PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marian Marian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Marian
vs
Russo

173 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marian Marian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Russo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Russo misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marian is defended easily by Russo.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Marian circles away quickly and effectively.
Marian has a takedown stuffed.
Marian avoids the body shot from Russo.
Marian takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Marian gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marian trying to control the position.
Russo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Marian looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russo is looking for a sweep. Marian is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Still in half guard, Marian seems content to control.
Marian sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Russo defending well though.
Russo trying to control but Marian postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Russo wants to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marian shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Russo pinned against the cage. Russo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marian Marian. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Russo throws the left hand but Marian avoids the punch easily.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Marian bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Russo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Russo wants to control but instead Marian manages to regain half guard.
Russo works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marian is trying to escape the mount.
Russo landing punches.
Russo wants to control the pace but Marian is squirming around nicely.
Russo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Marian tries to reverse the position but Russo maintains control.
Marian wants to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Russo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marian tries to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Marian is breathing heavily.
Russo lands a big shot there that rocks Marian but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Russo wants to control the action but instead Marian gets a body lock and reverses into Russo's guard! Nice work!
Russo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan 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.

Marian misses with an attempted mid kick.
Russo thuds his right hand into Marian's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Marian Marian has been cut.
Marian tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Russo swivels and escapes.
Some wild striking there from Russo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Marian.

Russo scores a takedown into full mount!
Russo breaks from Marian's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Russo wants to control the pace but Marian is squirming around nicely.
The referee warns Marian that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Marian can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marian is bucking up trying to escape but Russo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Marian is squirming around, avoiding Russo's attempts to control the action.
Russo cracks Marian with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Russo controlling the pace for now.
Russo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Russo landing shots from mount.
Russo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Russo dominating with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marian is bucking up trying to escape but Russo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Marian is working to get back to half guard.
Russo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Russo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Russo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Russo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Marian turns into him and now he's in Russo's guard.
Marian with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Russo looking to control but Marian is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Marian is in a horrible position here. Russo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ryan Russo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russo working Marian over with strikes here.
Russo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Marian really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Marian takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Russo landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Russo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marian Marian's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Marian gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Russo dodges an elbow strike from Marian.
Marian has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Russo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Marian manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Marian turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Marian manages to end up in side control.
Marian working the strikes but Russo uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Russo moves into full guard.

Russo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marian defends it easily.
Marian trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo pulls Marian in close to prevent any damage.
Russo is wriggling around but Marian manages to pass to half guard.
Marian trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo keeping control of the position.

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

Marian looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Russo is trying to stand back up but Marian is controlling him
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Russo can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo trying to hold on to Marian's head to control him but Marian postures up.
Russo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Marian.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Marian dodges the punch combination from Russo.
Marian has his takedown stuffed

and Russo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Marian's guard now.
Marian wants to sweep here but Russo controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo stands and steps away. Marian gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Russo jabs Marian right on the nose. Marian blinks but takes it well.

Russo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Russo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Russo with a couple of short strikes.
Russo controlling from the full mount.
Marian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Russo tries to control but Marian wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Russo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Russo!