PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wilner Fatiman (ranked 2240 p4p, 218 weight class) and George Conor Russell (ranked 9032 p4p, 487 weight class). Fatiman comes to the cage accompanied by Zion Train. George Conor Russell has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wilner Fatiman's chin.

Fatiman
vs
Conor Russell

173 cm
24
147 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
20
153 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wilner Fatiman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Conor Russell!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fatiman bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fatiman takes a little break here. Russell wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Russell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Fatiman asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Fatiman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Russell, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russell is not content to let Fatiman control the position.
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fatiman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Russell is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatiman lands an elbow.
Fatiman looks up at the clock and then as Russell takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Fatiman smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Russell wants to get back to his feet but Fatiman drags him back down.
Fatiman trying to control the position but Russell is working away.
Fatiman throws a strike aimed at the side of Russell's head but Russell avoids it well.
Fatiman wants to control but Russell is keeping him busy.
Russell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Fatiman asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Fatiman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fatiman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fatiman wants to control but Russell is keeping him busy.
Russell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Fatiman takes a little break here. Russell wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Fatiman trying to control the position but Russell is working away.

Fatiman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Russell has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Fatiman but great work by Russell.

Russell stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatiman tries for a takedown but Russell circles away easily
and Russell counters with a three punch combo that has Fatiman backing up. Fatiman nods at Russell to acknowledge the strikes.
Fatiman fails to land the takedown.
Russell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As Fatiman backs off Russell throws a huge counter combo but Fatiman manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilner Fatiman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russell throws a series of punches but Fatiman avoids them all with ease.
Fatiman seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Fatiman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Russell circles away.
Fatiman fails with the takedown

and Russell moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fatiman is looking to take this one to the mat.
Fatiman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Russell's efforts to push away.
Fatiman keeps control of Russell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Russell is trying to break the clinch but Fatiman has him pressed against the cage.
Russell is trying to push Fatiman away but Fatiman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Russell tries to break free but Fatiman pushes him back against the cage.
Fatiman is looking for a takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Russell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fatiman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Russell sprawls well. Russell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fatiman gets slowly back to his feet.
Russell is looking for the big counter here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Conor Russell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Russell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fatiman to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Russell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fatiman.
Fatiman is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Russell wants to get back to his feet but Fatiman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fatiman.
Fatiman content to stall in guard here.
Wilner Fatiman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fatiman postures up and lands a big shot to Russell's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Fatiman from controlling successfully.
Russell wants to stand up but Fatiman is controlling him.
Russell is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Fatiman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fatiman postures up and lands a big shot to Russell's brow.
Fatiman trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Fatiman postures up and lands a big shot to Russell's brow.
Russell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fatiman controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fatiman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Russell keeping full guard, as Fatiman tries to pass.
Fatiman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fatiman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Russell wants to get back to his feet but Fatiman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Fatiman feints and as Russell raises his hands in defense, Fatiman changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fatiman trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Fatiman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fatiman trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatiman stops Russell from standing up.
Fatiman is pushing down on Russell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Russell is fighting to maintain full guard but Fatiman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fatiman scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Russell pushes Fatiman off looking to stand but Fatiman dives back in and keeps control.
Fatiman working the head and body with strikes.
Fatiman prevents Russell from standing back up.
Fatiman slows the pace down in half guard.
Russell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Russell is staying active underneath Fatiman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fatiman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Russell with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fatiman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fatiman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Fatiman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fatiman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fatiman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilner Fatiman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fatiman is defended easily by Russell.
Russell tries to bum rush Fatiman with a series of wild strikes but Fatiman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fatiman shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Fatiman gets a double leg takedown into Russell's guard.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Fatiman from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fatiman tries to free his leg and advance position but Russell is retaining full guard.
Russell wants to stand and escape but Fatiman is having none of it.
Fatiman landing some decent shots from guard.

Fatiman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatiman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.
Fatiman wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Fatiman won't allow Russell to get back to his feet.
Fatiman advances position into side control!

Fatiman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Russell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Russell is trying to buck Fatiman off.

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.
Fatiman looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russell is avoiding damage well.
Russell is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fatiman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russell keeps working.
Fatiman just content to control the position.

Fatiman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
A lull in the action here as Fatiman stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell pushes Fatiman away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Fatiman gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Russell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fatiman.
Fatiman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Russell can do to turn this around?
Fatiman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilner Fatiman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fatiman shoots in for a double leg but Russell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fatiman sets himself, and Russell steps forward looking for the clinch! Fatiman avoids it this time.

Fatiman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fatiman showed some decent athleticism there.
Fatiman content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fatiman is looking for a kimura here.
Fatiman wants to take a breather but Russell is having none of it.
Fatiman stops Russell from getting back to his feet.
Fatiman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Fatiman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
Fatiman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wilner Fatiman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fatiman 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wilner Fatiman!
Our winner, Wilner Fatiman, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.