PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chew Backer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bell
vs
Backer

190 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

175 cm
21
162 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Chew Backer!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bell scores a takedown into full mount!
Bell controlling the pace for now.
Backer is desperately trying to improve his position but Bell has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell controlling his opponent.
Bell pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Bell controlling the pace for now.
Backer is trying desperately to improve position.
Backer is squirming around, avoiding Bell's attempts to control the action.
Bell controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell avoids the attempt from Backer to control.
Bell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Backer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bell landing strikes from the mount.
Backer tries to hold on but Bell postures up.
Backer can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Backer tries to hold on but Bell pushes him away.
Bell controlling the position easily from mount.
Backer taking shots to the head.
Bell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Backer is working to get back to half guard.
Bell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Russel Bell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Backer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Backer is looking for a sweep.
Bell taking a breather here.
Bell wants to control but Backer is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell tries to move into full mount but can't pass Backer's legs.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Backer is looking for a sweep.
Bell knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Backer on the ground.
Bell is staying tight to Backer's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Bell decides to stand back up. Bell steps back and let's Backer get back to his feet.
Bell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Backer is fending him off so far but Bell persists. Nope, Backer circles away and we're back to standing.
Bell shoots in for a double leg but Backer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Backer has his takedown stuffed

and Bell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Backer looks gassed!
Bell is stalling in the full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Backer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bell!
Bell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Backer tries to push Bell's head away but Bell is holding on tight.
Bell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Bell dominated that round.
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.

Bell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Backer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bell controlling his opponent.

Bell working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Backer can't escape the position.
Bell controlling the pace for now.
Bell working the ground and pound effectively.
Backer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Backer is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell working the ground and pound effectively.
Bell controlling from the full mount.
Bell is trying to take his opponent's back.
Backer takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bell controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Russel Bell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Backer tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bell is taking a breather. Backer says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Bell is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Backer!
Bell looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Bell looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Backer for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Russel Bell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bell shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Backer's guard.
Bell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bell sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bell sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bell passes Backer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Russel Bell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bell tries to pass to full mount but Backer defends it.
Bell not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Bell dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Backer slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Backer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, if Bell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Russel Bell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bell takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bell drags the fight down to the ground.
Bell controls Backer momentarily but Backer frees himself.
Bell trying to control the position here.
Backer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bell is keeping the position for now.
Bell is pulling down on Backer's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backer preventing the sweep.
Bell is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Backer stopping the sweep attempt from Bell.
Bell throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Bell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Backer manages to get himself to full guard.
Bell sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Russel Bell just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Chew Backer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Backer is keeping the position for now.
Bell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Backer looking for a sweep. Not yet Backer, not yet.
Bell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Backer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bell is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Backer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bell's back instead.
Bell needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Bell breaks Backer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Bell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Backer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bell is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Backer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bell's back instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russel Bell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:26
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:26

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