PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mr Funktastic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vinny Russo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Russo
vs
Funktastic

181 cm
21
183 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Cripplers Corner Brazil

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinny Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mr Funktastic!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Funktastic throws a wild body kick that Russo sees coming a mile off.
Funktastic thows a body shot but no joy.

Funktastic looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Russo!

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

Russo gets to his feet - Funktastic follows without any prompting.
Funktastic scores with a nice body kick.

Russo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Russo lands in his opponent's guard.
Funktastic looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Russo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Funktastic is refusing to be controlled, as Russo sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Funktastic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Russo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Funktastic trying to control but Russo postures up.
Russo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Funktastic is defending against the submission attempts here by Russo.
Funktastic is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Russo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Funktastic is trying to stand.
Russo is taking a breather. Funktastic says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Funktastic pushes Russo off and gets back to his feet.
Funktastic throws a nice looking combination but Russo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Russo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Funktastic counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Funktastic is trying to work for a kimura but Russo is defending well.
Funktastic is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Russo manages to get to full guard.
Funktastic is looking to stand up but Russo won't let him.
Russo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Russo has Funktastic pulled in close to control his posture.

Russo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funktastic wants to get up but he can't break Russo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Funktastic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Funktastic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Russo dives on top into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Funktastic keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Russo 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.

Russo misses with a hook.
Russo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Funktastic thows a body shot but no joy.
Funktastic works Russo's body with a nice hook.
Funktastic looks for a takedown but Russo sprawls well.
Vinny Russo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
Russo misses with a looping left.
Russo misses with a takedown attempt - Funktastic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Funktastic thows a body shot but no joy.

Funktastic scores with a takedown into Russo's guard.

Russo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Funktastic defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Funktastic trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Funktastic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Russo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Russo has escaped and now he's on top!
Russo throws a big right hand that misses.
Russo content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Funktastic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Russo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Funktastic has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Russo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Funktastic.
Funktastic is trying to escape the position but Russo is controlling the position.

Russo decides to stand up, so the ref orders Funktastic to his feet.
Funktastic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funktastic.
Russo throws a looping overhand right but Funktastic ducks down to avoid it.
Russo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Funktastic counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Funktastic with a lazy takedown attempt
and Russo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Funktastic doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Funktastic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Russo swivels and escapes.
Vinny Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mr Funktastic.
Russo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Funktastic counters with a single leg into guard. Russo didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Funktastic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russo pulls Funktastic in close to prevent any damage.

Russo has his foot on Funktastic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Funktastic works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Funktastic stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Funktastic is looking to stand up but Russo won't let him.

Russo wriggles free and stands up.
Funktastic is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Russo rather than just go for the knockout.
Russo looks to land a combination but Funktastic avoids it well.
Funktastic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Russo was well out of range. Poor timing from Funktastic.
Funktastic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Funktastic staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mr Funktastic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Funktastic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo tries to bum rush Funktastic with a series of wild strikes but Funktastic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Funktastic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo throws a body punch but Funktastic moves out of range.
Russo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Funktastic.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Funktastic showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Russo.
Russo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Russo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Russo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Funktastic misses with a body shot
and Russo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A slow jab from Russo misses its intended target.

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

Funktastic is trying to work for a kimura but Russo is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo is looking to control Funktastic's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Russo avoid being mounted?
Funktastic trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.

Funktastic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Russo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Funktastic.
Funktastic is keen to just control but Russo is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Russo is looking for a sweep. Funktastic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Funktastic is trying to work for a kimura but Russo is defending well.
Funktastic wants to pass the guard but Russo is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Funktastic defending well as Russo loads up on a big left hand.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Funktastic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo looks to land a right hand but Funktastic moved out of range.
Funktastic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russo throws a combination that misses

and Funktastic counters with a takedown into side control.
Funktastic is looking to take a break and control but Russo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russo tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Funktastic goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Russo is on top in guard.
Russo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo content to stall in guard here.
Funktastic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russo's guard.
Funktastic trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Funktastic has his foot on Russo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russo works his way back into a safe position though.
Russo pushing down on Funktastic's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mr Funktastic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Funktastic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!