PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jake Sawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sawa
vs
Russo

172 cm
24
153 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
154 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jake Sawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Russo!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Russo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sawa.
Ryan Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo stuffs the takedown attempt from Sawa. Sawa gets slowly back to his feet.
Sawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Russo throws a wild body kick that Sawa sees coming a mile off.
Russo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Russo throws a leg kick that misses.
Sawa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Russo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Russo looks for the body kick but Sawa saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Russo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sawa checks it well.
Sawa blocks a head kick by Russo.
Sawa tries a head kick but it misses.
Russo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sawa. Sawa circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Russo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sawa will feel that in the morning.
A head kick misses from Russo.
Russo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Russo tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Sawa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sawa trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Sawa works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sawa is looking to advance position but Russo won't allow it.
Sawa is working hard here to advance position.
Russo controlling the position for now.
Sawa wants to free his trapped foot but Russo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Russo wants to get back to full guard.
Sawa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Russo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sawa is really struggling to control Russo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Russo is looking to escape.
Sawa trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jake Sawa just wasn't active enough.
Russo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sawa throws a low kick but it's checked well by Russo.
Russo is looking to land body kicks.
Russo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Russo cracks Sawa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
Sawa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russo.
Russo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sawa avoids the head kick by Russo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sawa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Russo lands a nice looking body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Russo, right into the meat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russo. Sawa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sawa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Russo lands with a right hand.

Russo moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice elbow from Russo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sawa is keeping busy.
Russo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Russo lands a nice elbow.
Russo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Russo avoids the elbow strike from Sawa, against the cage.

Sawa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Russo thows a body kick. Sawa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Russo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Russo tries a head kick but it misses.
Russo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sawa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sawa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sawa dives in and grabs Russo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russo pushes down on Sawa's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Sawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sawa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sawa on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sawa takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Russo throws a low kick but Sawa avoids it.
Russo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sawa's calf.
Sawa blocks the body kick.
Russo misses with a body shot.
Sawa blocks a head kick by Russo.
Russo lands a slapping body shot.
Russo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sawa checks a leg kick nicely.
Sawa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sawa blocks the body kick.
Sawa swats away the attempt to clinch by Russo.
Russo cracks the inside of Sawa's front leg.
Russo throws a leg kick that misses.

Sawa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Russo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sawa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Russo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Sawa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sawa.
Sawa being controlled here, momentarily.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sawa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russo won't allow Sawa to sweep him here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Russo trying to control but Sawa is working from the bottom.

Ryan Russo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sawa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Russo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Russo.
Russo misses with a head kick.
Sawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawa moves out of range of the body kick from Russo.
Sawa blocks a jab.
Ryan Russo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sawa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Sawa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Russo dominated that round.
That's time! Sawa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Russo clinches up with Sawa and pushes him back against the cage.
Russo has Sawa pushed against the cage.
Sawa is trying to force a seperation but Russo has the dominant position.
Sawa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Russo is pressed up against the cage. Sawa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russo down to the mat. Russo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Russo pushes Sawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Sawa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sawa is looking for a takedown.
Sawa tries to break free but Russo pushes him back against the cage.
Sawa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Russo is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Sawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sawa fails to pull guard.
Russo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Russo.
Russo landing knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sawa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Russo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Russo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sawa up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russo lands an elbow inside.
Russo landing knees to the body.
Russo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sawa's defenses.
Russo stalling in the clinch.
Russo stalling in the clinch but Sawa improves position.
Sawa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Russo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sawa's defenses.
Russo lands an elbow that stopped Sawa in his tracks for a moment.
Knees to the body from Russo.
Sawa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Russo is pressed up against the cage. Sawa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russo down to the mat. Russo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Russo bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sawa's head.
Jab, jab by Russo - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sawas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
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!
Russo jabs at Sawa's body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Russo!
Russo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Sawa gets tackled into the cage by Russo. Russo maintains the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Russo.
Sawa wants to get back to striking at distance but Russo won't allow it.
Sawa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Russo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Russo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Jake Sawa has been cut.
Sawa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Russo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Russo.
Russo lands a nice knee to the body.
Russo landing knees to the head.
Russo landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sawa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russo landing knees to the body.
Russo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Russo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sawa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ryan Russo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Russo lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Russo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Russo lands an elbow just above Sawa 's eye.
Russo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Russo connects with a knee to the head.
Russo lands a knee to the head.
Russo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Russo scores with a knee to the head.
Sawa has had enough of the clinch but Russo keeps him there for the moment.
Russo lands a damaging elbow.
Sawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sawa backwards.
Russo lands an elbow just above Sawa 's eye.
Russo looking to slow down the pace here.
Russo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice elbow from Russo.
Sawa goes for a takedown attempt but Russo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Russo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Russo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sawa is out of range and Russo settles back down.
Ryan Russo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Russo tries to clinch up but Sawa circles away and keeps his distance.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sawa keeps the fight on the outside.
Russo tries a low kick but Sawa avoids it.
Sawa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sawa's sensitive parts.
Sawa staying out of range there.
Sawa takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sawa misses with a leg kick.
Russo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sawa rather than just go for the knockout.
Russo scores with a head kick. Sawa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Russo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sawa moves out of range of the body kick from Russo.
Russo connects with a leg kick. Sawa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sawa has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Russo.
A head kick misses from Sawa.
Some wild striking there from Sawa.
Russo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Russo pushes Sawa up against the cage in a clinch.

Sawa tightens his grip and picks Russo up, before dumping him to the ground. Russo manages to land in guard.
Sawa advances to half guard.
Sawa is looking to advance position but Russo won't allow it.
Russo gets full guard.
Sawa passes Russo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sawa wants to pass the guard but Russo is defending well.
Russo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Russo gets back to full guard.
Sawa trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Russo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sawa, up you get!
Sawa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russo.
Russo throws a solid leg kick but Sawa takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Russo.
Russo tries to clinch but Sawa moves out of range.
Russo connects with a leg kick. Sawa looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jake Sawa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Sawa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sawa ducks under a wild hook from Russo.
Russo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sawa manages to avoid it.
Sawa throws a hook but Russo blocks it.
Sawa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Russo throws a leg kick which misses Sawa's front leg but catches the back leg as Sawa tries to avoid it.
Russo throws a series of punches but Sawa moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo lands a right hook to the body.
Russo pushes Sawa away with a front kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russo 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Ryan Russo!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Ryan Russo!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Ryan Russo!

Ryan Russo wins by unanimous decision!