PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lio Rush (ranked 5419 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick R Torres (ranked 6616 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rush
vs
R Torres

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lio Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Patrick R Torres!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rush tries to clinch there but Torres circles away.
Torres works over Rush's head and body with a nice combination.

Torres gets tackled into the cage by Rush. Rush maintains the clinch.
Torres is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rush is defending well.
Rush is looking to break free of the clinch but Torres has double underhooks.
Rush jumps guard but Torres turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rush can't get the takedown.
Torres tries to land knees in the clinch but Rush avoids the damage to the body.

Rush manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Torres passes Rush's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush is refusing to be controlled, as Torres sits in half guard.
Torres is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rush has his hands clasped together around Torres's back. He's all about the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Torres is keen to just control but Rush is a slippery customer.
Rush punching from the bottom.
Rush is staying active underneath Torres, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rush desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rush looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Torres is fending him off so far but Rush persists. Nope, Torres circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lio Rush. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Torres shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense.
Torres shoots in for a double leg but Rush sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Torres misses the shot to the body.

Rush darts in and clinches Torres up against the cage.
Torres changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rush fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rush tries to clinch but Torres is having none of it.
Torres looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Torres looks winded!
Torres looks for a takedown but Rush sprawls well.
Rush moves in looking to clinch but Torres pushes him off.
Nice uppercut there from Torres.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres slips a jab and a cross from Rush.
Rush has a takedown stuffed.
Rush has his takedown stuffed

and Torres counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rush bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Torres's guard.

Rush controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rush stands and throws Torres's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Torres's face as Rush controls the position.
Torres defending against the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Rush politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rush prefers to stall for the moment though.
Torres is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Rush looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rush decides to return to a standing position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rush throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rush wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lio Rush will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Torres is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Torres dives in and scores a takedown into Rush's guard.
Rush pulls Torres in close to prevent any damage.
Torres trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Torres won't allow Rush to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Torres accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Torres misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rush avoids the head kick by Torres.
Torres is breathing heavily.
Torres throws a head kick that misses.
Rush misses with the combination.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Torres as he avoids it easily.
Torres shoots in and drives through. Rush sprawls well.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres tries to throw a body punch but Rush avoids it by throwing Torres back against the cage.
Come on Rush - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Rush's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rush tries to clinch up but Torres circles away and keeps his distance.
Rush scores with a head kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Rush. Torres shrugs it off though.

Rush closes the distance and pushes Torres back into the cage.
Rush is trying to drag Torres to the mat but Torres just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rush lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rush misses with a knee to the head.

Rush breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Torres takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Rush. No joy for Torres on that attempt.
Lio Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick R Torres.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Torres as he jumps to the side.
Torres unleashes a big counter combination but Rush bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rush misses with a straight left.
Torres avoids the head kick by Rush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rush.
Torres tries for a takedown but Rush sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rush fails to land the takedown.
Torres shoots for a double leg takedown but Rush sprawls well. He's pushed Torres's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Torres circles away.
Torres steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rush.
Rush is looking to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rush tries for a takedown but Torres sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Torres circles away from the clinch attempt.
Torres fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lio Rush dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Torres.

Torres drives through and clinches with Rush against the cage.
Rush is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Torres tries to pull guard but Rush forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lio Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick R Torres.
Torres is trying to push Rush away but Rush has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Torres is trying to pull guard but Rush turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rush breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Torres as he jumps to the side.
Torres changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Torres takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Torres tries to clinch but Rush is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Torres tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Torres manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rush clinches with his opponent.
Rush tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Torres just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rush tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rush wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Torres wants to get back to striking at distance but Rush won't allow it.
Rush slowing the pace effectively.

Torres breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres darts in looking for a takedown but Rush gets double underhooks and turns Torres into the cage.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Rush is trying to drag Torres to the mat but Torres just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rush tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Torres avoids it.
Torres goes for a takedown attempt but Rush pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rush throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rush uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Torres has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Torres defends it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rush.

Torres darts in and clinches Rush up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rush takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Torres has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rush is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rush tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush prevents a body shot from Torres.
Rush misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Torres.

Rush breaks the clinch.
Rush shoots for a takedown but Torres saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Torres steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rush.
Torres fails with a takedown attempt.
Torres leaves Rush with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Patrick R Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lio Rush is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Torres forces Rush back against the cage and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lio Rush showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rush, 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lio Rush!
After winning the bout, Lio Rush thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.