PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yance Sackett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sackett kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Russo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Destroy Everything kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sackett
vs
Russo

187 cm
26
215 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

179 cm
26
215 lbs
16 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Powerful

BHP's Shaolin Nutrition & Laundry (One Stop Shop)

Conviction
Hellbent, Inc.™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yance Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Russo!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo misses with a left hand
and Sackett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Jimmy Russo has been cut.
Sackett fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sackett.
Sackett throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sackett doesn't manage to clinch there - Russo circles away.
Sackett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sackett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

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.
Sackett moves out of range as Russo strikes.
Nice cross by Russo.
Sackett moves out of range of the leg kick from Russo.
Russo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sackett counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sackett counters with an inside leg kick.
Russo throws an overhand right that lands on Sackett's shoulder, as Sackett tries to avoid the shot.
A low kick from Sackett misses

and Russo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Russo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Russo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sackett is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Russo, into his guard.
Russo 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.
Sackett trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sackett postures up in Russo's guard and throws a big left but Russo blocks it.
Sackett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Russo trying to keep a closed guard but Sackett is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yance Sackett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Russo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sackett misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sackett misses with a hook

and Russo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Russo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sackett trying to control from the bottom.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sackett keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Russo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sackett tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sackett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Russo.
Russo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Russo is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Sackett still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Sackett has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Russo wants to control but Sackett postures up.
Sackett taking a break here but Russo is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Russo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Russo is trying to control the position but Sackett postures up.
Russo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Sackett postures up in Russo's guard and throws a big left but Russo blocks it.
Russo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russo keeping moving, preventing Sackett from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yance Sackett just wasn't active enough.
Russo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Sackett counter with a right hand.
Sackett misses with a looping left.
Russo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Sackett misses
and Russo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sackett drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jab, jab by Sackett - just one landing.
Good work by Russo as he checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Russo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Russo's cut.
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.

Russo looks to score with a jab to the body but Sackett is just out of range.
Sackett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russo.
Sackett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Russo. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Russo checks a low kick from Sackett.
A lazy body kick from Sackett

and Russo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sackett's guard now.
Russo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sackett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sackett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russo throws and elbow that misses. Sackett uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Russo's guard. Nice move by Sackett!

Russo looking for a guillotine here but Sackett defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo is looking to sweep but instead, Sackett has passed into half guard.
Russo trying to hold on to Sackett's head to control him but Sackett postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Sackett stands up from half guard.
Sackett lands a nice leg kick that just misses Russo's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A combination from Sackett does no damage.
Russo fails with the takedown
and Sackett counters with a good, hard body kick but Russo shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yance Sackett clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Russo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russo shoots and misses
and Sackett counters with an inside leg kick.
Sackett thuds his right hand into Russo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sackett throws a leg kick
and Russo counters with a left to the body.
Sackett tries to clinch but Russo moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo misses with a takedown attempt
and Sackett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Russo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sackett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yance Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Russo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sackett tries to clinch up but Russo circles away and keeps his distance.
Sackett lands a jab to the head.
Sackett throws a lazy uppercut
and Russo counters with a good low kick that Sackett was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Sackett counter with a right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sackett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sackett uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Russo misses with a wild body shot.
Sackett throws a shot from downtown. Russo moves away and avoids it.
Sackett thuds his right hand into Russo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yance Sackett had his way with Jimmy Russo in that round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Russo's cut.
That's time! Sackett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sackett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Russo.
Sackett is looking to land body kicks.
Sackett is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Russo throws a leg kick
and Sackett counters with a nice uppercut.
Sackett tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Russo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo checks a low kick from Sackett.
Yance Sackett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sackett throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sackett has his takedown stuffed
enabling Russo to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett misses with a low kick as Russo jumps back.
Sackett misses with a leg kick.
Russo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jimmy Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sackett throws a head kick that misses
enabling Russo to counter with a crisp jab.
Russo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Russo fails to land the takedown.

That's four 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 scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Russo throwing shots but Sackett is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sackett is looking for a sweep. Russo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sackett's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yance Sackett.
I think Sackett 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yance Sackett!