PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vincente Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Bates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vincente Russo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Russo
vs
Bates

180 cm
18
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
176 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vincente Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Norman Bates!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bates throws a predictable looking body shot
and Russo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Russo tries to clinch but Bates is having none of it.
Bates is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Russo gets caught flat footed, as Bates shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo controls Bates momentarily but Bates frees himself.
Russo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bates is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bates pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bates should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bates misses with a leg kick
and Bates takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Russo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bates content to stall in guard here.
Bates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates controlling from the top position.
Bates loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bates is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like Bates might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bates manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bates fails with the takedown
and Russo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bates misses with a jab to the body
and Russo counters with a straight right hand.
Bates misses with a kick to the body.
A quick step to the side and Russo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russo connects with a nice looking jab.
Russo scores with the left hand. Bates knows he should have avoided that one.

Bates is rocked!
Norman Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bates is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Russo just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Bates has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Vincente Russo!
During a confident post fight interview, Vincente Russo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.