PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dwight Grant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Tupac-The Uppercut. Grant is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Beanie (Mack B****). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Russo
vs
Grant

172 cm
32
157 lbs
27 - 21 - 1

182 cm
31
159 lbs
15 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)
Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)

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 27 - 21 - 1, fighting out of New York, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 23 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dwight Grant!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Grant.

Grant gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Grant pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Russo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Grant darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Grant is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Russo wants to get back to his feet.
Grant thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Russo's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant stops Russo from getting back to his feet.
Grant winds up and cracks Russo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Grant works his way into side control.
Grant postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Grant tries to advance to mount but Russo instead regains half guard.
Grant lands strikes from half guard.
Grant not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Grant is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Grant wants to advance to full mount but Russo doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo wants to stand but Grant is controlling the position.
Grant throwing strikes but missing.
Russo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grant sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Russo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant stops Russo from getting back to his feet.
Russo is looking to improve his position.
Grant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russo keeps working.
Grant seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Russo is staying active underneath Grant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dwight Grant hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Grant gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Grant lands a takedown into guard.
Russo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grant has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Grant in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Russo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Russo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grant defends well.
Grant working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grant wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Grant dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

It looks like Donato Russo has been cut.

Grant rushes Russo and presses him up against the cage.

Grant is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Russo can't fight it off and eventually Grant manages to take the fight to the floor. Russo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Grant drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Russo dives on top into guard.
Russo won't allow Grant to sweep him here.
Grant is trying to keep Russo in close.
Grant might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Russo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Grant tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Russo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Russo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grant working for submissions but it's allowed Russo to get to half guard.
Grant tries to roll over but Russo keeps him under control.
Dwight Grant has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russo is thwarting Grant's attempts to control the position.
Grant moves into full guard.
Grant wants to stand and escape but Russo is having none of it.

Grant is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Grant uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Russo thumps Grant with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grant displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Russo wants to clinch up but Grant keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grant fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Russo. Those never looked like landing.

Grant throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Russo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Grant is in Russo's guard.
Grant throws a big right hand that misses.
Grant won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
Russo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Grant!
Grant is in all sorts of trouble here.
Grant regains half guard.
Grant tries to roll over but Russo keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant missing with punches from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Russo there.

Russo is working for a submission of some sort.
Russo trying to control the pace.
Russo thows a huge punch but Grant dodges it nicely.
Grant makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Grant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo pushing down on Grant's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Russo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grant doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Russo.
Grant slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Russo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Grant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russo is one step ahead there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Grant wants to sweep here but Russo controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwight Grant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Russo delivers a nice body kick.

Russo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Grant is trying to defend but Russo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Grant tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.
Grant moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Grant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russo is one step ahead there.
Grant is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Grant is adopting a defensive guard.
Russo postures up and lands a big shot to Grant's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grant wants to sweep here but Russo controlling him for the moment.
Russo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Grant's head.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Grant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grant is trying to keep Russo in close.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Russo trying to control but Grant is working from the bottom.
Grant is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Grant is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grant is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Russo is just riding it out for now. Grant eventually gives up the hold.
Russo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grant.
Grant throwing shots but Russo is blocking nicely.
Grant works his way into full mount!
Russo is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grant tries to control but Russo wriggling away.
Donato Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dwight Grant is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Grant controlling the pace for now.
Grant wants to control the pace but Russo is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grant throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Russo because Grant loaded up on that one.
Grant with a couple of short strikes.
Grant working the ground and pound effectively.
Grant throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Russo blocking the ground and pound.
Russo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grant in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwight Grant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Grant 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwight Grant!