PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Buckley Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bertram Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armstrong kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Russian Roulette. Russel has chosen Space Lord by Monster Magnet as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Armstrong
vs
Russel

176 cm
25
163 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

176 cm
25
169 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Buckley Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bertram Russel!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Armstrong.

Russel instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Russel tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong blocks an elbow strike from Russel.
Russel lands a nice uppercut.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Russel scores with a knee to the head.
Russel lands a knee to the body.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
Armstrong tries to stall but Russel uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Russel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Russel takes an elbow to the temple.
Russel lands an elbow just above Armstrong 's eye.
Armstrong throws an elbow that misses.
Russel landing knees to the head.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel misses with an elbow over the top.
Russel lands a nice knee to the body.
Russel lands with a right to the head.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Russel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Armstrongs head.
Russel scores a nice knee to the body.
Russel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong takes a knee right on the jaw!
Russel looks gassed!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it misses.
Armstrong is trying to stall.
Russel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Russel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Russel.
Russel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Russel pushes Armstrong back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Russel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Russel looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Russel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Russel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong lands an elbow that stopped Russel in his tracks for a moment.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong stalling against the cage.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Armstrong looking to stall.
Russel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two 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.
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.
Russel has a couple of punches blocked by Armstrong.
Russel tries to stall but Armstrong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside.
Russel creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside that Russel shrugs off.
Russel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.
Russel takes an elbow to the temple.
Russel lands with a right to the head.
Russel tries to work over Armstrong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Russel can't find room to land a body shot as Armstrong controls the action.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Russel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Armstrong.
Armstrong blocking some punches.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
Russel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside that Russel shrugs off.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow.
Armstrong is trying to maintain a safe position but Russel gets an underhook and turns Armstrong into the cage.
Armstrong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Russel.
Russel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Armstrongs head.
Russel tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Russel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Armstrong.
Russel has a couple of punches blocked by Armstrong.
Russel crunches a lovely knee into Armstrong's ribcage.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
Russel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Russel looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Russel struggles to land a body shot inside as Armstrong controls his hands.
Russel takes an elbow to the temple.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel misses with some punches.
Armstrong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.
Armstrong throws an elbow that misses.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Russel is looking to control Armstrong's arms but Armstrong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Russel has his back to the cage.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong lands an elbow that stopped Russel in his tracks for a moment.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Armstrong throws an elbow that misses.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Armstrong throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Russel lands a good knee to the midsection. Armstrong won't want to take too many of those.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Russel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.
Armstrong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel missing with knees to the body.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russel's defenses.
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Armstrong blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Armstrong taking a breather.
Russel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Russel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bertram Russel 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.

Armstrong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Armstrong misses with a series of wild punches.
Armstrong fails with the takedown

and Russel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Armstrong throws an elbow that misses.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Russel is leaning against Armstrong and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Russel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Russel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Russel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Armstrong's face.
Armstrong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russel's defenses.
Russel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Armstrong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russel's defenses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Russel.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Russel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Armstrong backwards.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it misses.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it misses.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Armstrong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Russel tries to throw a body punch but Armstrong avoids it by throwing Russel back against the cage.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Russel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Russel.
Russel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Armstrong prevents a body shot from Russel.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel avoids the elbow strike from Armstrong, against the cage.
Armstrong taking a breather.
Russel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Armstrong avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Russel throws an elbow but it misses.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel working aggressively here.
Bertram Russel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Armstrong stalling in the clinch.

That's two 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.
Armstrong throws an elbow that misses.
Russel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Armstrong.
Russel presses Armstrong against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Russel lands a knee to the body.
Russel tries to land a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks with his arms.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
Russel misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Armstrong tries to stall but Russel uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Russel throws an elbow but it misses.
Russel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Russel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Armstrong.
Armstrong stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it misses.
Armstrong is trying to maintain a safe position but Russel gets an underhook and turns Armstrong into the cage.
A body shot lands from Russel.
Russel lands an uppercut.
Armstrong misses with an elbow strike.
Armstrong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong takes an elbow to the temple.
Armstrong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Nice elbow from Russel.
Russel looking to throw knees to the head but Armstrong is blocking nicely.
Russel misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Armstrong.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
Russel lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Russel.

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.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong trying to stall but Russel improves his position.
Russel scores with a knee to the head.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside that Russel shrugs off.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nice elbow from Armstrong.
Russel is working Armstrong over against the cage.

Russel breaks from the clinch.

Armstrong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Armstrong seems to be working for a kimura but Russel defends the submission attempt.
Russel wants to control but Armstrong is keeping busy.
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 Buckley Armstrong will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Armstrong shoots in but Russel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Russel displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russel but Russel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russel stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Buckley Armstrong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Armstrong, pushing him back against the cage.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Russel pushes Armstrong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Russel lands a body shot in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Russel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Russel tries a knee to the head but Armstrong blocks it.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Armstrong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Russel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Russel cracks Armstrong with a nice body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Russel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Russel obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Russel lands a right hand.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel takes an elbow to the temple.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Russel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Armstrong looking to slow down the pace here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel avoids a wild elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Armstrong looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russel tries to throw a body punch but Armstrong avoids it by throwing Russel back against the cage.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong stalling the fight.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Armstrong is trying to maintain a safe position but Russel gets an underhook and turns Armstrong into the cage.
Russel blocks an elbow strike.
Russel scores a nice knee to the body.
Russel blocks an elbow strike from Armstrong.
Russel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Armstrong takes a knee right on the jaw!
Russel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Armstrong is looking to control Russel's arms but Russel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Armstrong has his back to the cage.

That's two 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.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Russel.
A knee to the head by Russel.
Russel lands a nice knee to the body.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong is trying to maintain a safe position but Russel gets an underhook and turns Armstrong into the cage.
Russel scores with a knee to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Russel.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Russel.
Russel blocks the elbow strike.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside that Russel shrugs off.
Russel lands a nice knee to the body.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong pushes off an throws an elbow but Russel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Russel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Russel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Armstrong just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russel's brow.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.

Russel manages to break the clinch.
Armstrong doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Russel counters with a nice uppercut.
Buckley Armstrong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Armstrong shoots and misses
and Russel counters with a left to the body.

Russel gets caught flat footed, as Armstrong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong has gone for a leg lock! Russel slips out almost immediately though and dives into Armstrong's guard.

Armstrong looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Russel passes into side control.
Armstrong is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Russel off and has taken his back!

Armstrong is looking for the choke from the back position but Russel is controlling his hands well.

Armstrong is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Russel knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Russel for a finish.

Armstrong working for a choke but Russel is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong is looking for a rear naked choke here but Russel reverses the position brilliantly into Armstrong's guard!
Russel wants to pass the guard but Armstrong is keeping the position.

Armstrong looking for subs off his back but Russel has passed one foot through into half guard.

Armstrong looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bertram Russel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russel 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bertram Russel!