PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malcolm Master (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vedran Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vedran Russo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Master
vs
Russo

225 cm
26
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
27
155 lbs
3 - 5 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malcolm Master!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Vedran Russo!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russo clinches up against the cage.

Russo manages to break the clinch.
Russo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Master doesn't seem bothered though.
Russo closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Russo rushes Master and presses him up against the cage.
Master looking for a takedown.
Russo lands a good knee to the midsection. Master won't want to take too many of those.
Russo scores a nice knee to the body.
Master really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Master is breathing heavily.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Russo obliges.

Russo breaks the clinch.

Russo has closed the distance and engaged Master in a clinch.
Master drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Russo pulls Master into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Russo is looking to stand up but Master isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Master drops back looking for a leg! Russo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russo manages to kick Master off! Master jumps back into Russo's guard.
Russo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Master is controlling him.
Russo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Master. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Russo decides to stand back up.

Russo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Master quickly recovers to half guard.

Master looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Russo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Master wants to get back to full guard.

Russo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Master to get to his feet.
Vedran Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Russo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Master, pushing him back against the cage.
Russo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Russo breaks the clinch.

Russo clinches.

Russo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Russo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Russo is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Russo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Master lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Russo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo moves into the clinch.

Master wants the takedown. Russo is fighting it off but Master persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Russo's guard against the cage.
Master prevents Russo from getting back to his feet.

Master drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Russo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Master has Russo in his guard.

Master is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Russo defends well.
Russo tries to stand but Master is controlling from the bottom.

Master looking for a guillotine here but Russo defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 trying to stand up but can't free himself from Master's guard.

Russo gets to his feet. Master looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Russo has taken the fight to the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Russo.

Russo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Russo closes the distance and pushes Master back into the cage.

Russo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Russo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Russo is trying to force a seperation but Master has the dominant position.

Russo manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vedran Russo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Master gets tackled into the cage by Russo. Russo maintains the clinch.
Russo is looking to control Master's arms but Master gets an underhook and turns him. Now Russo has his back to the cage.
Master is looking to take this one to the mat.

Russo breaks from the clinch.
Malcolm Master is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Russo instigates a clinch.
Russo prevents a takedown attempt there.

Russo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Russo lands with a nice combination. Master backs away looking to recover.

Russo moves into range and clinches up with Master.
Russo lands a knee to the body.

Russo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Russo closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Russo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Master looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcolm Master. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Russo obliges.
Russo lands a good knee to the midsection. Master won't want to take too many of those.

Russo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Russo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Russo tries to stand and escape but Master is controlling the position.

Master looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.

Master actively working from the bottom here.
It looks like Russo is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Russo wants to stand but Master has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Russo tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Master.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Russo tries to stand and escape but Master is controlling the position.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Russo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Master actively working from the bottom here.
Russo wants to stand up but Master has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Master is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Russo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Russo's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Master patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Russo has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Master is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Russo is defending well though. Master let's go of the attempt for now.

Russo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Master is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Russo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Russo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Master is looking for the choke from the back position but Russo is controlling his hands well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Master tightening his grip on Russo, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vedran Russo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Master's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Russo connects with a leg kick. Master looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Russo throws a nice inside leg kick.

Russo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Master's guard.
Russo wants to get up but he can't break Master's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Master looking for a guillotine here but Russo defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Master looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo wants to stand but Master is controlling his posture from full guard.

Master is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Master's guard.

Master has his foot on Russo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russo works his way back into a safe position though.

Master is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Russo stands up and waves to Master to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo tries to stand but Master is controlling his head.
Master manages to get back to half guard.
Russo wants to get back to his feet.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Master tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Master to get to his feet.

Russo clinches.

Russo manages to break the clinch.
Russo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Russo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knees to the body from Russo.
Master tries for a takedown but Russo manages to get underhooks.

Russo manages to pull guard.

Master drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Master jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Russo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Master drops back looking for a leg! Russo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russo manages to kick Master off! Master jumps back into Russo's guard.

Master drops back, looking for a kneebar! Russo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Russo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Russo!
Master tries to bench press Russo off him but Russo keeps the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Russo tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Master is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Master is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Malcolm Master has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vedran Russo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Master looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vedran Russo.
I've got Russo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vedran Russo!