PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willis Hyde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milan Rusija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Milan Rusija has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hyde
vs
Rusija

195 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Willis Hyde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Milan Rusija!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hyde tries to clinch
and Rusija counters with a stiff right hand.
Rusija looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Hyde moves into range and clinches up with Rusija.
Hyde fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hyde using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Rusija breaks the clinch.
Hyde tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rusija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rusija wants to counter with a clinch but Hyde pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusija circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rusija shoots in and bounces Hyde off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Hyde has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rusija has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyde tries for a takedown but Rusija manages to get underhooks.

Hyde ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hyde no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rusija stops Hyde from standing up.
Hyde trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hyde controlling the position.

Hyde wriggles free and stands up.
Rusija keeps the fight on the outside.

Hyde moves into the clinch successfully.
Hyde tries to pull guard but Rusija forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willis Hyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Hyde.
Rusija has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Hyde seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rusija can turn it around.
Hyde is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rusija gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hyde misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hyde keeps control of Rusija as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hyde tries to work over Rusija's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hyde keeps control of Rusija as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyde tries to pull guard but Rusija won't allow it.
Hyde misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hyde jumps guard but Rusija stands there with Hyde around his waist. Hyde gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rusija's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rusija is looking to clinch.

Hyde has closed the distance and engaged Rusija in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyde has Rusija pressed against the cage.
Hyde fails to pull guard.
Rusija is trying to push Hyde away but Hyde has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hyde is looking for a takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rusija working hard to break the clinch.
Rusija wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willis Hyde dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hyde tries to close the distance and clinch but Rusija swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Hyde moves into the clinch.

Rusija escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hyde tries to clinch but Rusija moves out of range.

Rusija is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hyde's half guard.

Hyde makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rusija is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Hyde is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Rusija presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rusija prevents a body shot from Hyde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyde jumps guard but Rusija turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hyde is working Rusija over against the cage.
Hyde tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hyde pulls Rusija into guard.
Hyde is controlling Rusija's posture.
Rusija trying to control but Hyde is working from the bottom.
Hyde is trying to keep Rusija in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Hyde manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Hyde pulls guard effortlessly.
Rusija postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hyde manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rusija's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hyde tries to land knees in the clinch but Rusija avoids the damage to the body.
Hyde just leaning against Rusija, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rusija is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hyde changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rusija fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willis Hyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hyde tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hyde shoots in for a takedown but Rusija shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hyde moves out of range of the body kick.
Hyde tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rusija manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rusija looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Hyde instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyde lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hyde is trying to pull guard but Rusija turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hyde pulls guard.
Willis Hyde overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rusija working some strikes from top position.
Hyde controls Rusija momentarily but Rusija frees himself.
Rusija wants to pass the guard but Hyde is keeping the position.
Rusija postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willis Hyde dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hyde tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rusija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Willis Hyde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hyde is looking to clinch.

Hyde rushes Rusija and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Rusija's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hyde tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rusija avoids it.
Rusija takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hyde keeps control of Rusija as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hyde tries to pull guard but Rusija forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rusija tries to break the clinch but Hyde is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hyde pulls Rusija into guard.
Hyde wants to stand up but Rusija is controlling him.

Hyde pushes Rusija off and gets back to his feet.
Hyde tries to clinch there but Rusija circles away.
Willis Hyde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hyde is looking to clinch.
Rusija swats away the attempt to clinch by Hyde.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusija circles away from the clinch attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rusija! But no joy.
Hyde is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rusija can do to turn this around?

Hyde rushes Rusija and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Willis Hyde has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rusija is trying to break the clinch but Hyde has him pressed against the cage.

Rusija manages to break the clinch.
Hyde is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rusija looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hyde doesn't manage to clinch there - Rusija circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hyde drives through and clinches with Rusija against the cage.
Hyde is trying to pull guard but Rusija has him pressed against the cage.

Rusija wants the takedown. Hyde is fighting it off but Rusija persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hyde's guard against the cage.

Hyde has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Rusija is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Rusija blocks a body shot from Hyde.
Hyde is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rusija is defending well for now.
Hyde misses with a punch to the body.
Hyde trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyde jumps guard but Rusija stands there with Hyde around his waist. Hyde gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willis Hyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rusija wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hyde is trying to pull guard but Rusija has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hyde fails to pull guard.
Milan Rusija has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Willis Hyde is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hyde lands with a left to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willis Hyde showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hyde, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willis Hyde!