PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Martin (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.

Russo
vs
Martin

172 cm
19
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Laumeke Fight Gear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Martin!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Martin gets the takedown into side control.
Russo struggling a bit here.
Martin trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
Russo is trying to improve his position.
Martin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Martin controls the position.
Russo tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Russo is looking for a sweep.
Russo throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Russo trying his best to control but Martin has mounted him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Martin.
Russo tries to reverse the position but Martin maintains control.
Russo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Martin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Martin controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martin blocks Russo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Russo throwing hammer fists to the chest of Martin. What's that going to do exactly?
Russo is working to get back to half guard.
Martin avoids the attempt from Russo to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Russo is trying desperately to improve position.
Martin lands a big elbow.
Martin controlling the pace for now.
Martin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Russo to take his back!
Martin keeps control of the position as Russo tries to break free.
Russo wants to control his opponent's hands but Martin gets his hands free.
Russo is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin is persistently looking for the submission but Russo is defending it well.
Martin keeps control of the position as Russo tries to break free.
Martin gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Russo is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Russo is covering up but some of the strikes from Martin are getting through and doing damage.
Martin doesn't have the hooks in and Russo manages to turn into his guard.
Russo being controlled here momentarily.

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.
Russo postures up and lands a big shot to Martin's brow.
Martin looking to control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martin pulls Russo in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they both work up against the meshing.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Martin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russo stopping the sweep attempt from Martin.
Russo is looking to work some ground and pound but Martin has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Martin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russo has a takedown stuffed.

Martin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Martin misses with a punch to the body.

Russo lands a takedown into guard.
Russo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Martin managing to control the position.
Martin is trying to control the position but Russo postures up.
Martin controlling the position.
Russo thows a big elbow that misses.
Martin tries to strike from the bottom.
Russo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Russo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russo throws a strike but Martin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Martin tries to free his leg and advance position but Russo is retaining full guard.
Russo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Russo striking off his back but it's not causing Martin any problems.
Martin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Martin happy to just control the position for now.
Russo gets back to half guard.
Martin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Russo to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Russo throws a couple of heel strikes.
Russo being controlled here, momentarily.
Russo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Russo trying to mount his opponent but Martin defends it.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Russo passes to side control.
Russo is putting a hurting on Martin here, landing some big shots from side control.
Martin tries to control but Russo manages to take his back.
Russo scores with punches from the back.

Martin is rocked!
Russo cracks Martin with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Martin from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Martin is still on wobbly legs! Can Russo finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martin turns into Russo and is now in his guard.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
Martin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Martin seems to have recovered his senses.
Russo is trying to control the position but Martin postures up.
Russo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Martin landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
Martin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Martin is in close to Russo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Russo wants to stand but Martin is controlling the position.
Martin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Russo's guard.
Martin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Martin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ryan Martin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Donato Russo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Martin fakes the leg kick and cracks Russo in the body.
Russo waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Martin.
Martin moves out of range of the body kick from Russo.
Russo misses the jab.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Martin moves out of range easily.
Russo throws a head kick but Martin moves out of range.
Martin fails with the takedown.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Martin moves out of range easily.
Martin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russo but Russo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russo misses with the body kick

and Martin counters by clinching up.

Martin pulls guard successfully.
Russo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russo.
Martin controlling the position.
Russo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Martin has his feet on Russo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Martin shoots in and bounces Russo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Russo wants to control but Martin passes easily into half guard.
Martin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo gets back to full guard.
Martin is looking to stand up but Russo won't let him.
Russo lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo working a defensive guard but Martin manages to pass into side control anyway.
Martin moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Martin slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Russo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Russo regains half guard.
Well, if Martin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Russo wants to improve his position but Martin is controlling well.
Martin content to control rather than advance.
Russo tries to roll over but Martin keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Russo trying to control but Martin postures up.
Martin 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.
Russo trying to control from the bottom.
Russo is trying to get back to full guard.
Martin trying to control from half guard but Russo is working away.
Martin wants to stand up but Russo has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Martin trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
Martin trying to mount his opponent but Russo defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Russo moves into full guard.
Russo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Martin stopping the sweep attempt from Russo.
Russo is working hard here to advance position.
Martin wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.
Martin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Russo is trying to control the position but Martin postures up.
Martin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Martin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Martin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Martin!