PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kim Stenemo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stenemo's entrance music is Hand of Stone. A fine choice. Russell has chosen Rio by Duran Duran as his entrance music. Kim Stenemo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stenemo
vs
Russell

175 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Kim Stenemo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Bob Russell!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stenemo.
Stenemo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Russell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Stenemo is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell lands strikes from half guard.
Stenemo taking some punishment here, with Russell in his half guard.
Russell takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Russell wants to take a breather but Stenemo is having none of it.
Russell working over Stenemo with some ground and pound. Stenemo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell controlling the action here.
Russell works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell trying to control but Stenemo is having none of it.
Russell controlling his opponent.
Russell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Russell landing shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Stenemo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Russell dominating with strikes here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Russell is landing with some decent strikes but Stenemo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Russell trying to control but Stenemo is having none of it.
Russell postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stenemo looks a forlorn figure.
Russell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Russell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Russell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
BOOM! Russell connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russell landing shots from mount.
Russell has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Stenemo's face.
Stenemo is in a horrible position here. Russell smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Russell looking to finish Stenemo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stenemo!
Russell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Russell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell raining down shots from the mount!
Stenemo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stenemo is squirming around, avoiding Russell's attempts to control the action.
Russell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russell prevents Stenemo from getting the reversal.
Russell wants to control the pace but Stenemo is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Russell dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stenemo fails with the takedown

so Russell counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Russell passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Check out the look on Russell's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Russell wants to control but Stenemo is keeping him busy.
Russell lands a decent elbow from side control.

Russell tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stenemo is not content to let Russell control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Stenemo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Stenemo taking shots to the head.

That's two 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.
Russell cracks Stenemo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Stenemo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Russell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stenemo is looking to escape.
Russell landing strikes from the mount and Stenemo is in trouble!
Stenemo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenemo is in a horrible position here. Russell smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stenemo is bucking up trying to escape but Russell cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Stenemo regains half guard.
Stenemo is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russell controlling the action here.
Russell thows a huge punch but Stenemo dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenemo moves into full guard.
Russell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Stenemo has his foot on Russell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russell works his way back into a safe position though.
Russell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Russell works over Stenemo with some ground and pound from guard.
Stenemo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russell is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Russell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stenemo darts in trying to clinch

and Russell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Russell lands with a punch from half guard.
Russell passes to side control.
Russell cracks Stenemo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bob Russell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russell working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Russell working the ground and pound.
Russell lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russell in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Stenemo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stenemo to see if he's OK.
Russell is working Stenemo over with some ground and pound from side control.
Stenemo is not content to let Russell control the position.
Stenemo tries to bench press Russell off him but Russell keeps the position.
Stenemo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Russell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two 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.
Stenemo is looking for a sweep. Russell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Stenemo is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Russell pulls his head out easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Stenemo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Russell counters with a single leg into guard. Stenemo didn't expect that.

Stenemo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Russell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Russell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Stenemo working for submissions but it's allowed Russell to get to half guard.
Russell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenemo tries to roll over but Russell keeps him under control.
Russell working Stenemo over with strikes.

Stenemo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Stenemo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Russell passes the guard and advances to mount!
Stenemo regains half guard.
Stenemo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim Stenemo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russell slips a nice elbow through Stenemo's hands, connecting with Stenemo's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Russell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russell 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Russell!