PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Black Zach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jared Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jared Russell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zach
vs
Russell

183 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Black Zach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jared Russell!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zach has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zach gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Russell.
Russell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russell taking a breather.
Zach leaning against his opponent.
Zach drops down looking for an ankle pick but Russell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zach shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Russell defends it nicely.
Horrible takedown by Zach or perhaps it was just good defense by Russell which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Zach. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zach tries to clinch but Russell is having none of it.
Zach throws the left hand but Russell avoids the punch easily.
Russell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russell shoots in for a double leg but Zach sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zach fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zach avoids it really well and circles away.
Zach fails to land the takedown.
Russell moves to clinch but Zach breaks away
and Zach counters with a nice leg kick.
Russell looks to land a combination but Zach avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell stuffs the takedown.
Russell tries to clinch but Zach moves out of range.
Zach tries to clinch but Russell is having none of it.
Russell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Zach circles away.
Russell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russell on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zach. Zach obviously looking to wear him down.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zach fails with a takedown attempt.
Russell tries to clinch up.
Russell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zach blocks a head kick by Russell.
Russell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Russell looks winded!
Zach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zach misses the shot to the body.
Russell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Zach manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zach shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Zach's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Russell throws a right and a left that Zach avoids nicely.
Russell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zach looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Russell with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zach has Russell up against the cage in a clinch.
Zach leaning against his opponent.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zach as Russell tries to tie him up.

Zach breaks the clinch.
Zach shoots for a takedown but Russell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice body kick there by Zach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Russell is looking to clinch but Zach is avoiding it.
Zach displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Russell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Black Zach will probably get the nod.
That's time! Zach's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Zach closes the distance and clinches up with Russell, looking for a takedown. Zach pushes Russell against the cage but Russell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zach gets tackled into the cage by Russell. Russell maintains the clinch.
Russell tries to circle away but Zach has him pinned against the cage.

Zach breaks the clinch.
Zach fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Russell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Zach fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Zach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zach throws a series of punches but Russell moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zach fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt - Zach sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch but Zach swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zach keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zach keeps the fight on the outside.
Russell fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zach.
Zach shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Zach's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zach pinned against the cage. Zach gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A low kick from Russell misses
and Zach makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Horrible takedown by Zach or perhaps it was just good defense by Russell which made him look bad.

Russell has managed to clinch.
Russell fails to pull guard.
Zach changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Russell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Russell swats away the attempt to clinch by Zach.

Russell clinches up with Zach and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zach tries to pull guard but Russell won't allow it.
Zach looking to slow down the pace here.
Russell tries for a takedown but Zach manages to get underhooks.

Zach gets control of Russell's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zach will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Zach manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Zach.
Russell fails with the takedown.
Black Zach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Russell moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zach trying to control the position but instead, Russell has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zach into the cage.
Zach keeps control of Russell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zach drops down looking for an ankle pick but Russell pulls his leg out and moves away.
Zach displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Russell.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zach is looking to clinch but Russell is avoiding it.
Zach shoots in looking for a takedown. Russell tries to sprawl out of it but Zach keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Russell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jared Russell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Russell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Zach connects with a solid leg kick.
Zach misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Russell forces Zach back against the cage and clinches.
Russell takes an elbow to the temple.
Russell is trying to break free.

Russell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Russell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zach gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Zach tries to free his leg and advance position but Russell is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zach loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Russell is trying to keep Zach in close.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Zach from controlling successfully.
Russell is controlling Zach's posture.

Russell has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Zach is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Russell.
Russell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zach asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Zach decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zach closes this distance looking for a takedown but Russell circles away.
Russell motions for Zach to come forward. Russell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Black Zach is winning the standup battle so far.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Zach sprawls well. Zach wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
Russell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zach shoots in looking for a takedown but Russell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zach's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Black Zach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zach fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Russell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zach.
Russell's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Russell duly obliges.
Zach shoots in looking for a takedown but Russell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zach's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zach shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Russell defends it nicely.
Zach fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zach throws a jab but it's blocked by Russell.
Nice takedown defense from Zach. No joy for Russell on that attempt.
Russell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zach avoids it really well and circles away.
Zach tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Russell swivels and escapes.
Russell scores with a body shot.
Zach has a takedown stuffed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt - Zach sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jared Russell.
I think Russell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Black Zach!