PBP Commentary

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

Russo
vs
Acacia

172 cm
25
157 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

185 cm
28
150 lbs
17 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Zeke Acacia!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acacia lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Donato Russo has been cut.
Acacia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Acacia throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Acacia misses with a low kick.
Acacia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Russo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Russo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Acacia avoids it really well and circles away.
Some bone on bone action there as Russo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acacia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Acacia will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Acacia misses the shot to the body.
Acacia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Russo. That did some damage!
Russo looks for a takedown but Acacia sprawls well.
Acacia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Russo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Acacia fails with the takedown
and Russo counters with a leg kick.
Acacia throws the kick towards the body but Russo avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Russo landing some decent shots from guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Acacia can do anything to dispel that myth.
Russo is looking to work some ground and pound but Acacia has wrist control.
Russo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Acacia looking to control.
Russo won't allow Acacia to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Acacia shoots and misses
and Russo counters with a leg kick.
A low kick from Acacia is predictable there
and Russo counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Acacia. Russo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Russo is looking to land body kicks.
Russo avoids the head kick by Acacia.
Russo throws a leg kick but Acacia checks it.
Acacia shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Donato Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zeke Acacia.
Acacia throws a front kick aimed at Russo's knee but Russo avoids it well.
Acacia thows a leg kick but Russo checks it
and Russo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A low kick from Acacia is predictable there
and Russo counters with a low kick, right behind Acacia 's knee.
Acacia looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Russo. That's going to slow Acacia down.

Russo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Acacia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Russo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Russo swings around for an armbar but Acacia sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Russo's guard.
Acacia really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Russo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Russo wants to sweep here but Acacia controlling him for the moment.

Russo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Acacia wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.
Russo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Acacia manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Acacia takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Russo lands with a nice body kick.
Acacia walks forward, straight into a front kick from Russo.
Russo looks for the body kick but Acacia saw that one coming.
Acacia throws a hook but Russo avoids it easily.
Acacia tries to bum rush Russo with a series of wild strikes but Russo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Acacia throws a leg kick that is checked

and Russo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Acacia!
Russo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo landing strikes from the mount and Acacia is in trouble!
Russo looking to ground and pound but Acacia is blocking nicely.
Russo prevents Acacia from getting the reversal.
Acacia tries to hold on but Russo postures up.
Russo lands a big elbow.
Acacia takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Acacia wants to control but Russo is having none of it.

Acacia defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Russo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russo is landing with some decent strikes but Acacia is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acacia is in all sorts of trouble here.
Acacia in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Acacia is trying to escape the mount.
Russo lands a big elbow.
Acacia is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo has hold of Acacia's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Acacia manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Acacia swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Acacia tries to lock up and control but Russo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Russo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Acacia wants to try and get back to his feet.
Russo cracks Acacia with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Russo prevents Acacia from getting the reversal.
Acacia regains half guard.
Acacia is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Russo is looking to advance position but Acacia won't allow it.
Acacia pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
Russo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Acacia's head.
Acacia trying to control but Russo postures up.
Acacia pushes Russo off but Russo dives into side control.
Russo lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Russo throws a body kick that misses.
Acacia throws a lazy head kick

so Russo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Acacia is trying to keep Russo in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo postures up in Acacia's guard and throws a big left but Acacia blocks it.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Acacia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Acacia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Acacia parries the strikes from Russo easily there. Russo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Acacia to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Acacia's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Russo throws an elbow but Acacia slips to the side and avoids it well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Russo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Russo throws a half hearted mid kick.

Russo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Russo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acacia pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
Russo prevents Acacia from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Russo.
Acacia is trying to stand.
Russo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Russo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Russo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Acacia!
Acacia is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo landing punches.
Russo has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Acacia's face.
Zeke Acacia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russo lands a big elbow.
Acacia tries to lock up and control but Russo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Russo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Acacia?
Acacia is trying to stand.
Acacia is looking to improve his position but Russo isn't that keen on the idea.
Acacia wants to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Donato Russo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Acacia in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo lands with some strikes.
Acacia holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Russo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Acacia is looking to improve his position but Russo isn't that keen on the idea.
Russo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Acacia can't escape the position.
Russo throws some wild stikes that Acacia manages to avoid easily.
Russo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Acacia tries to hold on but Russo pushes him away.

Russo is working for a guillotine from mount but Acacia frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donato Russo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Russo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26

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