PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edgar Poe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Russell (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.

Poe
vs
Russell

184 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Edgar Poe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Russell!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell swats away the attempt to clinch by Poe.
Poe tries to clinch there but Russell circles away.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poe.
Russell shoots in for a takedown but Poe shows good takedown defense.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Poe shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense.
Poe stuffs the takedown attempt from Russell. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
Edgar Poe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Russell.
Poe shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Russell.
Russell lands a nice forearm strike.
Russell trying to control the position but Poe is working away.
Russell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Russell in side control lands a decent elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell working the ground and pound but Poe is defending the strikes.
Russell takes a little break here. Poe wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Russell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Poe knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Russell looks gassed!
Russell working away.
Poe regains half guard.
Poe is trying to control but can't.
Russell looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Poe is looking to control Russell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Poe avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Poe is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell controlling the action here.
Russell is looking to advance position but Poe won't allow it.
Russell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Poe bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Russell's head.
Poe thows a body kick. Russell tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Russell misses with a takedown
and Poe counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Russell thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Poe pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Russell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Russell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Check out the look on Russell's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Poe is trying to get back to half guard.
Poe is pushing Russell's head away, looking to escape. Russell manages to hold on to the position though.
Russell cracks Poe with a big elbow.
Poe is trying to buck Russell off.
Russell trying to control the position but Poe is working away.
Russell might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Poe kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Russell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Poe manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Poe is looking to improve his position.
Russell trying to mount his opponent but Poe defends it.
Russell stops Poe from getting back to his feet.
Russell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Poe gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Poe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Poe lands a nice hook to Russell's body. Russell takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Poe closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Poe tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Russell manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Russell is trying to get back to full guard.
Poe wants to take a breather but Russell is having none of it.
Russell wants to improve his position but Poe is controlling well.
Russell is trying to control but can't.
Russell is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poe postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Russell to stand up.
Russell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Poe bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Russell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Poe.

Poe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Russell!
Russell is looking to improve his position but Poe isn't that keen on the idea.
Russell wants to hold on but Poe pushes him away.
Poe tries to control but Russell wriggling away.
Russell is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poe trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Russell wants to hold on but Poe pushes him away.
Russell is looking to get to half guard.
Russell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Russell wants to improve his position but Poe is controlling well.
Russell scores with a few weak punches.
Russell is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to roll over but Poe keeps him under control.
Poe looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Russell wants to control but Poe passes into side.
Russell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Poe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Some wild striking there from Poe.
Russell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Poe closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Poe pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Poe closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Poe pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Edgar Poe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell fails to land the takedown.
Poe with a poor takedown

and Russell counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Russell.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edgar Poe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poe looking to control.
Russell content to stall in guard here.
Poe wants to get back to his feet but Russell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Russell landing with the ground and pound.
Russell landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell stops Poe from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Edgar Poe will probably get the nod.
That's time! Poe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Russell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Poe circles away.
Russell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Poe scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Poe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Poe misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Russell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Russell forces his way into half guard.
Poe manages to get to full guard.
Poe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Russell looking to pass the guard.
Russell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russell postures up in Poe's guard and throws a big left but Poe blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
Poe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russell!
Poe lands with some strikes.
Poe is trying to control here but Russell has managed to regain half guard.
Russell trying to hold on to Poe's head to control him but Poe postures up.
Russell is pressing down on Poe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Russell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poe tries to stand but Russell is controlling from the bottom.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell controlling the position.
Russell is trying to control the position but Poe postures up.
Russell tries to strike from the bottom.
Russell is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Russell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Poe's guard.
Poe wants to control the position but Russell says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Poe is refusing to be controlled, as Russell sits in half guard.
Poe trying to control here.
Bob Russell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poe keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Poe is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Poe is just riding it out for now. Russell eventually gives up the hold.
Poe flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Poe is staying active underneath Russell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Poe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Russell closes the distance and clinches up with Poe, looking for a takedown. Russell pushes Poe against the cage but Poe circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Edgar Poe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bob Russell.

Russell gets a takedown into half guard.
Russell wants to pass to mount but Poe is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poe looking for submissions off his back.

Russell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Poe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Russell.
Poe wants to get back to full guard.

Russell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Russell wants to take a breather but Poe is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Russell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russell 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Russell!