PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yabu Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kersikov
vs
Rua

186 cm
28
211 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

180 cm
29
199 lbs
23 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Powerful

Revolution Fatigues

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yabu Kersikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Rua!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab, jab by Kersikov - just one landing.
Kersikov throws a series of punches but Rua moves out of range.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kersikov sprawls well. Kersikov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua cracks Kersikov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kersikov misses with a left hand

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kersikov's guard.
Rua postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov is adopting a defensive guard.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kersikov keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Kersikov has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kersikov keeping full guard, as Rua tries to pass.
Rua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rua throws an elbow that misses. Kersikov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rua's guard. Nice move by Kersikov!

Rua is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kersikov is aware though and is defending well.
Rua is pulling down on Kersikov's head to control his posture.
Rua controls Kersikov momentarily but Kersikov frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Rua keeps moving.
Kersikov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rua bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kersikov's guard.
Kersikov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rua's guard.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rua throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kersikov controlling from the top position.
Kersikov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rua works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kersikov preventing the sweep.
Rua is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kersikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov cracks Rua with a solid left hand.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kersikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kersikov scoring with some ground and pound.
Rua wants to sweep but no luck.
Rua looking to control.
Kersikov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Rua had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kersikov defends it easily.

Rua is looking for a triangle here but Kersikov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kersikov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kersikov wants to control but Rua is keeping him busy.
Kersikov cracks Rua with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rua stops Kersikov from passing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov is staying tight to Rua's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rua is trying to control Kersikov's posture but Kersikov avoids it.
Rua is looking to regain half guard here but Kersikov keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kersikov's best efforts.
Kersikov trying to pass the guard but Rua defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Rua will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kersikov lands a front kick.
Rua dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kersikov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kersikov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kersikov.
A head kick misses from Kersikov.
Rua takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kersikov loads up on a big right hand but Rua slips the punch.
Donk. Kersikov catches Rua right on the button with a cross.
Rua changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua misses with a hook.
Rua lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kersikov lands a really nice looking cross but Rua seems unphased.
Kersikov works Rua's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov loads up on a big right hand but Rua slips the punch.
Kersikov lands with a right hand.
Kersikov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Kersikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Kersikov avoids it.
Yabu Kersikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kersikov.
Kersikov punishes Rua's body with a nice straight punch.
Kersikov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Yabu Kersikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kersikov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rua.
Kersikov moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice body punch from Kersikov.
A jab from Rua finds it's way through Kersikov's defenses.
Yabu Kersikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rua is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kersikov's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rua slips a nice elbow through Kersikov's hands, connecting with Kersikov's forehead.
Kersikov is looking to control Rua's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kersikov avoid being mounted?
Kersikov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kersikov.
Kersikov controlling Rua's posture.
Kersikov has momentary wrist control but Rua slips an elbow through the middle.
Rua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rua with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kersikov looking to control.
Rua throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kersikov is adopting a defensive guard.
Rua missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rua working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rua accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rua pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kersikov is keeping the position for now.
Kersikov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Kersikov is working from the bottom.
Kersikov is pulling down on Rua's head. It's preventing any offense from Rua, at least for the moment.
Alex Rua has got the better of the ground game so far.

Yabu Kersikov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rua moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kersikov looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Kersikov looks to land a body kick but Rua moved away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kersikov.
Kersikov checks a leg kick.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yabu Kersikov.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 19:20
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 19:19
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 19:19

The fight is ruled a majority draw!