PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arkady Rossovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russo comes to the cage accompanied by Imagine Dragons-Radioactive. Rossovich is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by By Your Side. Donato Russo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Russo
vs
Rossovich

172 cm
39
149 lbs
34 - 25 - 1

150 cm
25
145 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Merciless Gladiators

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 34 - 25 - 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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arkady Rossovich!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rossovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Russo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rossovich's sensitive parts.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Rossovich has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Rossovich rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Russo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Russo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rossovich takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Russo avoids the body shot from Rossovich.
Rossovich lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Donato Russo has been cut.
Rossovich throws a series of punches but Russo moves out of range.
Rossovich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossovich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russo.
Rossovich throws an overhand right that lands on Russo's shoulder, as Russo tries to avoid the shot.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Rossovich misses.
Russo throws a series of punches but Rossovich avoids them all with ease.
Rossovich throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russo blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rossovich.
Russo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rossovich lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Russo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rossovich has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rossovich and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Russo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rossovich counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rossovich darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
We've been hearing reports that Russo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Russo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rossovich throws a head kick but Russo moves out of range.
A cross from Rossovich lands.
Russo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rossovich.
A combination from Russo does no damage.
Rossovich throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rossovich clinches up against the cage.
Rossovich lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rossovich throws an elbow but misses.
A short uppercut from Rossovich.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Russo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Russo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rossovich counters with a low kick, right behind Russo 's knee.
Russo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Rossovich counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rossovich throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo misses with a two punch combination.
Russo throws a half hearted mid kick.
A punch combination from Rossovich misses.
Rossovich fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rossovich moves out of range as Russo throws a body kick.
Russo misses with a low kick.
Rossovich tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.

Rossovich clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo is trying to break the clinch but Rossovich is controlling him.
Russo tries to circle away but Rossovich has him pinned against the cage.
Rossovich misses with an elbow strike.
Rossovich misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Russo.
Russo working hard to break the clinch.
Russo is trying to force a seperation but Rossovich has the dominant position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rossovich.
Rossovich makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Russo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rossovich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Russo pushes Rossovich away with a front kick.
An inside leg kick from Russo misses.
Rossovich lands with a hook. Russo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rossovich moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rossovich tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Russo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossovich will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Rossovich clinches up with Russo and pushes him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossovich keeps control of Russo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Still in the clinch, Rossovich scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rossovich lands a shot to the body.
Russo tries to break the clinch but Rossovich is controlling the position.
Rossovich lands a damaging elbow.
Russo working hard to break the clinch.
Russo is trying to force a seperation but Rossovich has the dominant position.
Rossovich lands with a right to the head.
Rossovich lands with a left to the head.
Rossovich lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rossovich has Russo pressed against the cage, preventing Russo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Russo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rossovich throws a series of punches but Russo avoids them all with ease.
Russo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rossovich eats them both and turns towards Russo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arkady Rossovich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Russo lands a two punch combo.
Russo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Russo misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Rossovich.
Donato Russo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rossovich cracks Russo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Russo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russo tries to land a front kick but Rossovich steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rossovich throws a series of punches but Russo moves out of range.
Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rossovich throws a left and a right that both miss
and Russo counters with an inside leg kick.
Russo swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Russo misses with a leg kick
and Russo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Russo throws a combination. Rossovich tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rossovich throws a right hand that Russo ducks under and follows up with a left that Russo also avoids with ease.
Russo scores with a leg kick.
Russo connects with a leg kick. Rossovich looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Russo tries to bum rush Rossovich with a series of wild strikes but Rossovich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Russo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Rossovich closes the distance and pushes Russo back into the cage.
Russo takes an elbow to the temple.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rossovich.
Rossovich throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rossovich misses with a punch on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Rossovich.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossovich scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossovich lands an uppercut.
Rossovich goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Russo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Russo wants to get back to striking at distance but Rossovich won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rossovich just misses with a elbow thrown towards Russo's brow.

Russo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rossovich darts in trying to clinch
and Russo counters with a thumping low kick.
Russo thuds his right hand into Rossovich's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rossovich throws a series of punches but Russo moves out of range.
Rossovich throws a big shot that misses.
Rossovich cracks the inside of Russo's front leg.
Rossovich walks forward, straight into a front kick from Russo.
Russo scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossovich fails to land with a series of punches.
Russo throws a series of punches but Rossovich avoids them all with ease.
Rossovich dodges the punch combination from Russo.
Rossovich misses with a double jab
and Russo counters with a good, hard body kick but Rossovich shrugs it off.
Russo scores with a spinning back kick!
Rossovich throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Russo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rossovich won't be happy with that.
Rossovich is breathing heavily.
Russo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russo wants to control but Rossovich is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rossovich will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Rossovich is not content to let Russo control the position.

Donato Russo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rossovich throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rossovich thumps Russo with a low kick.
Rossovich throws a series of punches but Russo avoids them all with ease.
Rossovich throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Donato Russo's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Russo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rossovich checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rossovich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Russo circles away quickly and effectively.
Rossovich looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rossovich jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rossovich throws a wild body kick that Russo sees coming a mile off.
Rossovich misses with a series of wild punches.
Rossovich throws a right and a left that Russo avoids nicely.
Rossovich throws out a leg kick but Russo moves out of range and Rossovich only half commits.
Nice shot by Russo.
Russo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Russo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rossovich.
Rossovich swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A combination from Russo does no damage.
Russo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo throws a solid leg kick but Rossovich takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Russo.
Some bone on bone action there as Russo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Russo slips a straight right by Rossovich.
Russo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Russo fails to land with a series of punches.
Rossovich throws the kick towards the body but Russo avoids it.

Rossovich forces Russo back against the cage and clinches.
Rossovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rossovich swings wildly with an uppercut but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rossovich misses with a hook to the ribs.

Russo manages to break the clinch.
Russo avoids the head kick by Rossovich.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rossovich circles away quickly and effectively.
Russo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rossovich counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rossovich connects with a single shot there.
Rossovich takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rossovich just misses with a punch to the body.
Rossovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rossovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Russo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rossovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Russo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rossovich.
Russo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rossovich tries to clinch up.
Russo loads up on a big right hand but Rossovich slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a leg kick which misses Rossovich's front leg but catches the back leg as Rossovich tries to avoid it.
Russo misses with an uppercut.
Rossovich slips a jab and a cross from Russo.
Russo throws a lazy right hand but Rossovich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rossovich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rossovich throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
An inside leg kick from Russo misses.

Rossovich forces Russo back against the cage and clinches.
Rossovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Russo.
Rossovich tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Rossovich fails to land.
Rossovich makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rossovich pushes off an throws an elbow but Russo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rossovich misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo is looking to break free of the clinch but Rossovich has double underhooks.
Rossovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Russo.
Rossovich has a couple of punches blocked by Russo.
Russo is trying to break the clinch but Rossovich is controlling him.
Russo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rossovich lands an elbow just above Russo 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rossovich.
Rossovich makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Russo manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossovich is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rossovich moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice shot by Rossovich.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo fails to land with a series of punches.
Rossovich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rossovich.
Russo keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arkady Rossovich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rossovich 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Arkady Rossovich!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Arkady Rossovich!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Donato Russo!

Arkady Rossovich wins by split decision!
A relieved looking Arkady Rossovich thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.