PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wiremu Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kitano Ajinomoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wiremu Russell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Russell
vs
Ajinomoto

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wiremu Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kitano Ajinomoto!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ajinomoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Russell off and has taken his back!

Russell is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ajinomoto gets his way!

Ajinomoto looking to break Russell's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Russell remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ajinomoto will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Russell is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Ajinomoto working for the choke.
Russell tries to escape the position.
Ajinomoto is trying to stick to Russell's back but Russell is turning into Ajinomoto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ajinomoto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Russell.
Ajinomoto looks gassed!

Ajinomoto is looking for a triangle but Russell pushes his legs off easily.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ajinomoto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russell stands and throws Ajinomoto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Russell landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Russell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ajinomoto takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell scoring with punches and elbows.
Ajinomoto regains half guard.
Russell working Ajinomoto over with strikes.

Ajinomoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Russell working Ajinomoto over with strikes.
Russell 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.
Ajinomoto works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ajinomoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Russell is in close to Ajinomoto's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ajinomoto looking for a guillotine here but Russell defends easily.
Russell looking to pass the guard.

Russell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ajinomoto lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russell!

Ajinomoto is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Russell can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajinomoto manages to capitalize on a mistake by Russell to take his back!

Ajinomoto looking for the choke but no joy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ajinomoto is trying to stick to Russell's back but Russell is turning into Ajinomoto. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ajinomoto's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Russell.
Russell looking to pass the guard.

Russell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Russell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ajinomoto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Russell is working Ajinomoto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ajinomoto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Russell drops back looking for a leg! Ajinomoto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ajinomoto manages to kick Russell off! Russell jumps back into Ajinomoto's guard.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Ajinomoto is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ajinomoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ajinomoto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russell's guard.

Ajinomoto drops back looking for a leg! Russell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russell manages to kick Ajinomoto off! Ajinomoto jumps back into Russell's guard.
Russell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Ajinomoto drops back looking for a leg! Russell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Russell manages to kick Ajinomoto off! Ajinomoto jumps back into Russell's guard.

Russell had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ajinomoto is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Russell Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ajinomoto's back instead.
Russell keeps control of the position as Ajinomoto tries to break free.
Russell connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ajinomoto to escape the position.
Ajinomoto breaks Russell's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ajinomoto won't allow Russell to sweep him here.
Ajinomoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Russell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ajinomoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ajinomoto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Russell is looking for a triangle but Ajinomoto pushes his legs off easily.

Ajinomoto 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.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Russell keeping full guard, as Ajinomoto tries to pass.
Russell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Russell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ajinomoto manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Russell works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Russell passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ajinomoto manages to work his way to half guard, despite Russell's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kitano Ajinomoto will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russell clinches up with Ajinomoto and pushes him back against the cage.
Russell scores with a knee to the head.

Russell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ajinomoto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Russell wants to work for an arm triangle but Ajinomoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Russell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ajinomoto defending well though.
Ajinomoto is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Russell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ajinomoto is looking to improve his position.

Russell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ajinomoto is just riding it out for now. Russell eventually gives up the hold.

Ajinomoto is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Russell pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ajinomoto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Russell 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.

Ajinomoto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell pushing down on Ajinomoto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Russell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ajinomoto has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kitano Ajinomoto has got the better of the ground game so far.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura but Ajinomoto is defending well.

Ajinomoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Russell is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ajinomoto manages to get to full guard.

Ajinomoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Russell scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell chips away with some ground and pound.
Russell slips nicely into half guard.

Russell is working for a kimura but Ajinomoto is defending it quite comfortably.

Ajinomoto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura but Ajinomoto is defending well.

Ajinomoto looking for submissions off his back.

Ajinomoto looking for submissions off his back.
Russell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Russell working Ajinomoto over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell uses his free foot to push down on Ajinomoto's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ajinomoto.
Ajinomoto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Ajinomoto is rocked!
Russell postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Ajinomoto bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Russell and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wiremu Russell!