PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bertrand Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Russel
vs
Cage

195 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bertrand Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Cage!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel digs a good hook to Cage's body.
Russel could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Cage misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cage wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cage throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cage is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cage tries to pull guard but Russel holds him up against the cage and eventually Cage drops back down to his feet.

Cage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Russel wants to clinch.
Russel lands with a straight right. Cage didn't see that one coming.
Cage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russel throws a jab when Cage was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Cage counters by moving into the clinch.
Cage goes for a takedown in the clinch but Russel prevents it.

Cage is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Russel can't fight it off and eventually Cage manages to take the fight to the floor. Russel looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Russel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage passes Russel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Cage decides to stand and escape the position.
Russel lands a body shot.
Russel digs a good hook to Cage's body.
Russel throws a good cross that connects.
Russel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Cage feints and as Russel raises his hands in defense, Cage changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Cage gets to his feet - Russel follows without any prompting.
Russel is breathing heavily.

Cage gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cage has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Russel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bertrand Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Russel.
Russel blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Russel fails to land.
Cage lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cage wants to get back to striking at distance but Russel won't allow it.
Nice body punch from Russel - that landed with a thud.
Russel lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Russel.
Russel misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Russel.
Cage takes a shot to the head.
Russel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Russel misses with the head strike.
Cage blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Russel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Russel.
Russel misses with a punch on the inside.
Cage misses with a short punch on the inside.

Cage wants the takedown. Russel is fighting it off but Cage persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Russel's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Russel trying to control the position.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel trying to keep a closed guard but Cage is proving a slippery customer.
Cage wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.

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.
Russel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cage postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cage on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Nice cross by Russel.
No luck for Cage with that takedown attempt.
Bertrand Russel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russel connects with a nice looking jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Cage dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cage takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Russel doesn't manage to clinch there - Cage circles away.
A slow jab from Cage misses its intended target.

Cage shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Cage was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cage landing shots from mount.
Russel is working to get back to half guard.
Cage thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cage sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Cage throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Russel because Cage loaded up on that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel tries to buck Cage off but he can't manage it.
Cage throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Russel wants to control but Cage is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Cage cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Russel is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Cage with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cage dominating with strikes here.
Cage controlling from mount.
Cage thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Russel holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Cage tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Russel is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Cage thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Russel is squirming around, avoiding Cage's attempts to control the action.
Cage throwing strikes here but Russel is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Cage working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cage throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Russel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cage misses with a head shot.
Russel blocking the ground and pound.
Russel is squirming around, avoiding Cage's attempts to control the action.
Cage looking to ground and pound but Russel is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russel tries to lock up and control but Cage gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cage wants to control the pace but Russel is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Russel tries to clinch there but Cage circles away.
Cage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russel tries to clinch up.
Cage walks into a jab.

Cage closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cage blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Russel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Russel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Russel gets through Cage's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cage is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Russel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cage misses with a punch on the inside.
Russel misses with a punch on the inside.
Russel scores with a shot to the side of Cage's head.
Cage tries to score a body lock takedown but Russel shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Russel dodges an elbow strike from Cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Russel as the two fighters clinch.
Cage tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bertrand Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Cage.
Russel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russel stops a takedown attempt from Cage.
A short right from Russel.
Cage goes for a takedown attempt but Russel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Russel!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A jab from Russel finds it's way through Cage's defenses.
Russel tries to clinch up

and Cage counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Russel.
Russel has a couple of punches blocked by Cage.
Russel is pressed up against the cage. Cage has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russel down to the mat. Russel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Russel works over Cage's head and body with a nice combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Russel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cage throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Cage scores a takedown into full mount!
Cage working Russel over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage thowing shots but they're missing.
Cage thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Cage jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Russel is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Russel and Cage has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
An elbow from Cage crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel is not content to let Cage control the position.
Russel is trying to get back to his feet.
The ground and pound from Cage seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Cage trying to control the position but Russel is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cage in side control, throwing shots but Russel defends.
Cage trying to control the position but Russel is working away.
Cage tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Joe Cage has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Russel scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russel lands a lovely overhand right.
Russel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bertrand Russel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cage drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Cage throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Cage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cage 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Cage!