PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Claude Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by If Rap Gets Jealous by K'naan. Russo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2pac - Ballad Of A Dead Soulja. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Russo

170 cm
28
158 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

172 cm
33
146 lbs
29 - 22 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
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 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claude Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Donato Russo!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Russo avoids it really well and circles away.
Russo moves out of range as Thompson strikes.

Thompson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thompson lands in his opponent's guard.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Russo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Russo wants to stand up but Thompson is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Russo is retaining full guard.
Russo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thompson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Russo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Russo has wrist control.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
Thompson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Russo wants to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Thompson scoring with punches from side control.
Russo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thompson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Russo taking some punishment here, with Thompson in his half guard.
Thompson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thompson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Thompson working the ground and pound effectively.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Thompson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Russo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
You can see the frustration on Russo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson prevents Russo from escaping the position.
Russo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Thompson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Thompson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Russo to see if he's OK.
Thompson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Thompson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Russo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thompson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russo is avoiding damage well.
Thompson cracks Russo with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Thompson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thompson grinds an elbow into Russo's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo taking a bit of punishment here - Thompson scoring with strikes.
Russo is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Thompson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo is trying to improve his position.

Thompson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Russo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Thompson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russo is avoiding damage well.
Russo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Thompson off and has taken his back!
Russo lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Russo is landing with strikes. Thompson can't take much more of this.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Russo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Russo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Russo landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Russo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Russo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Thompson is rocked!

It looks like Claude Thompson has been cut.
Russo loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Thompson scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Russo land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Russo stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Donato Russo!
After winning the bout, Donato Russo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.