PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between First Fist (ranked 503 p4p, 776 weight class) and Ruslan Danilov (ranked 73 p4p, 111 weight class). Fist comes to the cage accompanied by Havana. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fist
vs
Danilov

184 cm
29
178
13 - 4 - 0

185 cm
33
180
22 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, First Fist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruslan Danilov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danilov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Fist checks it well.
Danilov lands with a straight right. Fist didn't see that one coming.
Fist just misses with a punch to the body.

Danilov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fist sprawls well initially but Danilov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Fist kicks off Danilov and gets to his feet.
Danilov tries to work over Fist's front leg with a kick but Fist checks it.
Fist scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Danilov doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Danilov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fist.
Danilov connects with the punch.
Fist on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Danilov misses with a hook
and Fist counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fist definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fist takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fist throws a hook to the side of Danilov's head but Danilov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Danilov throws a leg kick that misses.

Danilov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fist is trying to defend but Danilov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fist knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Danilov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Danilov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fist is not content to let Danilov control the position.
Danilov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Danilov controlling the pace.
Danilov trying to control the action but Fist 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.
Danilov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fist is refusing to be controlled, as Danilov sits in half guard.
Danilov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Danilov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Danilov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Danilov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ruslan Danilov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danilov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fist manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fist misses with a body shot.
Danilov feints the counter takedown.

Danilov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Fist manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Danilov prevents a body shot from Fist.
Fist is trying to break the clinch but Danilov has him pressed against the cage.
Fist misses with a body punch.
Fist has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fist misses with some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Danilov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Danilov is struggling to control the position.

Fist pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Danilov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fist.
Danilov connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danilov misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Danilov misses with a straight left.
No luck for Danilov with that takedown attempt.
A slow jab from Fist misses its intended target.
A big right from Danilov misses.
Danilov takes a swing at Fist's ribcage but misses.
Fist stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Danilov.
Danilov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Danilov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Danilov cracks Fist with an open hand slap.
Danilov misses with a lunging right hand
and Fist counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Danilov shoots in and gets a takedown into Fist's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fist tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruslan Danilov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Danilov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Danilov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Danilov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Fist blocks a jab.
Danilov throws a shot from downtown. Fist moves away and avoids it.
Danilov with a nice calf kick.
Danilov stuns Fist with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Danilov moves out of range of the strikes.
Danilov throws a low kick, looking for Fist's leg but Fist calmly moves out of range.
Danilov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fist slips a straight right by Danilov.
Danilov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Danilov throws a shot from downtown. Fist moves away and avoids it.
Ruslan Danilov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fist takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fist blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Danilov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
First Fist is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Danilov darts in looking for a takedown but Fist gets double underhooks and turns Danilov into the cage.
Fist checks the leg kick.
Danilov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fist ducks under a wild hook from Danilov.
Fist loads up on a big right hand but Danilov slips the punch.
A big left from Fist misses.
Danilov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Danilov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Danilov misses with a body shot
and Fist counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fist ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fist bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Danilov's head backwards.
Danilov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Danilov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fist bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Danilov's head.
Danilov throws an off balance right hand
letting Fist counter with a right hand.
Fist misses the jab.
Fist takes one to the chin there.
Danilov swings for the body but Fist moves out of range.
Fist slips under a jab from Danilov.
Danilov slips a jab from Fist.
Danilov throws a poor cross that misses
and Fist counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Fist lands a jab to Danilov's midsection.
Danilov misses with a body shot.
Danilov misses with a double jab
and Fist counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fist blocks a low kick nicely.
Danilov lands a jab to the nose.
Fist looks to land a left hand but Danilov moved out of range nicely.

Danilov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Danilov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fist tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Danilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ruslan Danilov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Danilov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fist is keeping the position for now.
Fist being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danilov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Danilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Fist is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Danilov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fist dives on top into guard.

Danilov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fist gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Danilov managing to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruslan Danilov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fist has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Danilov finds it's way round the side to connect with Fist's head.
Fist slips a jab from Danilov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Danilov is defended easily by Fist.
Danilov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Danilov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Fist momentarily.
Fist avoids the head kick by Danilov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danilov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fist swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Danilov misses with a hook. Fist ducked under it nicely.
Danilov defending well as Fist loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fist misses the shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Fist misses the target.
Danilov connects with a right hand. Fist shakes it off.
Fist throws a right hand that Danilov ducks under and follows up with a left that Danilov also avoids with ease.
Danilov fails with the takedown
enabling Fist to counter with a crisp jab.
First Fist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Danilov.
Danilov throws a low kick but Fist avoids it.
Danilov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Danilov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fist throws out the jab.
Danilov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Fist.
Fist tries to bum rush Danilov with a series of wild strikes but Danilov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fist throws a body shot but no joy.
A cross from Danilov lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Danilov!
Fist ducks right into an uppercut from Danilov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Danilov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fist sprawls well. Fist wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Danilov gets slowly back to his feet.
Danilov throws a chopping leg kick but Fist manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Fist misses the target.
Danilov takes a swing at Fist's ribcage but misses.
Fist is looking to counter punch.
Fist takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A big left from Fist misses.
Fist misses with a two punch combination.
Danilov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Danilov tries for a takedown but Fist circles away easily
and Fist counters with a three punch combo that has Danilov backing up. Danilov nods at Fist to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danilov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fist.
Danilov finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Fist moves away from the strike by Danilov.
Fist takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Danilov.
First Fist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fist just misses with a punch to the body.
Fist fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Danilov manages to avoid it.
Danilov connects with a looping right hand.
Fist avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Fist connects with a single shot there.
Fist takes a jab right on the kisser.
Danilov looks to throw the jab but Fist is out of range.
Fist seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danilov lands with a good body shot.
Fist loads up on a big right hand but Danilov slips the punch.
Danilov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fist connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fist looks to throw the jab but Danilov is out of range.
Danilov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A jab from Danilov misses.
Ruslan Danilov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fist walks into a straight right hand from Danilov.
Fist misses with a jab, cross combination.
Danilov tries a low kick but Fist avoids it.
Danilov throws a head kick that misses
and Fist counters with a straight right hand.
Danilov tries to move into range but Fist moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Danilov is rocked!
Danilov defending well as Fist loads up on a big left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ruslan Danilov.
I've got Danilov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Danilov!
An out of breath Ruslan Danilov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.