PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigoriy Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector LaRue (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). LaRue has chosen Saigon - Hatrix as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rasputin
vs
LaRue

187 cm
25
260 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

183 cm
32
272 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grigoriy Rasputin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hector LaRue!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaRue misses with an uppercut
and Rasputin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rasputin cracks LaRue with a good jab.

It looks like Hector LaRue has been cut.

Rasputin instigates a clinch.
LaRue lands a shoulder strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as LaRue takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
LaRue is trying to stall.
Rasputin lands an elbow inside.
LaRue has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rasputin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

LaRue is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rasputin can't fight it off and eventually LaRue manages to take the fight to the floor. Rasputin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rasputin keeping moving, preventing LaRue from controlling successfully.
Rasputin keeping full guard, as LaRue tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRue throws a big right hand that misses.
LaRue trying to control but Rasputin is working from the bottom.
Rasputin wants to sweep here but LaRue controlling him for the moment.
LaRue pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rasputin is keeping the position for now.
Rasputin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
LaRue loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaRue slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
LaRue trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
LaRue preventing the sweep.
Rasputin managing to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rasputin is defended easily by LaRue.

LaRue gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rasputin is trying to trip LaRue. He has hold of a leg but LaRue is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rasputin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Rasputin postures up.
LaRue keeping moving, preventing Rasputin from controlling successfully.
LaRue lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rasputin!
LaRue wants to control the pace but Rasputin is squirming around nicely.
LaRue dominating with strikes here.
Rasputin is wriggling around trying to escape.
LaRue controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rasputin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
LaRue fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
LaRue trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rasputin is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
LaRue throws some wild stikes that Rasputin manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector LaRue dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hector LaRue's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

LaRue loads up on a big right hand but Rasputin slips the punch.
Rasputin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but LaRue avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Rasputin.
Rasputin throws a front kick that sends LaRue stumbling back into the cage.

LaRue darts in and clinches Rasputin up against the cage.
Rasputin blocks an uppercut.

LaRue has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rasputin is trying to keep an underhook but LaRue manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rasputin trying to hold on to LaRue's head to control him but LaRue postures up.
LaRue looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rasputin trying to control but LaRue postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaRue stalling.
LaRue scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
LaRue throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
LaRue thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rasputin's head.
LaRue trying to control from half guard but Rasputin is working away.
LaRue trying to mount his opponent but Rasputin defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaRue stalling away here and it's allowed Rasputin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rasputin looking for a sweep. Not yet Rasputin, not yet.
Rasputin looking to control.
LaRue throwing strikes but missing.
LaRue slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rasputin trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRue trying to control but Rasputin is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasputin dives in and grabs LaRue's left leg, looking for a takedown. LaRue pushes down on Rasputin's head and hops out.
LaRue tests Rasputin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
LaRue misses with a straight right.

LaRue scores with a takedown into Rasputin's guard.
LaRue lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rasputin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rasputin trying to keep a closed guard but LaRue is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LaRue wants to pass the guard but Rasputin is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rasputin is trying to control the position but LaRue postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
LaRue stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rasputin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rasputin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

We're going to have a standup here because Grigoriy Rasputin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rasputin shoots and misses
enabling LaRue to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigoriy Rasputin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rasputin tries to keep at a distance but LaRue has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rasputin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector LaRue showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hector LaRue's cut.
That's time! Rasputin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rasputin wants to clinch up but LaRue keeps it at a distance.
Rasputin defending well as LaRue loads up on a big left hand.
LaRue is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rasputin.
Grigoriy Rasputin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rasputin doesn't manage to clinch there - LaRue circles away.

Rasputin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. LaRue tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rasputin is in LaRue's guard.
Rasputin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. LaRue swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but LaRue is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
LaRue looking to control.
Hector LaRue has got the better of the ground game so far.

LaRue working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rasputin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rasputin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rasputin is fighting to break LaRue's control of his arms but LaRue is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control but LaRue is working from the bottom.
LaRue is controlling Rasputin's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

LaRue scores a takedown into full mount!
Rasputin is looking to improve his position but LaRue isn't that keen on the idea.
Rasputin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
LaRue working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control but LaRue is working from the bottom.
Rasputin is really struggling to control LaRue but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rasputin trying to move into half guard but instead LaRue has managed to sweep!
Rasputin working a defensive guard here.
Rasputin controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because Grigoriy Rasputin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rasputin lands a nice shot that snaps LaRue's head back.

LaRue closes the distance and pushes Rasputin back into the cage.
Rasputin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That has opened up Hector LaRue's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRue working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Rasputin.
Rasputin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

LaRue turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and LaRue manages to end up in side control.
Rasputin is looking to reverse the position.
Rasputin is working hard here to advance position.
LaRue wants to control but Rasputin is keeping him busy.
Rasputin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rasputin is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin won't allow LaRue to pass to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

LaRue maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Rasputin could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but LaRue has cracked it and Rasputin is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by LaRue!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Hector LaRue!
In his post fight interview, Hector LaRue started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.