PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Enzo De Luca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De Luca kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Crank that. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

De Luca
vs
Russel

195 cm
19
207 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Enzo De Luca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Philip Russel!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel throws a hook but De Luca avoids it easily.
De Luca uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Russel.
Russel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but De Luca manages to avoid it.
De Luca fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Russel avoids it really well and circles away.
Russel lands a nice shot to the body.
Russel throws a nice looking combination but De Luca bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russel lands a jab to the nose.
Russel lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Russel looks to land a combination but De Luca avoids it well.
Russel connects with a body shot.

Russel moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
De Luca drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russel gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Russel lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel's corner is telling him to maintain position.

De Luca looking for a guillotine here but Russel defends easily.
Russel wanted to stand there but De Luca had control of the position.
Russel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
De Luca keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Russel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as De Luca works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but De Luca gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Russel is looking for a triangle but De Luca pushes his legs off easily.
Russel looking to hit a scissor sweep but De Luca is one step ahead there.
Russel looks gassed!
De Luca trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russel wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Luca trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

De Luca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Russel trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Russel scores with a hook.
Russel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Russel shoots for a takedown but De Luca saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown. De Luca tries to sprawl out of it but Russel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. De Luca manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Russel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from De Luca is defended easily by Russel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enzo De Luca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russel lands a nice looking body shot.
Russel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Philip Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Luca has his takedown stuffed
and Russel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
De Luca scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
De Luca lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

De Luca has Russel up against the ropes in a clinch.
De Luca tries for a takedown but Russel manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Russel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Russel shoots in for a takedown but De Luca shows good takedown defense.
Russel throws a combination that misses

and De Luca counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Russel!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

De Luca goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Russel is on top in guard.

De Luca is looking for a triangle but Russel pushes his legs off easily.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but De Luca gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russel wants to stand up but De Luca is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
De Luca trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Luca stopping the sweep attempt from Russel.
Russel controls De Luca momentarily but De Luca frees himself.
De Luca trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.
Russel wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

De Luca gets a takedown into half guard.

De Luca is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Russel defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Luca is trying to control the action in half guard but Russel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

De Luca is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Russel is just riding it out for now. De Luca eventually gives up the hold.
Russel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Russel keeping moving, preventing De Luca from controlling successfully.

De Luca avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
De Luca stopping the sweep attempt from Russel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells De Luca's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

De Luca thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Russel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
De Luca trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Luca distracts Russel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

De Luca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
De Luca stopping the sweep attempt from Russel.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Russel throws the left hand but De Luca avoids the punch easily.
Russel misses with a shot to the body

and De Luca counters with a nice double leg into guard.
De Luca chips away with some ground and pound.
Russel wants to stand up but De Luca is controlling him.
Russel keeping moving, preventing De Luca from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo De Luca dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Russel misses the jab.
Russel misses with a body shot

and De Luca counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

De Luca drops back looking for a leg! Russel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russel manages to kick De Luca off! De Luca jumps back into Russel's guard.
De Luca throws a strike but Russel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Russel sitting in guard here, content to control.
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but De Luca is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Luca is looking to stand up but Russel isn't so interested in that idea.
Russel trying to control but De Luca is working from the bottom.
De Luca is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
De Luca seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

De Luca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Russel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Russel.
Russel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for De Luca!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel controlling from mount.
Russel looking to control but De Luca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Russel content just to control the position here.
De Luca regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Luca keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

De Luca actively working from the bottom here.
De Luca is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Russel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Russel's back!
Russel rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

De Luca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Russel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Russel wants to stand and escape but De Luca is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
De Luca trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
De Luca postures up.
De Luca preventing the sweep.

De Luca drops back looking for a leg! Russel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russel manages to kick De Luca off! De Luca jumps back into Russel's guard.
Russel bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in De Luca's guard.
Enzo De Luca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russel being controlled here momentarily.
Russel is looking to stand up but De Luca won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enzo De Luca showed his dominance in that final round.
I think De Luca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enzo De Luca!