PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fou Rthihovsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barney Rubble (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rubble is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rage Against The Machine - No Shelter. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Rthihovsky
vs
Rubble

165 cm
26
135 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

150 cm
21
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Fou Rthihovsky!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Barney Rubble!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rthihovsky fails with the takedown.
Rthihovsky tries a head kick but it misses.
Rubble takes a swing at Rthihovsky's ribcage but misses.
Rubble lands with a hook. Rthihovsky tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rubble.
Rubble lands with a nice body punch.
Rubble connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rthihovsky misses with a head kick.
Rubble pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rubble 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 Rthihovsky has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rthihovsky and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rubble keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rubble plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rubble tries a low kick but Rthihovsky avoids it.
A jab from Rubble misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubble lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rthihovsky will feel that in the morning.
Rthihovsky just misses with a punch to the body.
Rubble defending well as Rthihovsky loads up on a big left hand.
Rubble throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rubble is looking to land body kicks.
Rubble misses with a kick to the body.
Rubble moves to clinch but Rthihovsky breaks away
and Rthihovsky counters with a nice uppercut.
Rubble throws a leg kick
letting Rthihovsky counter with a right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rubble.
Rthihovsky missing with a left hand there. Rubble was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rthihovsky shoots in but Rubble avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fou Rthihovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubble misses with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rthihovsky's calf.
Rubble swings for the body but Rthihovsky moves out of range.
Rubble slips a jab from Rthihovsky.
Rubble uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rthihovsky.
A head kick by Rthihovsky misses
and Rubble finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
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!
Rthihovsky scores with a hook.
Rubble dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rthihovsky. That did some damage!
Rubble fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rthihovsky has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rubble feints and then cracks Rthihovsky's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rthihovsky down.
Good leg kick by Rubble there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rthihovsky thows a body shot but no joy.
Rubble moves away from the strike by Rthihovsky.
Rubble shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barney Rubble seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rubble attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Good exchange - Rthihovsky coming out on top.
Rubble thuds his shin into the meat of Rthihovsky's side.
Rubble connects with an inside leg kick.
Rthihovsky avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rubble keeps Rthihovsky at a distance using the push kick.
Rubble uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A clash of legs there as Rthihovsky blocks the low kick.
Rubble displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rthihovsky.
Rubble lands with a kick to the temple. Rthihovsky shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rubble throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky misses with a two punch combination.
Rubble avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rthihovsky has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rubble.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rubble.
Rubble tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rthihovsky paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rthihovsky misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rubble.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rthihovsky blocks a low kick nicely.
Rubble checks the leg kick nicely there.
Nice defenses there by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rubble pinned against the ropes. Rubble gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rthihovsky on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barney Rubble dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rubble needs to keep his hands up - Rthihovsky had a free shot at his head there.
Rubble tries to clinch up.
Rubble lands a leg kick that knocks Rthihovsky off balance momentarily.

Rubble has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rubble blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rubble pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rubble just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rthihovsky's brow.
Rthihovsky on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rthihovsky managing to block the knees to the body from Rubble.
Rthihovsky misses with a body punch.
Rthihovsky is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Nice elbow from Rubble.
Rthihovsky avoids a wild elbow strike from Rubble.

Rthihovsky's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubble throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Rubble.
Rthihovsky connects with a single shot there.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Rthihovsky. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Rthihovsky throws a leg kick but Rubble sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barney Rubble seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rthihovsky scores with a sloppy right hand. Rubble should have avoided that one.
Rubble swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rthihovsky's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rubble connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rthihovsky scrambles back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rthihovsky. Rubble does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rthihovsky is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rthihovsky throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rubble scoring well with a low kick there.
Rubble defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rthihovsky.

Rthihovsky throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rubble was covering up waiting for the punch and Rthihovsky finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rubble trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rthihovsky trying to control but Rubble is working from the bottom.
Rthihovsky tries to free his leg and advance position but Rubble is retaining full guard.
Rthihovsky controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fou Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky avoids a kick to the body.
Rubble thows a body shot but no joy.
Rthihovsky moves out of range as Rubble throws a body kick.
Rthihovsky moves out of range of the body kick.
Rthihovsky bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rubble's head.
Rubble avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rthihovsky swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rthihovsky chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rubble can pounce on him.
Rthihovsky just misses with a punch to the body.
Rthihovsky loads up on a big right hand but Rubble slips the punch.
Rubble throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rubble throws a leg kick which misses Rthihovsky's front leg but catches the back leg as Rthihovsky tries to avoid it.
Rubble lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rthihovsky is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Rubble finds it's way through Rthihovsky's defenses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rubble.
Rthihovsky throws a jab when Rubble was well out of range.
Rthihovsky avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rubble throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab, jab by Rubble - just one landing.
Rubble steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rthihovsky.
Rubble keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rthihovsky misses with a combination
and Rubble counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rubble pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rthihovsky is out of range and Rubble settles back down.
Rubble tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rthihovsky throws a hook but Rubble avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Barney Rubble will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rubble scores with a shot to the body.
Rubble feints and then cracks Rthihovsky's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rthihovsky down.
Rthihovsky avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Rubble.
Rubble takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rubble takes a swing at Rthihovsky's ribcage but misses.
Rubble misses the shot to the body.
Rubble misses with a head kick.
Rubble tries to clinch but Rthihovsky is having none of it.
Rthihovsky on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rubble throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rubble ducks under a wild hook from Rthihovsky.
Nice cross by Rubble.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rthihovsky darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rthihovsky will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rthihovsky blocks a head kick by Rubble.
Rthihovsky checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rthihovsky connects with a jab.
Rthihovsky blocks a jab.
Rubble goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A head kick from Rubble lands but Rthihovsky takes it in his stride.
Rthihovsky turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rubble lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rthihovsky fails to land with a series of punches.
Rubble throws out a leg kick but Rthihovsky moves out of range and Rubble only half commits.
Rubble tries a low kick but Rthihovsky avoids it.
Rthihovsky lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble misses with an attempted mid kick.
Barney Rubble is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rubble pushes Rthihovsky away with a front kick.
Rubble swings for the body but Rthihovsky moves out of range.
Rubble scores with a body shot.
Rubble slips a straight right by Rthihovsky.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rthihovsky shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rubble as he avoids it easily.
Rthihovsky stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rubble.
Rubble throws a wild body kick that Rthihovsky sees coming a mile off.
Rthihovsky finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rubble lands a really nice looking cross but Rthihovsky seems unphased.
Rubble misses with a head kick.
Rubble looks to throw the jab but Rthihovsky is out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rthihovsky, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble ducks under a wild hook from Rthihovsky.
Rubble throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rthihovsky throws a hook to the side of Rubble's head but Rubble sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rthihovsky misses with a looping right.
Rubble uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rthihovsky.
Rubble fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rthihovsky has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rubble throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rthihovsky throws a lazy right hand but Rubble sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rthihovsky steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rubble.
Rthihovsky misses with a body shot.
Rubble misses the shot to the body.
Rubble darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky throws a poor cross that misses
and Rubble counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rthihovsky throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rubble buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rthihovsky thows a body shot but no joy.
Rthihovsky tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rthihovsky pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rubble defending well as Rthihovsky loads up on a big left hand.
Rubble jabs at Rthihovsky's body.
Good leg kick by Rubble there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rthihovsky misses with a right hand
and Rubble counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rthihovsky takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rubble connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rthihovsky momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barney Rubble really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Rthihovsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rubble.
Rthihovsky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rthihovsky jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rubble lands a jab to the nose.
Rubble throws a wild body kick that Rthihovsky sees coming a mile off.
Rubble misses with an uppercut. Rthihovsky saw that one coming.
Rubble misses with an uppercut.
Rubble moves out of range of the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Rthihovsky. Those never looked like landing.
Rthihovsky swinging wildly here.

Rubble has closed the distance and engaged Rthihovsky in a clinch.
Rthihovsky fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubble throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rubble misses with an elbow over the top.
Rubble looking to throw knees to the head but Rthihovsky is blocking nicely.
Rthihovsky is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rubble pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rthihovsky is trying to force a seperation but Rubble has the dominant position.
Rubble tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rthihovsky jumps guard but Rubble turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Rubble blocking some punches.
Rubble misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky misses with a punch on the inside.
Rubble gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rubble looking to throw knees to the head but Rthihovsky is blocking nicely.
Rthihovsky wants to break free but Rubble has control.
Rthihovsky goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rubble prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fou Rthihovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubble lands a damaging elbow.
Rthihovsky wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rthihovsky avoids a wild elbow strike from Rubble.
Rubble tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rthihovsky avoids it.
Rthihovsky working aggressively here.
Rthihovsky is trying to maintain a safe position but Rubble gets an underhook and turns Rthihovsky into the ropes.
Rthihovsky doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rthihovsky works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rubble throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rubble creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rubble tries to land knees in the clinch but Rthihovsky avoids the damage to the body.
Rthihovsky stalling the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rubble lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rubble avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rthihovsky taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rthihovsky trying to stall but Rubble improves his position.
Rthihovsky has had enough of the clinch but Rubble keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Rthihovsky fails to land.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Rubble takes a shot to the head.
Rubble tries a knee to the head but Rthihovsky blocks it.
Rthihovsky blocks an elbow strike from Rubble.
Rubble throws an elbow that misses.
A short left from Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky stalling in the clinch but Rubble improves position.
A short uppercut from Rthihovsky.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky taking a breather.
Rthihovsky working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Rthihovsky's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rthihovsky managing to block the knees to the body from Rubble.
Fou Rthihovsky has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rubble pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rthihovsky managing to block the knees to the body from Rubble.
Rthihovsky working aggressively here.
Rubble misses with a knee to the head.
Rubble tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rubble is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rthihovsky is trying to force a seperation but Rubble has the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rthihovsky.
Rubble creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rthihovsky's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Fou Rthihovsky will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rubble lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rubble slips a straight right by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rubble counters with a big head kick but Rthihovsky shrugs it off.
Rubble slips a straight right by Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rthihovsky needs to keep his hands up - Rubble had a free shot at his head there.
Rubble throws a solid leg kick but Rthihovsky takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rubble.
Rubble slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rthihovsky looks to land a right hand but Rubble moved out of range.
Rthihovsky misses with a hook. Rubble ducked under it nicely.
Rubble misses with a body kick.
Rubble tries to land a body kick
and Rthihovsky makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rubble throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rubble gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rthihovsky fails to land.
Rthihovsky makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rthihovsky tries for a takedown but Rubble manages to get underhooks.
Rubble putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rthihovsky in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rthihovsky tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rubble just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Rubble missing with knees to the body.
Rubble is pressed up against the ropes. Rthihovsky has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rubble down to the mat. Rubble avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fou Rthihovsky. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rubble swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rubble fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rubble throws out a leg kick but Rthihovsky moves out of range and Rubble only half commits.
Rthihovsky misses with a hook. Rubble ducked under it nicely.
Rubble stuns Rthihovsky with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fou Rthihovsky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rubble.
Rthihovsky misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rubble.
An inside leg kick lands from Rubble.

Rubble moves into range and clinches up with Rthihovsky.
Rthihovsky takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rubble throws an elbow that misses.

Rthihovsky gets control of Rubble's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rthihovsky will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rthihovsky is pulling down on Rubble's head. It's preventing any offense from Rubble, at least for the moment.
Rubble wants to get up but he can't break Rthihovsky's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubble sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rthihovsky's guard.
Rthihovsky is trying to control but can't.
Rthihovsky slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barney Rubble is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rubble is looking to stand up but Rthihovsky won't let him.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rthihovsky controls Rubble momentarily but Rubble frees himself.
Rthihovsky is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rthihovsky trying to keep a closed guard but Rubble is proving a slippery customer.

Fou Rthihovsky has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rthihovsky thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rubble with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rubble throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rthihovsky scores with a nice head shot.
Rubble blocks a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barney Rubble comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rubble 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 46:50
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 47:49
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barney Rubble!
Barney Rubble is the new bantamweight champion!
A very excited looking Barney Rubble made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.