
Rossa working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Fukushenko is rocked!
Fukushenko taking a bit of punishment here - Rossa scoring with strikes.
Oh Fukushenko is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rossa working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rossa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rossa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fukushenko seems to have got his legs back now.
Fukushenko dives in for a single leg takedown but Rossa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rossa is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Rossa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fukushenko to the ground. Rossa is now in Fukushenko's guard.

Fukushenko is looking for a triangle but Rossa pushes his legs off easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rossa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fukushenko can't keep his opponent in guard - Rossa advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fukushenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rossa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rossa lands strikes from half guard.
Fukushenko is staying active underneath Rossa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rossa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rossa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fukushenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rossa lands with a punch from half guard.
Rossa slows the pace down in half guard.
Fukushenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rossa.
Tony Rossa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fukushenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rossa.
Rossa wants to control but Fukushenko is keeping him busy.
Fukushenko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rossa scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fukushenko tries to roll over but Rossa keeps him under control.
Rossa winds up and cracks Fukushenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rossa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossa lands with some strikes.
Rossa putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rossa lands a big elbow.
Rossa is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Fukushenko goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Rossa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Tony Rossa!