PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and punishment cruel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). cruel has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Russo
vs
cruel

181 cm
23
183 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

178 cm
23
185 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 7 - 1 - 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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, punishment cruel!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
cruel just misses with a punch to the body.
cruel throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
cruel looks to land a body kick but Russo moved away.
cruel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Russo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
cruel throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
Russo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Russo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A bone on bone clash there as Russo blocks the leg kick.
cruel tries to clinch there but Russo circles away.
cruel scores with a body shot.
cruel misses with a straight left.
A slow jab from cruel misses its intended target.

Russo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
cruel is looking to regain half guard here but Russo keeps moving and retains side control.
cruel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
cruel is trying to stand up here but Russo is controlling him well.
Russo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
cruel wants to get back to his feet.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
cruel is looking for a sweep. Russo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

cruel kicks off Russo and gets to his feet.
cruel doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two 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.
A big left from cruel misses.
punishment cruel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russo takes a swing at cruel's ribcage but misses.
cruel moves out of range as Russo throws a body kick.
Russo avoids the head kick by cruel.
cruel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Russo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
cruel thumps Russo with a low kick.
cruel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Russo throws a jab but it's blocked by cruel.
Russo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps cruel's head backwards.
cruel wants to clinch up but Russo keeps it at a distance.
cruel scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo avoids the head kick by cruel.
Russo moves away from the strike by cruel.
cruel looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
cruel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russo.
cruel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Russo.
Russo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. cruel doesn't seem bothered though.
cruel tries to clinch there but Russo circles away.
cruel misses with a low kick.
cruel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Russo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Russo moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Russo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
cruel is wriggling around but Russo manages to pass to half guard.
Russo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Russo connects with a nice short shot to cruel's temple.
cruel is refusing to be controlled, as Russo sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo stops cruel from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vinny Russo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

cruel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps cruel's head backwards.
Russo lands the left hand.
Russo throws a shot from downtown. cruel moves away and avoids it.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Russo blocks a head kick by cruel.
No joy there for Russo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
punishment cruel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from cruel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
cruel tries to clinch up.
Russo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by cruel.
Russo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo scores with a decent looking hook.
cruel moves out of range of the strikes.
cruel throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
cruel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A nice inside leg kick there by cruel. That's going to slow Russo down.
cruel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Russo can pounce on him.
Russo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but cruel manages to avoid it.
Russo misses with a looping right.
cruel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
cruel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A head kick misses from cruel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but cruel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Russo scores with a takedown into cruel's guard.
Russo won't allow cruel to get back to his feet.
cruel is breathing heavily.
cruel has momentary wrist control but Russo slips an elbow through the middle.
Russo cracks cruel with a solid left hand.
cruel keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
cruel is looking to stand up but Russo isn't so interested in that idea.
Russo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. cruel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
cruel misses with a hook.
cruel is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - cruel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
cruel jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from cruel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Russo shoots for a double leg takedown but cruel sprawls well. He's pushed Russo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
cruel throws a leg kick

and Russo counters with a nice double leg into side control. cruel won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for cruel!
cruel keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Russo controlling the pace for now.
cruel is trying to escape the mount.
Russo won't let cruel get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Russo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Russo misses with a takedown attempt - cruel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A swing and a miss from Russo.
punishment cruel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
cruel misses with a body kick.
cruel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Russo.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Russo, as that shot connected.
cruel lands with a thumping leg kick.
cruel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Russo. Russo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
cruel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Russo scores with a crisp jab that stopped cruel in his tracks.
Russo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Russo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
cruel wants to slow Russo down by chopping away at his legs.
cruel fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Russo checks it well.
cruel throws a body kick that misses.
Russo lands with a nice combination. cruel backs away looking to recover.
cruel misses with a hook. Russo ducked under it nicely.
cruel is looking to clinch.
No joy there for cruel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Russo fails with the takedown.
cruel ducks under a wild hook from Russo.
cruel misses with a looping right.

cruel clinches with his opponent.

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.
cruel looking to throw knees to the head but Russo is blocking nicely.
Russo avoiding damage as cruel throws knees to the body.
Russo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Russo lands a shoulder strike.
Russo goes for a takedown in the clinch but cruel prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Russo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Russo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but cruel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Russo is trying to break free.
cruel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russo can't break the clinch.
cruel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Russo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
cruel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Russo backwards.
A right hand to the body from cruel.

Russo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. cruel is trying to keep an underhook but Russo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
cruel tries to roll over but Russo keeps him under control.
Vinny Russo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

cruel has one foot on Russo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
punishment cruel seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from cruel.
cruel throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
cruel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Russo lands a jab to the nose.
cruel throws the kick towards the body but Russo avoids it.
Russo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Russo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from cruel.
cruel lands a jab to the nose.
Russo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
cruel moves away from the strike by Russo.
cruel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Russo shoots in looking for a takedown. cruel tries to sprawl out of it but Russo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. cruel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Russo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Russo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
cruel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
cruel sizes up Russo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
punishment cruel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good exchange - cruel coming out on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
punishment cruel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinny Russo!