PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Olle Koskinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Koskinen
vs
Russel

173 cm
36
150 lbs
33 - 7 - 0

170 cm
27
153 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

TWGC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fight Night Nutrition

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 33 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Olle Koskinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russel closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Koskinen quickly recovers to half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Russel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koskinen's head.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koskinen is trying to stand back up but Russel is controlling him
Russel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koskinen's head.
Koskinen is staying active underneath Russel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Koskinen wants to control but Russel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Russel wants to control but Koskinen is keeping him busy.
Koskinen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Russel.
Koskinen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koskinen tries to get out of the position.
Koskinen wants to get back to his feet but Russel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Russel landing some decent shots from guard.
Russel trying to control the position from guard on top but Koskinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Russel trying to control but Koskinen is working from the bottom.
Koskinen seems keen to control Russel's posture.
Russel cracks Koskinen with a solid left hand.
Russel sitting in guard here, content to control.
Russel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russel looking to pass the guard.
Russel throwing strikes but missing.
Koskinen wants to stand up but Russel is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Russel passes into half guard.
Russel wants to take a breather but Koskinen is having none of it.
Russel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Russel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Koskinen is trying to stand back up but Russel is controlling him
Russel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russel slows the pace down in half guard.
Russel winds up and cracks Koskinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Russel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koskinen's head.
Russel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Russel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Koskinen's hands, connecting with Koskinen's forehead.
Koskinen has hold of Russel's hands but Russel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Russel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Koskinen defending well though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Russel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel winds up and cracks Koskinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Russel is trying to control the action in half guard but Koskinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russel thows a huge punch but Koskinen dodges it nicely.
Koskinen is not content to let Russel control the position.
Russel working the head and body with strikes.

Russel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Russel thows a huge punch but Koskinen dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Russel lands a nice short elbow.
Russel wants to take a breather but Koskinen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koskinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russel.
Koskinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Russel misses with a takedown attempt - Koskinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Koskinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Koskinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russel misses with a straight left.
Russel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Koskinen. That one must have hurt.
The fighters circling - Koskinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

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

Russel is looking for a kimura here.
Koskinen is looking to control Russel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Koskinen avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koskinen keeps working.
Koskinen wants to get back to his feet.
Russel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koskinen tries to kick Russel off but Russel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Koskinen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russel on the ground.
Russel working Koskinen over with strikes.
Russel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Russel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Koskinen is not content to let Russel control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koskinen's head.
Russel not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Russel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Koskinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Russel.
Koskinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Russel.
Koskinen wants to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Russel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Koskinen defends it well.
Russel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel winds up and cracks Koskinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koskinen is staying active underneath Russel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Koskinen controlling the position well.
Russel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Koskinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Russel.
Koskinen is looking to escape.
Russel wants to take a breather but Koskinen is having none of it.
Russel working Koskinen over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel lands with a punch from half guard.
Koskinen is trying to stand.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Russel lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koskinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Russel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Russel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Russel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koskinen wants to improve his position but Russel is controlling well.
Russel working over Koskinen with some ground and pound. Koskinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel is trying to control the action in half guard but Koskinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Russel lands strikes from half guard.
Koskinen looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Russel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Russel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Koskinen can pounce on him.
Russel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Koskinen throws a head kick that misses.
Russel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koskinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Koskinen ducks under a wild hook from Russel.
Koskinen misses with an uppercut.
Koskinen slips a straight right by Russel.
Russel throws a looping overhand right but Koskinen ducks down to avoid it.

Russel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Koskinen's half guard.
Ben Russel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russel drops an elbow to the side of Koskinen's head.
Nice strikes from Russel there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russel lands strikes from half guard.
Russel with the ground and pound but Koskinen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Russel trying to control but Koskinen is working from the bottom.
Russel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Koskinen's guard.
Russel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Koskinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Russel.
Russel trying to control from half guard but Koskinen is working away.
Russel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Olle Koskinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Koskinen's hands, connecting with Koskinen's forehead.
Koskinen keeping hold of Russel's head, controlling as best he can.
Koskinen tries to roll over but Russel keeps him under control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Russel seems to be working for a kimura but Koskinen defends the submission attempt.
Koskinen trying to hold on to Russel's head to control him but Russel postures up.
Russel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen wants to get back to full guard.
Russel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Russel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russel lands with a punch from half guard.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russel working Koskinen over with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koskinen tries to roll over but Russel keeps him under control.
Russel lands strikes from half guard.
Russel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Koskinen defending well though.
Russel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Koskinen defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen has hold of Russel's hands but Russel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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!
Russel trying to control from half guard but Koskinen is working away.
Russel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Russel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koskinen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Russel trying to control from half guard but Koskinen is working away.
Russel thows a huge punch but Koskinen dodges it nicely.
Ben Russel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Koskinen's hands, connecting with Koskinen's forehead.
Koskinen taking some punishment here, with Russel in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Russel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Russel 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Russel!
Ben Russel very nearly forgot to thank Fight Night Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.