PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavius Aetius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Vinny Russo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Russo
vs
Aetius

181 cm
22
183 lbs
6 - 0 - 1

178 cm
23
170 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Knock Out Artistry
Golden Lilium

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 6 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vinny Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Flavius Aetius!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo lands a jab to the head.

Aetius closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Russo did well to prevent Aetius getting side control.
Aetius is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Aetius is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Russo!
Russo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Aetius wants to take Russo's back here but Russo is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Aetius with the ground and pound from mount.

It looks like Vinny Russo has been cut.
Russo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Russo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Aetius tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo working to try and regain half guard.
Russo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Aetius tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aetius is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Aetius trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Russo looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Russo tries to escape the position.

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.

Aetius is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Aetius has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Russo's body.
Russo trying to get back to his feet but Aetius is in full control for now.

Russo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Aetius.
Russo has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aetius avoiding Russo 's attempts to control his hands.
I really don't envy Russo right now.
Russo holding both Aetius 's hands and preventing any damage.

Aetius is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Russo showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Good control from Aetius.
Aetius is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Aetius wants to control but Russo is keeping busy.
Aetius gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Aetius trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Good control from Aetius.
Russo covers up after that shot from Aetius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavius Aetius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vinny Russo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Aetius stuffs the takedown.

Russo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Russo showed some decent athleticism there.
Aetius wants to improve his position but Russo is controlling well.
Aetius is looking to control Russo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aetius avoid being mounted?
Russo throwing shots but Aetius is blocking nicely.
Aetius is refusing to be controlled, as Russo sits in half guard.

Aetius looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo is trying to control. Aetius wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russo thows a huge punch but Aetius dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aetius moves away from the strike by Russo.
Russo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aetius moves away.
Russo shoots in for a double leg but Aetius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Russo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

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.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aetius is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Russo!
Nice defenses there by Aetius.
Russo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Aetius misses with a kick to the body.
Aetius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aetius lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aetius ducks under a wild hook from Russo.
Russo misses with a hook. Aetius ducked under it nicely.
Aetius with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Russo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Aetius sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aetius moves away.
Aetius tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Russo with that takedown attempt.
Vinny Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aetius looks for a takedown but Russo sprawls well.
Aetius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aetius keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Russo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Russo misses.
Russo scores with a jab to the body.
Russo throws a series of punches but Aetius moves out of range.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aetius circles away quickly and effectively.
Aetius slips under a jab from Russo.
Aetius shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aetius circles away quickly and effectively.
Vinny Russo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Aetius drives through with a takedown into guard.
Russo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Aetius wants to stand but Russo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Flavius Aetius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vinny Russo's cut.
That's time! Russo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Aetius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Russo lands an overhand right.
Russo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aetius moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Russo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aetius circles away quickly and effectively.
Aetius staying out of range there.
Aetius keeps Russo at a distance using the push kick.

Aetius scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aetius wants to take a breather but Russo is having none of it.
Russo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Aetius wants to control but Russo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aetius trying to control the pace.
Aetius is thwarting Russo's attempts to control the position.
Russo is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Russo wants to improve his position but Aetius is controlling well.
Aetius tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Russo.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
A slow jab from Russo misses its intended target.
Aetius throws a nice inside leg kick.
Aetius shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Russo as he jumps to the side.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
Vinny Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice defenses there by Aetius.
Aetius moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice defenses there by Aetius.
Aetius tries to close the distance and clinch but Russo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Russo moves out of range of the body kick from Aetius.
Aetius has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Russo finds it's way round the side to connect with Aetius's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aetius avoids a punch combination nicely.
Aetius misses with a takedown attempt
and Russo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Russo throws a shot from downtown. Aetius moves away and avoids it.
Russo stuffs the takedown attempt from Aetius. Aetius gets slowly back to his feet.
Vinny Russo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Flavius Aetius.
Aetius misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Aetius.
Russo tries for a takedown but Aetius circles away easily

and Aetius counters with a single leg into guard. Russo didn't expect that.
Aetius wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo managing to control the position.
Aetius looking to sit in guard and control but Russo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aetius wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Russo is now in half guard.
Flavius Aetius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Russo is looking for a kimura but Aetius is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Russo to get the leverage.

Russo is trying to work for a kimura but Aetius is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flavius Aetius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Aetius 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flavius Aetius!