PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Enrique Rold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rold
vs
Russel

168 cm
27
155 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

170 cm
32
153 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Enrique Rold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russel shoots in and gets a takedown into Rold's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russel stands up over Rold, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Russel wants to pass the guard but Rold is keeping the position.
Russel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Russel wants to control from the top but Rold keeps moving.
Russel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel wants to control from the top but Rold keeps moving.
Russel is in close to Rold's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Russel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel throws a big right hand that misses.
Russel throwing strikes but missing.
Russel with a flurry of punches that miss.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rold swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rold stuffs the takedown.
Rold throws a chopping leg kick but Russel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rold thows a left - swing and a miss!
Russel with a poor takedown
and Rold counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rold throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russel.
Russel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rold sprawls well. Rold wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russel gets slowly back to his feet.
Enrique Rold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Russel.
Rold pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel closes the distance and clinches up with Rold, looking for a takedown. Russel pushes Rold against the cage but Rold circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rold stuffs the takedown attempt from Russel. Russel gets slowly back to his feet.
We've been told by Rold's head coaches at Mano`s Elite BJJ Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Russel moves out of range of the strikes.
Russel shoots for a double leg takedown but Rold sprawls well. He's pushed Russel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Russel shoots for a takedown but Rold saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Russel has his takedown stuffed
and Rold counters with a body kick that stops Russel in his tracks momentarily.
Russel goes for a double leg but Rold avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rold continues to drive forward.
Russel taking a breather.
Russel misses with a punch on the inside.
Russel wants to take the fight to the mat but Rold manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Russel breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rold feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Russel's calf.

Rold tries to sprawl but Russel drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rold is trying to stand back up but Russel is controlling him
Russel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rold trying to control here.
Rold keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Rold tries to get to full guard but Russel has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
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 not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Russel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rold is looking for a sweep. Russel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rold wants to control but Russel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Russel will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Russel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Russel dives in and scores a takedown into Rold's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Russel tries to free his leg and advance position but Rold is retaining full guard.
Russel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Rold gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Russel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Russel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rold does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Russel seems content to control.
Russel throws a strike but Rold avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rold wants to sweep but no luck.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Rold gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ben Russel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Russel is trying to control the position but Rold postures up.
Rold trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Russel is on top in guard.

Rold bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Russel is on top in guard.

Rold tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rold working a defensive guard here.
Russel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rold wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel trying to control but Rold is working from the bottom.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Russel throwing strikes from guard but Rold blocks nicely.
Rold not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Russel postures up in Rold's guard and throws a big left but Rold blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Russel with a poor takedown
and Rold counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Russel checks the leg kick.
Russel moves out of range of the body kick from Rold.
Rold throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Russel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russel misses with a takedown attempt - Rold sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Enrique Rold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Russel.
Russel misses with a takedown attempt
and Rold counters with a thumping low kick.
Russel takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Russel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rold leaves Russel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Russel is breathing heavily.
Russel on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russel takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Rold gets caught flat footed, as Russel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rold is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Russel is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Enrique Rold will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Russel shoots in but no luck this time.
Rold stuffs the takedown attempt from Russel. Russel gets slowly back to his feet.
Russel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rold avoids it really well and circles away.
Enrique Rold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Russel.
Russel shoots in but Rold avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rold misses the shot to the body.
Russel dives in for a single leg takedown but Rold sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bit of stalling here from Rold.
Russel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rold fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Russel shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel fails with the takedown
and Rold counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Russel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russel misses with a takedown
and Rold counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rold thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Russel if he has to take too many more of those.
Russel has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rold.

Rold throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Russel tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rold is in Russel's guard.
Russel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Russel has a closed guard, preventing Rold from standing up.
Russel keeping full guard, as Rold tries to pass.
Rold looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel keeping full guard, as Rold tries to pass.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Russel is on top in guard.

Rold wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Russel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russel won't allow Rold to get back to his feet.
Russel postures up.
Russel throws a strike but Rold rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Russel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rold stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russel is pulling down on Rold's head to control his posture.
Rold pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russel is keeping the position for now.
Rold is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rold as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Russel is defended easily by Rold.
Rold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russel misses with a takedown
and Rold makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rold looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Russel with a poor takedown
and Rold counters with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Enrique Rold showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rold has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Enrique Rold!
A less than humble Enrique Rold misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.