PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trevor Lahey (ranked 7093 p4p, 528 weight class) and Kelly Rush (ranked 24744 p4p, 570 weight class). Rush has chosen Diary of Jane as his entrance music. Kelly Rush will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lahey
vs
Rush

180 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
23
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

One stop shop
Conviction

One stop shop

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Trevor Lahey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kelly Rush!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lahey shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rush sprawls well. Rush wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lahey gets slowly back to his feet.
Lahey looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lahey takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lahey tries to clinch up but Rush circles away and keeps his distance.

Lahey pushes Rush up against the cage in a clinch.
Lahey tries to throw a body punch but Rush avoids it by throwing Lahey back against the cage.

Lahey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kelly Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rush looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rush instigates a clinch.
Rush manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rush is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lahey pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rush walks away with a smile on his face. Lahey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rush shoots in for a double leg but Lahey sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Trevor Lahey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kelly Rush.
Lahey misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lahey shoots for a double leg takedown but Rush sprawls well. He's pushed Lahey's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lahey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rush has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lahey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lahey tries for a takedown but Rush sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rush throws a series of punches but Lahey moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lahey misses with a double jab.
Rush shoots in for a takedown but Lahey shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lahey looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rush is fending him off so far but Lahey persists. Nope, Rush circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Rush.
Lahey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lahey stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lahey wants it to stay on the feet.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.

Lahey pulls guard effortlessly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lahey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rush scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush stopping the sweep attempt from Lahey.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahey keeping full guard, as Rush tries to pass.
Rush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lahey controls Rush momentarily but Rush frees himself.

Lahey looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rush postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lahey leaves Rush with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
As Rush backs away, Lahey returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Rush rushes Lahey and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lahey fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rush is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lahey pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rush tries to break the clinch but Lahey is controlling the position.
Rush jumps guard but Lahey stands there with Rush around his waist. Rush gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rush wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lahey stops a takedown attempt from Rush.
Lahey stalling against the cage.

Lahey has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rush regains guard immediately.

Rush has his feet on Lahey's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelly Rush 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.

Lahey connects with a solid leg kick.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.
Rush tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lahey just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lahey is pushing Rush up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lahey jumps guard but Rush turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lahey breaks from the clinch.
Rush has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rush's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lahey connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rush scrambles back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey throws the kick towards the body but Rush avoids it.
Lahey misses with a takedown attempt
and Rush counters with a three punch combo that has Lahey backing up. Lahey nods at Rush to acknowledge the strikes.
Lahey tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lahey as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahey darts in looking for a takedown but Rush gets double underhooks and turns Lahey into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trevor Lahey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rush feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lahey's calf.
We've been informed that Rush has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Lahey has Rush up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Rush's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rush is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Lahey escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lahey tries a head kick but it misses.
A combination from Lahey does no damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rush is defended easily by Lahey.

Lahey forces Rush back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lahey breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rush tries to sprawl but Lahey drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rush keeping hold of Lahey's head, controlling as best he can.
Rush trying to control from the bottom.
Rush is doing well to control the position and prevent Lahey from advancing to side control.
Lahey thows a huge punch but Rush dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is looking for a sweep. Lahey is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rush avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lahey.
Lahey is looking to take a break and control but Rush is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rush with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rush looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Lahey misses the target.
Lahey shoots in and drives through. Rush sprawls well.
Rush misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lahey went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lahey tries to clinch up but Rush circles away and keeps his distance.
Lahey shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rush as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lahey stuffs the takedown attempt from Rush. Rush gets slowly back to his feet.
Rush is breathing heavily.
Lahey lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rush's sensitive parts.
Lahey fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rush tries a head kick but it misses.
Lahey shoots for a takedown but Rush saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rush tries to close the distance and clinch but Lahey swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lahey dives in and grabs Rush's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rush pushes down on Lahey's head and hops out.
Kelly Rush seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice takedown defense from Lahey. No joy for Rush on that attempt.
A left and a right from Rush both land. Nice combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Lahey throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rush tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lahey is in Rush's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Trevor Lahey will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lahey clinches up against the cage.
Rush working hard to break the clinch.
Lahey tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rush is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rush's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rush stops a takedown attempt from Lahey.
Stalling in the clinch from Lahey.
Rush lands with a right to the head.
Rush wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey missing with knees to the body.
Rush tries for a takedown. No joy.

Rush jumps guard.
Lahey has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rush pulls Lahey in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahey controlling from the top position.
Lahey trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lahey throwing strikes from guard but Rush blocks nicely.
Rush is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rush is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kelly Rush has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lahey stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rush swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt.

Rush clinches up against the cage.
Kelly Rush seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Lahey jumps into guard, dragging Rush to the mat.
Lahey wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Rush is now in half guard.
Lahey won't allow Rush to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahey is not content to let Rush control the position.
Lahey trying to control from the bottom.
Lahey is looking to improve his position.

Lahey pushes Rush off and gets back to his feet.
Lahey looks for a takedown but Rush sprawls well.
Despite the aggression on Rush's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Trevor Lahey. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rush enables Lahey to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rush manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahey looking to sit in guard and control but Rush gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rush content to stall in guard here.
Rush in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lahey is trying to keep Rush in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lahey kicks Rush off and gets to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trevor Lahey showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lahey has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!