PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RUSSEL del Coto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ray
vs
del Coto

225 cm
19
284 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, RUSSEL del Coto!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
del Coto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ray shoots for a takedown but del Coto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
del Coto looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ray stuffs the takedown.

Ray gets a takedown into half guard.
del Coto tries to get to full guard but Ray has control of the leg.
del Coto moves into full guard.

del Coto looking for a guillotine here but Ray defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

del Coto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

del Coto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ray gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
del Coto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ray preventing the sweep.
Ray lands a couple of elbows.
Ray working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of del Coto's head.

It looks like RUSSEL del Coto has been cut.
del Coto 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.
del Coto looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

del Coto working for a triangle but Ray defends it easily.
Ray postures up in del Coto's guard and throws a big left but del Coto blocks it.
del Coto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ray regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ray looking for a sweep. Not yet Ray, not yet.
del Coto won't allow Ray to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
del Coto preventing the sweep.
del Coto advances to half guard.
Ray gets back to full guard.

del Coto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ray is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ray has escaped and now he's on top!
Ray has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ray working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

del Coto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ray postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

del Coto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ray can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

del Coto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
del Coto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ray is one step ahead there.
Ray really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ray fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but RUSSEL del Coto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on RUSSEL del Coto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

del Coto drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
RUSSEL del Coto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ray is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but del Coto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

del Coto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ray manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now del Coto has Ray in his guard.

del Coto looking for a guillotine here but Ray defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

del Coto has his foot on Ray's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ray works his way back into a safe position though.

del Coto is looking for a triangle but Ray pushes his legs off easily.
Ray postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ray passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
del Coto is looking to regain half guard here but Ray keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray working the ground and pound.
del Coto is looking to regain half guard here but Ray keeps moving and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ray decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

del Coto actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
del Coto manages to get to full guard.

del Coto working for submissions but it's allowed Ray to get to half guard.
del Coto wants to get back to full guard.
del Coto makes his way to full guard. A much better position for del Coto.

del Coto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ray gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

del Coto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
del Coto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ray's guard.

del Coto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ray manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now del Coto has Ray in his guard.

del Coto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ray can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
del Coto looking for a sweep. Not yet del Coto, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but RUSSEL del Coto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on RUSSEL del Coto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ray fails with the takedown

and del Coto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

del Coto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

del Coto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ray defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
del Coto wants to pass the guard but Ray is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

del Coto is trying to work for a kimura but Ray is defending well.
del Coto wants to free his trapped foot but Ray is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ray blocking the ground and pound attempt from del Coto.
Ray regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ray is trying to keep del Coto in close.
Ray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
del Coto advances to half guard.

del Coto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

del Coto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ray sees it coming and defends easily.

del Coto is looking for a kimura but Ray is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for del Coto to get the leverage.
del Coto throwing shots but Ray is blocking nicely.
del Coto is looking to advance position but Ray won't allow it.

del Coto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ray defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
del Coto trying to pass the guard but Ray defending well.

del Coto wants to work for an arm triangle but Ray is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
del Coto wants to pass the guard but Ray is defending well.
Ray is trying to stand up here but del Coto is controlling him well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

del Coto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

del Coto is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Robert Ray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

del Coto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ray sees it coming and defends easily.
Ray wants to get back to his feet.

del Coto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ray doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time del Coto.

del Coto seems to be working for a kimura but Ray defends the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
RUSSEL del Coto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well del Coto 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... RUSSEL del Coto!