PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brij Khali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Russo
vs
Khali

169 cm
42
165 lbs
23 - 21 - 1

175 cm
44
160 lbs
32 - 48 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Frankie Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 48 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Brij Khali!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Topper Green and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo keeps the fight on the outside.
Khali is looking to clinch but Russo is avoiding it.
Russo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Khali clinches with his opponent.
Khali looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khali wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Russo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Russo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khali.
Russo swats away the attempt to clinch by Khali.
Khali tries to close the distance and clinch but Russo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khali wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khali doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Russo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sloppy strikes from Russo. Those never looked like landing.
Brij Khali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khali wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khali fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Khali tries to clinch but Russo moves out of range.
Russo misses with a looping right.
Khali wants to clinch.
Khali wants to clinch up but Russo keeps it at a distance.
Khali ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Khali is looking for the big counter here.
Russo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Khali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khali tries to close the distance and clinch but Russo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Russo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Khali tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.
Russo tries to counter with a takedown but Khali is quick to defend against it.
Khali tries to clinch up.
Russo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khali tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Khali tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Russo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Khali has Russo up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Russo is looking for a takedown.
Khali has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Russo has Khali pressed against the cage, preventing Khali from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Khali breaks the clinch.
Khali moves in looking to clinch but Russo pushes him off.

Khali instigates a clinch.
Khali can't break the clinch.
Khali is trying to force a seperation but Russo has the dominant position.

Russo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Khali tries to close the distance and clinch up but Russo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Russo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Khali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Khali circles away quickly and effectively.
Khali tries to clinch but Russo moves out of range.
Khali tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.
Russo swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Russo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Khali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Khali doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Russo misses with the combination.

Khali takes the fight into the clinch.
Khali is trying to force a seperation but Russo has the dominant position.

Khali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Russo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Khali tries to kick Russo off but Russo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Russo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo trying to control the action but Khali is working from the bottom.
Khali pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo working Khali over with strikes.
Khali wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ground and pound from Russo.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Russo stalling.
Russo wants to pass the guard but Khali is defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Russo lands a nice short elbow.
Ground and pound from Russo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Russo dominated that round.
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.

Khali closes the distance but Russo moves to the side
and Russo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Russo swats away the attempt to clinch by Khali.
Russo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Khali fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khali is looking to clinch.
Russo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Russo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Russo lands in his opponent's guard.
Khali wants to stand but Russo is controlling the position.
Russo wants to control from the top but Khali keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khali is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Russo is controlling him.
Khali keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
Russo scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khali wants to stand and escape but Russo is having none of it.
Russo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Khali's head.
Russo prevents Khali from getting back to his feet.
Russo postures up and lands a big shot to Khali's brow.
Russo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Khali is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Russo is controlling him.
Russo pushing down on Khali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Russo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Khali is trying to stand up here but Russo is controlling him well.
Russo working over Khali with some ground and pound. Khali looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Russo lands strikes from half guard.
Russo is looking to take a break and control but Khali is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khali is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Russo drops an elbow to the side of Khali's head.
Khali has hold of Russo's hands but Russo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Khali wants to get back to his feet.
Russo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khali knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Russo prevents Khali from standing back up.
Russo working over Khali with some ground and pound. Khali looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Khali looks like he's trying to stand up.
Khali on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khali pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Russo connects with a nice short shot to Khali's temple.
Khali looks like he's trying to stand up.
Khali is refusing to be controlled, as Russo sits in half guard.
Khali pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Russo controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Russo connects with a nice short shot to Khali's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Russo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Russo prevents Khali from standing back up.
Russo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Khali pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
Russo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khali can do to turn this around?
Frankie Russo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khali has hold of Russo's hands but Russo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Khali is looking to escape.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Khali wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russo working Khali over with strikes.
Khali pushes Russo off looking to stand but Russo dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Russo there.
Russo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Russo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Russo digs a good body shot into Khali's ribs.
Khali tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Russo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russo scores with a jab to the head.
Russo throws a right hand that Khali ducks under and follows up with a left that Khali also avoids with ease.
Khali unleashes a big counter combination but Russo bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Khali tries to clinch there but Russo circles away.
Russo throws a quick counter kick to the body but Khali avoids it.
Khali moves in looking to clinch but Russo pushes him off.
Frankie Russo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khali fails with an attempt to clinch.
Russo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Khali wants to clinch.
Khali closes the distance looking to clinch
and Russo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Khali thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khali is looking to clinch but Russo is avoiding it.
Khali showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Russo.
Khali wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Khali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russo misses with a few strikes there.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Khali circles away quickly and effectively.
Khali lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Russo swats away the attempt to clinch by Khali.

Khali gets a clinch.
Khali working hard to break the clinch.
Khali is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Khali breaks the clinch.
Khali moves in looking to clinch but Russo pushes him off.

Khali darts in and clinches Russo up against the cage.
Russo prevents Khali from breaking the clinch.
Khali is trying to break free.

Russo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Khali regains guard immediately.
Russo pushing down on Khali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Brij Khali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khali is trying to stand.
Khali is not content to let Russo control the position.
Russo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo trying to control from half guard but Khali is working away.
Russo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Russo prevents Khali from standing back up.
Russo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khali does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Russo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Khali is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Russo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Khali with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khali is trying to stand.
Khali has hold of Russo's hands but Russo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Russo drops an elbow to the side of Khali's head.
Russo lands strikes from half guard.
Khali is trying to stand up here but Russo is controlling him well.
Khali is staying active underneath Russo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Russo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Russo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Khali on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Russo prevents Khali from standing back up.
Khali is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Russo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Khali taking some punishment here, with Russo in his half guard.
Russo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Khali is looking to escape.
Khali is looking to get back to is feet but Russo passes into side control.
Khali takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Frankie Russo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Russo connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Khali some visible discomfort.
Khali is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russo scores with punches from side control.
Khali is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Russo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Russo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Russo!
Brij Khali was interviewed post fight and said 'Dissapointed to Lose'.