PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Cormier (ranked 6989 p4p, 411 weight class) and Evgeni Rasputin (ranked 1750 p4p, 197 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Cormier
vs
Rasputin

182 cm
20
220 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
236 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Daniel Cormier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Evgeni Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cormier throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rasputin's waist but Rasputin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cormier off to one side.
Cormier takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Daniel Cormier has been cut.
Rasputin scores with a nice strike.

Rasputin rushes Cormier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rasputin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rasputin prevents the takedown attempt.
Cormier is trying to pull guard but Rasputin has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Cormier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cormier.
Rasputin presses Cormier against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Cormier is breathing heavily.

Rasputin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rasputin not doing much here.
Rasputin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cormier's head.

Rasputin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rasputin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Cormier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rasputin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin slows the pace down in half guard.

Rasputin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cormier has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rasputin seems to be working for a kimura but Cormier defends the submission attempt.

Cormier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rasputin pulls his head out easily.
Rasputin is trying to control. Cormier wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rasputin controlling the pace.

Cormier actively working from the bottom here.
Cormier wants to get back to full guard.
Cormier on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cormier tries to get out of the position.
Rasputin trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cormier defends it well.
Cormier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rasputin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Cormier is defending against the submission attempts here by Rasputin.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rasputin lands a nice short elbow.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura here.
Rasputin slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cormier doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rasputin.
Cormier could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cormier makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Cormier.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cormier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cormier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Cormier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Cormier had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rasputin defends it easily.
Rasputin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rasputin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rasputin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rasputin with a flurry of punches that miss.

Rasputin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Cormier is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rasputin, into his guard.

Cormier wants to pass the guard but Rasputin is keeping the position.
Rasputin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rasputin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cormier is controlling him.
Rasputin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasputin wants to stand up but Cormier is controlling him.
Cormier makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Rasputin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Cormier's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rasputin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cormier.

Rasputin gets a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Rasputin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rasputin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Rasputin lands a takedown into guard.
Rasputin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cormier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rasputin.
Cormier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cormier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rasputin controls the pace.

Cormier has his foot on Rasputin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rasputin works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cormier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rasputin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rasputin is looking to work some ground and pound but Cormier has wrist control.
Rasputin wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rasputin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rasputin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin throwing strikes from guard but Cormier blocks nicely.
Cormier can't keep his opponent in guard - Rasputin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cormier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rasputin throwing shots but Cormier is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cormier is not content to let Rasputin control the position.
Cormier avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rasputin.
Rasputin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cormier's head.
Rasputin working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Rasputin.
Cormier is refusing to be controlled, as Rasputin sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Evgeni Rasputin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Cormier looking for submissions off his back.
Rasputin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Cormier is defending against the submission attempts here by Rasputin.

Cormier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rasputin pulls his head out easily.

Rasputin is working for a submission of some sort.
Rasputin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cormier's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rasputin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rasputin's back!
Rasputin is trying to stand back up.

Cormier tightening his grip on Rasputin, looking for the choke.
Cormier is trying to stick to Rasputin's back but Rasputin is turning into Cormier. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cormier's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rasputin.
Rasputin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rasputin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Cormier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rasputin defends well.
Rasputin trying to control but Cormier is working from the bottom.
Cormier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rasputin is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rasputin landing some decent shots from guard.
Rasputin wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.

Cormier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rasputin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rasputin throws a big right hand that misses.
Rasputin stands and throws Cormier's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasputin working the ground and pound but Cormier is defending the strikes.
Cormier defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Rasputin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daniel Cormier's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rasputin clinches up against the cage.
Rasputin lands a nice uppercut.
Cormier is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Rasputin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rasputin advances to half guard.
Rasputin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cormier keeps working.
Rasputin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Rasputin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rasputin is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasputin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cormier looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rasputin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rasputin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Cormier looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rasputin slows the pace down in half guard.
Rasputin trying to control the action but Cormier is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rasputin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cormier's head.

Cormier looking for submissions off his back.
Rasputin throwing shots but Cormier is blocking nicely.

Rasputin is working for a kimura but Cormier is defending it quite comfortably.
Cormier is staying active underneath Rasputin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Cormier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rasputin pulls his head out easily.
Cormier moves into full guard.
Rasputin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rasputin throwing strikes from guard but Cormier blocks nicely.
Evgeni Rasputin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rasputin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Rasputin.

Rasputin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cormier has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rasputin has managed to get both his arms back between Cormier's legs - danger averted.
Rasputin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Daniel Cormier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cormier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rasputin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rasputin tries to free his leg and advance position but Cormier is retaining full guard.
Cormier controls Rasputin momentarily but Rasputin frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Rasputin rushes Cormier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rasputin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cormier gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cormier wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cormier jumps guard but Rasputin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cormier drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rasputin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Decent striking displayed by Rasputin there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jab from Rasputin.
Cormier with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rasputin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Cormier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot by Rasputin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Rasputin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rasputin 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Rasputin!
Our winner, Evgeni Rasputin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.