PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 2272 p4p, 278 weight class) and Fook Man (ranked 2069 p4p, 255 weight class). Northrop's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Alive And Kicking. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Northrop
vs
Man

180 cm
38
175 lbs
24 - 22 - 0

180 cm
40
166 lbs
32 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Groove Gear
Perkele!

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 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Northrop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fook Man!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man avoids the body shot from Northrop.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Man.

Man tries to keep at a distance but Northrop has taken the fight into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Northrop.
Northrop lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Man escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Northrop throws a poor cross that misses
and Man counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Northrop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Northrop misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Man tries to counter by closing the distance.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Man crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Northrop - the referee stops the clock and Man gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Northrop. Man manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Northrop is looking to chop away at Man's legs.
Northrop throws a leg kick
and Man makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Man chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Man forces Northrop back against the cage and clinches.
Man tries to work over Northrop's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Northrop scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop misses with some punches.
Northrop tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Man's elbow.
Northrop blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Man letting Northrop take a breather here.

Man escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russell Northrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Man on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Northrop looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Man circles away from the clinch attempt.

Man rushes Northrop and presses him up against the cage.
Northrop lands a hook to the side of the head.

Man's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good shot there by Man.
Northrop tries a head kick but it misses.
Man was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

Northrop forces Man back against the cage and clinches.
A shot in the inside from Northrop.
Man lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Northrop backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Northrop takes a shot to the head.
Man misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Man lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Man has him pressed against the cage.
Northrop tries to pull guard but Man won't allow it.
Man tries to throw a body punch but Northrop avoids it by throwing Man back against the cage.

Northrop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Northrop closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Man quickly recovers to half guard.

Northrop is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Man is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Northrop with the ground and pound but Man uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Man is trying to control the position but Northrop postures up.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Northrop wants to control from the top but Man keeps moving.
Man keeping full guard, as Northrop tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Northrop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Man swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Man is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Man is controlling Northrop's posture.
Northrop pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Man is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Man is pulling down on Northrop's head. It's preventing any offense from Northrop, at least for the moment.
Man keeping moving, preventing Northrop from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Man wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Man takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Northrop tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Man paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Northrop is trying hard to land a takedown here. Man sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Northrop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Northrop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Man smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Man has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Northrop throws a combination. Man tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Fook Man has been cut.
Man walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Northrop checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Northrop attempts a counter takedown but Man avoids it well and moves away.
Fook Man is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Good work by Man as he checks the leg kick.
Northrop misses with a series of wild punches.
Man wants to counter with a clinch but Northrop pushes him away.
Northrop closes the distance looking to clinch
and Man counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Russell Northrop will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fook Man's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Man defending well as Northrop loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Northrop.
Man circles away from the clinch attempt.
Northrop misses with a double jab
and Northrop takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Northrop shoots for a double leg takedown but Man sprawls well. He's pushed Northrop's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Man slips a jab and a cross from Northrop.
Man staying out of range there.
Man looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Russell Northrop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Man takes a swing at Northrop's ribcage but misses.
Northrop tries to move into range but Man moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Man avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Northrop, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Northrop misses with a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Northrop.
A nice leg kick lands there from Man.
Russell Northrop is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Man throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Man counter with a right hand.
Northrop doesn't manage to clinch there - Man circles away.
Northrop backing away here, and Man unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Man showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Northrop.
Northrop throws a series of punches but Man avoids them all with ease.

Northrop has Man up against the cage in a clinch.

Northrop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Man cracks Northrop with a right hand to the side of the head.

Northrop closes the distance and clinches.
Man gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Northrop.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Northrop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Man lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Man lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice elbow from Man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Man scores with a hook to the body.
Northrop blocks a body shot from Man.
Man lands a right hand that snaps the head of Northrop backwards.

Man breaks the clinch.

Northrop throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Man was covering up waiting for the punch and Northrop finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Man looking for a sweep. Not yet Man, not yet.
Man bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Northrop's guard.

Northrop avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Northrop avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Man throwing strikes from guard but Northrop blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Northrop is on top in guard.

Man manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Northrop manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Man scoring with some ground and pound.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Man throws a big elbow that misses.

Northrop has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Man is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Northrop.
Northrop is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Northrop manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Man throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Man is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Northrop is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Man thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Northrop taking shots to the head.

Northrop is rocked!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Man cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Oh Northrop is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Northrop keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Man landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop working to try and regain half guard.
Man cracks Northrop with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fook Man!
Russell Northrop spoke after the fight, saying 'No fair. He tried to kiss me.'.