PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bertrand Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russell's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Theater Of Salvation . Bertrand Russell has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Russell
vs
Sullivan

196 cm
24
168 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bertrand Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sammy Sullivan!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Russell pinned against the cage. Russell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sammy Sullivan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sullivan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Russell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sullivan throws a combination that misses
and Sullivan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sullivan throws a combination that misses
and Russell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Russell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sullivan under the eye.
Russell works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Russell cracks Sullivan with an open hand slap.
Nice takedown defense from Russell. No joy for Sullivan on that attempt.
Russell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sullivan under the eye.
Russell lands a nice shot that snaps Sullivan's head back.
Russell is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Russell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Russell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A telegraphed right hand from Russell misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Russell connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sullivan momentarily.
Russell is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Russell.
Sullivan looks for a takedown but Russell sprawls well.
Bertrand Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Sullivan.
Sullivan looks to land a left hand but Russell moved out of range nicely.
Russell takes a swing at Sullivan's ribcage but misses.
Russell tries to move into range but Sullivan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Russell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sullivan at a distance.
Sullivan drops his hands momentarily and Russell takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bertrand Russell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a combination that misses
and Russell counters with a left to the body.
Sullivan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Russell's waist but Russell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sullivan off to one side.
Russell lands a body shot.
Russell connects with a nice looking jab.
Russell uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Decent striking displayed by Russell there.

Sullivan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sullivan trying to control but Russell is having none of it.
Sullivan thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is squirming around, avoiding Sullivan's attempts to control the action.
Sullivan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Russell kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sullivan looking to finish with strikes here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sullivan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Russell hang on?
Sullivan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sullivan throws some wild stikes that Russell manages to avoid easily.
Russell taking shots to the head.
Russell is desperately trying to improve his position but Sullivan has a good base and remains in mount.
Russell blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sullivan scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Russell?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bertrand Russell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sullivan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Russell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sullivan somewhat.
Russell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sullivan.
Sullivan shoots in looking for a takedown but Russell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sullivan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bertrand Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Sullivan.
Russell works over Sullivan's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sullivan misses with a hook
and Russell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Sullivan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell connects with a body shot that sends Sullivan's belly button to the back.
Sullivan closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Sullivan pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sammy Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell misses with a few strikes there.
Russell cracks Sullivan with an open hand slap.
Russell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sullivan throws a right hand that misses
and Russell counters with a stiff right hand.
Sullivan throws a left and a right that both miss
and Russell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russell wants it to stay on the feet.
Sullivan misses with a combination
and Russell counters with a left and a right that stings Sullivan.
Sullivan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Russell as he avoids it easily.
Russell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Russell as he avoids it easily.
Russell scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A left and a right from Russell both land. Nice combination.
Sullivan misses with a low kick.
Sullivan closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Sullivan pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Russell scores with a jab. Sullivan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sullivan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Russell does no damage.
Sullivan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Russell avoids it really well and circles away.
Russell stuffs the takedown.
Sullivan misses with a double jab
and Russell counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Russell!
Sullivan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Russell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sullivan at a distance.
Russell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bertrand Russell is winning the standup battle so far.
Russell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Russell.
Sullivan misses with a combination
and Russell counters with a straight right hand.
Sullivan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Russell tried to score with a low kick but Sullivan checks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell misses with a straight left.
Sullivan shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Sullivan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bertrand Russell dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Russell. No joy for Sullivan on that attempt.
Russell thuds his right hand into Sullivan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sullivan swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Russell to counter with a crisp jab.
Russell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sullivan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Russell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Russell lands with a nice combination. Sullivan backs away looking to recover.
Russell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense.
Sullivan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russell scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell punishes Sullivan's body with a nice straight punch.
Russell lands with a shot to the body.
Sullivan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Russell counters with a nice body shot.
Bertrand Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Sullivan.
Russell keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Russell misses with a few strikes there.
Sullivan has his takedown stuffed
and Russell counters with a nice uppercut.
Sullivan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russell wants it to stay on the feet.
Russell jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Russell throws a combination. Sullivan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sullivan throws a poor cross that misses
and Russell connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sullivan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Russell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sullivan somewhat.
Russell is looking to score with low kicks.
Russell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sullivan circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell cracks Sullivan with a good jab.
Russell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sullivan.
Russell stalks Sullivan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sullivan's face. Sullivan staggers backwards, shaken.
Sullivan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Russell is out of range.
Sullivan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sullivan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sullivan has his takedown stuffed
and Sullivan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell thuds his right hand into Sullivan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sullivan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Sullivan duly obliges.
Russell scores with a hook.
Russell tests Sullivan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sullivan has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Russell's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sullivan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Russell scrambles back to his feet.
Sullivan misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sullivan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bertrand Russell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Russell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

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