PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Protagonist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rush comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Sawyer - Rush. Jesper Rush is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Rush
vs
Protagonist

187 cm
26
188 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

183 cm
24
199 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Experienced

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Hell's Balls Recovery

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hiro Protagonist!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Protagonist.
Protagonist tries to bum rush Rush with a series of wild strikes but Rush uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rush misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rush lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Protagonist throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Protagonist takes a swing at Rush's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot lands for Protagonist.
Rush slips a jab from Protagonist.
Protagonist waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rush.
Rush blocks a jab.
Protagonist misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Protagonist slips a jab and a cross from Rush.
Rush uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Protagonist.
A jab from Protagonist misses.
Hiro Protagonist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Protagonist misses with a series of wild punches.
Rush slips under a jab from Protagonist.
Rush lands with a slapping head kick.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Protagonist as he jumps to the side.
Rush drops his hands momentarily and Protagonist takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist misses with a hook.
Protagonist throws a body punch but Rush moves out of range.
Rush uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Protagonist.
Rush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Protagonist sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rush somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesper Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rush takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rush avoids the body shot from Protagonist.
A jab from Protagonist misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist throws a hook but Rush avoids it easily.
Rush thows a body shot but no joy.
No joy there for Rush, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rush bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Protagonist's head backwards.
Rush ducks under a wild hook from Protagonist.
Rush shoots in for a takedown but Protagonist shows good takedown defense.
Rush fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Protagonist.
Protagonist misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rush counters with a nice body kick.
Protagonist misses with a looping right.
Rush misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist throws a hook but Rush avoids it easily.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.
Protagonist wants to get back to striking at distance but Rush won't allow it.
Protagonist misses with some punches.
Rush misses with a knee strike.
Rush has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Protagonist is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rush swings wildly with an uppercut but Protagonist uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rush slows down the pace here.
Rush gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Rush tries a knee to the head but Protagonist blocks it.
Rush working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist 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.

Protagonist lands with a nice combination. Rush backs away looking to recover.
Protagonist tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rush was well out of range. Poor timing from Protagonist.
Rush takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rush throws a jab when Protagonist was well out of range.
Protagonist misses with a double jab.
Rush moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
Protagonist misses with a hook.
Protagonist missing with a left hand there. Rush was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Protagonist throws a looping overhand right but Rush ducks down to avoid it.
Protagonist throws the left hand but Rush avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Rush.
Rush is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rush throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rush moves away from the strike by Protagonist.
Hiro Protagonist is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Protagonist checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rush throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rush with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Protagonist to score with a decent uppercut.
Rush fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Protagonist thuds his right hand into Rush's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circling - Protagonist throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Protagonist throws a lazy right hand but Rush sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rush lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rush keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Protagonist.
Rush moves out of range of the strikes.
Rush moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
Rush shoots in for a double leg but Protagonist sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Rush is just out of range.
Protagonist lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rush ducks under a wild hook from Protagonist.
Protagonist throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rush lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Protagonist has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Protagonist and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesper Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rush tries to move into range but Protagonist moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Protagonist pinned against the cage. Protagonist gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rush connects with a solid leg kick.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt.
Rush slips a jab from Protagonist.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rush shoots in and drives through. Protagonist sprawls well.
Rush moves away from the strike by Protagonist.
Decent striking displayed by Protagonist there.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
Protagonist throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rush counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Protagonist throws a sloppy body shot

and Rush counters with a takedown into side control.
Rush is looking to take a break and control but Protagonist is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush has knee on belly and moves into mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Protagonist can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rush has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Protagonist is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rush trying to control but Protagonist is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jesper Rush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Protagonist tries to lock up and control but Rush gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist regains half guard.
Protagonist wants to improve his position but Rush is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Protagonist has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rush is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Protagonist is refusing to be controlled, as Rush sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rush has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Protagonist is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hiro Protagonist is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rush is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Protagonist is surviving well by controlling Rush's body position as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesper Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Protagonist has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Protagonist!