PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Psycho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philip Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Psycho
vs
Russel

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Johnny Psycho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Philip Russel!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Psycho misses with an uppercut.
Psycho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Psycho throws a lazy right hand but Russel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Psycho looks to score with a jab to the body but Russel is just out of range.
Psycho missing with a left hand there. Russel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Russel has managed to clinch.
Psycho wants to break the clinch but can't.
Psycho wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Russel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Psycho just stands there and leans against the cage.
Psycho is looking to break free of the clinch but Russel has double underhooks.
Psycho is looking to control Russel's arms but Russel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Psycho has his back to the cage.
Psycho can't break the clinch.
Russel is pushing Psycho up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Psycho has had enough of the clinch but Russel keeps him there for the moment.

Psycho's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Psycho. No joy for Russel on that attempt.
The fighters circling - Psycho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russel fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnny Psycho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Russel.
Psycho tests Russel's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A combination from Russel does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel drops Psycho with a beautiful combination! Psycho stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Russel is looking for the KO!

It looks like Johnny Psycho has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice takedown defense from Psycho. No joy for Russel on that attempt.
Russel slips under a jab.
Psycho swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Russel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Psycho is breathing heavily.
Russel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Psycho keeps working.
Russel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Psycho kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Russel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Russel shoots in but no luck this time.
Psycho lands a jab.
Russel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Psycho swivels and escapes.
Psycho scores with a decent looking hook.
Russel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Psycho loads up on a big right hand but Russel slips the punch.
Psycho works Russel's body with a nice hook.
Psycho throws a combination that misses

and Russel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Russel.
Russel trying to control but Psycho is working from the bottom.
Psycho wants to get back to his feet but Russel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel is standing up over Psycho. Psycho looks to escape but Russel dives into side control.

Russel stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Russel takes the fight into the clinch.
Psycho tries to break the clinch but Russel is controlling the position.
Russel avoiding damage.
Psycho wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Russel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Psycho fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Psycho misses with a double jab.
Russel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Psycho tries to avoid it but Russel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Psycho to the ground. Psycho escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Psycho fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnny Psycho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russel tries for a takedown but Psycho sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Psycho swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Russel shoots in but Psycho avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Russel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Psycho but Psycho pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Psycho fails to land with a series of punches.
Russel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Russel moves out of range of the strikes.

Russel takes the fight into the clinch.

Russel gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Psycho is refusing to be controlled, as Russel sits in half guard.
Russel wants to stand but Psycho has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Russel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Psycho's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Psycho connects with a crisp jab.
Russel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Psycho circles away.
Psycho on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A slow jab from Psycho misses its intended target.
Psycho swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Russel.
Psycho looks to land a combination but Russel avoids it well.

Russel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Russel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Psycho tries to kick Russel off but Russel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Russel trying to control from half guard but Psycho is working away.
It looks like Russel is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycho wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russel is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Russel won't let Psycho get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Russel punching from mount but Psycho doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Psycho squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Psycho trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Russel jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Psycho manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russel tries to clinch but Psycho is having none of it.

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.
Psycho with a nice cross.
Russel tries a head kick but it misses.
Psycho lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Psycho connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Russel momentarily.
Nice takedown defense from Psycho. No joy for Russel on that attempt.
Psycho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Russel was well out of range. Poor timing from Psycho.
Russel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Russel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Russel tries to clinch up.
Psycho lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Russel closes the distance and pushes Psycho back into the cage.
Russel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Psycho walks away with a smile on his face. Russel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Johnny Psycho has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Philip Russel.
Psycho scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Russel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Psycho.
Psycho swings for the body but Russel moves out of range.
Russel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Psycho is fending him off so far but Russel persists. Nope, Psycho circles away and we're back to standing.
Psycho lands a nice looking body shot.

Russel closes the distance and clinches.
Psycho is trying to break the clinch but Russel has him pressed against the cage.

Russel breaks from the clinch.
Russel tries to clinch but Psycho is having none of it.
Russel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Psycho scores with a decent looking hook.
Psycho throws a series of punches but Russel moves out of range.
Psycho stuffs the takedown.
Psycho throws a hook but Russel blocks it.

Russel instigates a clinch.

Russel manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Psycho trying to stand up but can't free himself from Russel's guard.

Russel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Russel working a defensive guard here.
Psycho has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Psycho tries to stand but Russel is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Psycho as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Philip Russel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Psycho's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Psycho's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Psycho duly obliges.
Psycho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Russel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Psycho is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Russel asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Russel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Psycho is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Russel trying to control the position but Psycho is working away.
Psycho on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Psycho tries to get out of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycho is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Russel has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Psycho tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Russel postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Psycho looks a forlorn figure.
Psycho is squirming around, avoiding Russel's attempts to control the action.
Russel with shots to the head and body - Psycho looks very uncomfortable down there.
Russel wants to control the pace but Psycho is squirming around nicely.
Psycho is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Russel has taken his back!
Psycho is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Even with his hooks in, Russel manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Psycho holding both Russel 's hands and preventing any damage.
Russel really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Psycho.

Russel is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Psycho is defending well though. Russel let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psycho is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Russel looking for the choke from the back.
Psycho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russel on the ground.
Psycho is trying to get back to his feet but Russel has full control of the position and if anything, Psycho has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Russel trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Psycho doesn't escape.
Psycho wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Russel patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Russel is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Psycho is defending well though. Russel let's go of the attempt for now.
Psycho wants to get back to his feet.

Russel is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Psycho controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Johnny Psycho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Philip Russel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Russel really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Psycho.

And that's the end of the fight!
Philip Russel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russel 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Philip Russel!