PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Victor Reinhardt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Reinhardt
vs
Russo

184 cm
24
164 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

172 cm
27
157 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Victor Reinhardt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reinhardt counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A low kick from Russo misses
and Reinhardt counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Reinhardt.
A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Reinhardt counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Russo is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Russo misses with the body kick
and Reinhardt counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Reinhardt looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reinhardt lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Russo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Reinhardt counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick
and Reinhardt counters with a slapping leg kick.
No luck for Reinhardt with that takedown attempt.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick
and Reinhardt counters with a right hand to the body.
A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Reinhardt counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Reinhardt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A solid leg kick lands there for Reinhardt.
Reinhardt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Russo on the side of the head.
A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Reinhardt counters with a straight right hand.
Reinhardt moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Reinhardt scores with a decent looking hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reinhardt closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Reinhardt scores with punches from side control.
Reinhardt tries to advance to mount but Russo denies him.
Reinhardt misses with the ground and pound.
Reinhardt taking a break here but Russo is having none of it and regains half guard.
Russo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Reinhardt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Russo.
Russo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Reinhardt scoring with some ground and pound.
Russo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reinhardt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reinhardt throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Reinhardt dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Russo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Reinhardt cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Reinhardt scores with a punch to the head.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Reinhardt.
Russo throws a body kick the misses
letting Reinhardt counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reinhardt lands with a shot to the body.

Reinhardt gets the takedown into side control.
Reinhardt tries to advance to mount but can't.
Reinhardt looking to control but instead Russo has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Reinhardt throwing shots but Russo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Russo's head.
Reinhardt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Reinhardt misses with a head shot. Russo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
Russo keeping full guard, as Reinhardt tries to pass.
Reinhardt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reinhardt passes Russo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Reinhardt 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Reinhardt landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Reinhardt trying to pass the guard but Russo defending well.
Reinhardt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reinhardt controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reinhardt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Reinhardt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Russo defending well though.
Reinhardt is keen to just control but Russo is a slippery customer.
Russo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reinhardt trying to mount his opponent but Russo defends it.
Reinhardt is nestled in close to Russo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reinhardt content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Reinhardt dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Reinhardt shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reinhardt showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Reinhardt.
Reinhardt looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Reinhardt trying to pass the guard but Russo defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Reinhardt lands a nice short elbow.
Russo gets full guard.
Reinhardt looking to pass the guard.
Russo trying to control the position.

Reinhardt 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!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Reinhardt looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Russo has picked Reinhardt up and slammed him! Reinhardt can't keep hold of the triangle and Russo manages to pass to side control!
Reinhardt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Russo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Russo is looking to take a break and control but Reinhardt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Reinhardt tries to bench press Russo off him but Russo keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo tries to score with some ground and pound. Reinhardt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Russo works to advance to full mount. Reinhardt defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Donato Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russo looking to ground and pound but Reinhardt is blocking nicely.
Russo trying to control but Reinhardt is having none of it.
Russo is stalling here but it's allowed Reinhardt to get half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Reinhardt wants to get back to full guard.
Russo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Russo is looking to take a break and control but Reinhardt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russo controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Donato Russo.
Well Reinhardt 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight for Victor Reinhardt!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Victor Reinhardt!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Victor Reinhardt!

Victor Reinhardt wins by unanimous decision!