PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noah Foreman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Russel
vs
Foreman

188 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Noah Foreman!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foreman misses the shot to the body.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown. Foreman tries to sprawl out of it but Russel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Foreman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Foreman connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Russel tries to close the distance and clinch but Foreman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Foreman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russel.
Russel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Foreman.
Foreman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russel.
Nice sprawl there from Foreman as Russel shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russel shoots in for a takedown but Foreman shows good takedown defense.

Foreman darts in and clinches Russel up against the cage.
Foreman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Foreman jumps guard and drags Russel to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Foreman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel wants to control from the top but Foreman keeps moving.

Russel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Foreman dives on top into guard.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Foreman from controlling successfully.
Russel can't keep his opponent in guard - Foreman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Russel wants to control but Foreman is keeping busy.
Well, if Foreman 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.
Foreman is trying to control the action in half guard but Russel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Russel is looking to control Foreman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Russel avoid being mounted?

Foreman is looking for a kimura but Russel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Foreman to get the leverage.
Foreman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Russel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Russel trying to hold on to Foreman's head to control him but Foreman postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Foreman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russel moves away.
Foreman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Russel.
Foreman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Russel circles away quickly and effectively.
Russel tries for a takedown but Foreman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Foreman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Russel slips a jab and a cross from Foreman.
Foreman looks gassed!
Russel shoots for a takedown but Foreman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Russel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Foreman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Russel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Foreman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russel trying to control but Foreman is working from the bottom.
Foreman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Foreman seems to be working for a kimura but Russel defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel is trying is best to control the position here.
Russel trying to hold on to Foreman's head to control him but Foreman postures up.
Russel tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Russel is trying is best to control the position here.
Russel trying to control but Foreman postures up.
Russel wants to improve his position but Foreman is controlling well.
Russel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Foreman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Foreman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Foreman looks to score with a jab to the body but Russel is just out of range.
Russel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Foreman as he jumps to the side.
Foreman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russel.
Foreman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russel tries to clinch up

and Foreman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russel won't be happy with that.
I wouldn't like to be where Russel is right now.
Russel is not content to let Foreman control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel struggling a bit here.
Foreman tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Foreman decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Foreman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Foreman connects with a single shot there.

Russel shoots in and bounces Foreman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Russel postures up.
Foreman is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel wants to control from the top but Foreman keeps moving.

Foreman working for a triangle but Russel defends it easily.
Russel trying to control but Foreman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russel won't allow Foreman to sweep him here.
Foreman keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Foreman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Foreman swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russel fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Foreman sprawls well initially but Russel persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foreman trying to hold on to Russel's head to control him but Russel postures up.
Russel trying to control the action but Foreman is working from the bottom.
Foreman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Foreman is looking to control Russel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Foreman avoid being mounted?
Russel wants to control but Foreman is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Foreman but Foreman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Foreman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Foreman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Russel forces Foreman back against the cage and clinches.
Foreman avoiding damage as Russel throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Foreman as Russel tries to tie him up.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Foreman avoids the damage to the body.
Foreman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Russel.
Foreman tries to break free but Russel pushes him back against the cage.
Russel stalling in the clinch but Foreman improves position.
Foreman is trying to break free.
Russel is looking to control Foreman's arms but Foreman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Russel has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Foreman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Foreman takes an elbow to the temple.
Foreman tries to circle away but Russel has him pinned against the cage.
Foreman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foreman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Foreman blocks an elbow strike from Russel.
Russel stalling in the clinch but Foreman improves position.
Foreman has had enough of the clinch but Russel keeps him there for the moment.
Russel wants to stall.
Russel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Foreman.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Russel misses with an elbow over the top.
Foreman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Russel has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Foreman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Foreman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Foreman is looking to break free of the clinch but Russel has double underhooks.
Foreman goes for a takedown attempt but Russel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Foreman swings for the body but Russel moves out of range.
Foreman's corner calls for a 1-2. Foreman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

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.
Russel ducks under a wild hook from Foreman.
Russel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Foreman but Foreman pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Foreman has closed the distance and engaged Russel in a clinch.
Russel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Foreman's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Russel.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Foreman as Russel tries to tie him up.
Foreman wants to get back to striking at distance but Russel won't allow it.
Foreman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Foreman avoiding damage as Russel throws knees to the body.
Foreman wants to break free but Russel has control.
Foreman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Foreman cracks Russel with a nice body shot.
Foreman wants to get back to striking at distance but Russel won't allow it.
Foreman avoiding damage.
Russel is looking to control Foreman's arms but Foreman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Russel has his back to the cage.
Nice elbow from Russel.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foreman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Russel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Foreman's efforts to push away.
Foreman managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel is looking to control Foreman's arms but Foreman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Russel has his back to the cage.
Foreman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Russel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Foreman is defending well for now.
Russel wants to stall.
Foreman managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Foreman lands a left hand.
Russel is trying to maintain a safe position but Foreman gets an underhook and turns Russel into the cage.
Russel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Foreman managing to block the knees to the body from Russel.
Russel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Russel tries to land knees in the clinch but Foreman avoids the damage to the body.
Foreman is trying to break the clinch but Russel has him pressed against the cage.
Foreman stalling the fight.
Foreman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Foreman tries to break the clinch but Russel is controlling the position.
Foreman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
James Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noah Foreman.
Russel trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Russel can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Russel lands a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Foreman.
Foreman takes an elbow to the temple.
The is referee keeping an eye on Foreman - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Foreman can't break the clinch.
Noah Foreman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stalling in the clinch from Russel.
Russel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Russel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Foreman avoiding damage as Russel throws knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Russel missing with knees to the body.
Foreman is trying to break free.
James Russel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Foreman.
Russel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Russel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Foreman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Noah Foreman!