PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Brock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bill Russell had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Russell
vs
Brock

190 cm
23
225 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
29
212 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bill Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Brock!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brock keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Brock looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Brock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Russell is proving hard to escape from.
Brock won't allow Russell to sweep him here.
Brock controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Russell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Eddie Brock hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Russell fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Brock avoids it really well and circles away.
Russell tries to clinch but Brock moves out of range.
Brock throws a low kick but Russell moves out of range easily.
Russell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Brock.
Russell misses with a low kick.
No luck for Russell with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Brock drives through with a takedown into guard.
Russell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Brock controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brock looking to pass the guard.
Brock wants to stand but Russell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Brock trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Brock from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Eddie Brock has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Brock as Russell shoots in.
Russell tries to clinch up but Brock circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brock looks to land a combination. Russell sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Russell misses with a few strikes there.
Brock shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russell misses with a leg kick

and Brock holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Russell can't get the takedown.
Russell is breathing heavily.

Brock pulls guard.
Russell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Russell postures up in Brock's guard and throws a big left but Brock blocks it.
Russell throws a big elbow that misses.
Russell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brock works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brock looking for a sweep. Not yet Brock, not yet.
Russell being controlled here momentarily.
Russell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brock doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Russell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brock wants to control the position but Russell says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Brock gets back to full guard.
Brock is looking to stand up but Russell isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Brock dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brock throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russell.
Russell wants to clinch.

Russell scores with a takedown into Brock's guard.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brock swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russell!
Russell tries to hold on but Brock pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brock trying to control but Russell is having none of it.
Brock controlling the pace for now.
Russell slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Eddie Brock has got the better of the ground game so far.
Brock content to control rather than advance.
Brock trying to control the action but Russell is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eddie Brock was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Brock wants to clinch.
Brock tries to clinch there but Russell circles away.
Brock throws a right hand that Russell ducks under and follows up with a left that Russell also avoids with ease.

Russell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Brock is pushing Russell's head away, looking to escape. Russell manages to hold on to the position though.

Russell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brock avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Russell.
Brock can't do much from the bottom here.
Brock defending against the ground and pound.
Brock tries to buck Russell off but Russell is having none of it.

Russell swings around for an armbar but Brock sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Russell's guard.
Brock tries to free his leg and advance position but Russell is retaining full guard.
Brock trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brock controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Eddie Brock has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Russell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russell fails with the takedown.
Brock fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell slips a jab and a cross from Brock.
Brock has his takedown stuffed
and Russell finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bill Russell will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Brock throws a right hand that Russell ducks under and follows up with a left that Russell also avoids with ease.
Russell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Brock counters with a big head kick but Russell shrugs it off.

Brock gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brock takes an elbow to the forehead.

Russell has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Brock clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Brock rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Russell winds up and cracks Brock with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Brock tries to roll over but Russell keeps him under control.
Russell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brock regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Russell.
Russell pushes down on Brock's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Russell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Brock works his way to full guard. Good work.

Russell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Brock, up you get!
Brock swinging wildly here.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Brock circles away.
Brock wants to clinch up but Russell keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brock dives in and scores a takedown into Russell's guard.
Brock trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brock is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Russell has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Brock finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Brock tries to avoid it but Russell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Brock to the ground. Brock escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Brock keeps the fight on the outside.
Brock looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Brock is looking to clinch but Russell is avoiding it.

Russell moves into range and clinches up with Brock.
Knees in the clinch landing for Brock.
Russell is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Brock has Russell pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Brock pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Russell tumbling to the mat - Brock dives into Russell's guard.
Brock wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brock postures up in Russell's guard and throws a big left but Russell blocks it.
Russell keeping full guard, as Brock tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brock trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eddie Brock.
Russell tries to clinch but Brock is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Brock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brock has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Brock!