PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pawel Koper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koper
vs
Russo

190 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 Tokyo, Pawel Koper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jimmy Russo!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Russo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Koper is in trouble now - Russo has advanced to mount!
Koper is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
A nice elbow there by Russo.

It looks like Pawel Koper has been cut.
Russo controlling from the full mount.
Russo looking to control but Koper is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koper can't escape the position.

Russo has control of Koper's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Koper regains control of the situation pretty easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koper's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Russo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koper is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Russo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Koper?
Russo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Koper is looking to escape.
Russo lands a heavy elbow.

Pawel Koper's cut is getting worse.
Russo controlling his opponent.

Russo is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Russo extends the arm and Koper is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jimmy Russo!