PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Steve Austin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Austin comes to the cage accompanied by Six Million Dollar Man. Russell has chosen Haterz Everywhere We Go as his entrance music. Mike Russell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Austin
vs
Russell

175 cm
22
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

FIGHT19: FIGHTWEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Austin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Russell!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Russell Pearce and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Austin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Russell is looking to clinch but Austin is avoiding it.
Austin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Russell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Russell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Austin tries to lock up and control but Russell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Russell looking for a guillotine from mount but Austin is having none of it.

Russell swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Austin is now in Russell's guard. A big mistake from Russell there, giving up the dominant position!

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

Austin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Austin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Russell looking for a guillotine here but Austin defends easily.
Austin works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Austin seems content to control.
Austin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Austin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Austin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Russell is trying to stand back up but Austin is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell taking some punishment here, with Austin in his half guard.
Austin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Austin tries to pass to full mount but Russell defends it.
Austin working Russell over with strikes.
Austin content to control rather than advance.
Austin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Austin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Austin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Russell needs to keep his hands up - Austin had a free shot at his head there.

Austin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Austin is breathing heavily.
Austin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is staying active underneath Austin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Russell is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Austin pulls his head out easily.
Russell is looking for a sweep. Austin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russell trying to control but Austin postures up.
Austin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell trying to control from the bottom.
Austin lands strikes from half guard.

Austin is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Russell has managed to free his arm - good work.
Austin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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.
Russell is looking to improve his position.
Austin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Austin is keen to just control but Russell is a slippery customer.
Austin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Russell defending well though.
Russell is looking for a sweep. Austin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Austin slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt
and Austin counters with a series of strikes. Russell will be more careful next time no doubt.
Austin stalks Russell and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Russell's face. Russell staggers backwards, shaken.
Austin throws a right and a left that both miss.

Austin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Russell sprawls well initially but Austin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Russell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Austin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Austin stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Austin 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.

Austin misses with a series of wild punches.
Austin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Austin tries to work over Russell's front leg with a kick but Russell checks it.
Austin scoring well with a low kick there.
Austin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Russell has a takedown stuffed.
Russell avoids the head kick by Austin.
Russell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Austin.
Russell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A solid leg kick lands there for Austin.

Austin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Austin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Russell wants to get back to full guard.
Austin stalling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Austin wants to pass to mount but Russell is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell gets back to full guard.
Russell can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Austin controls the pace.
Austin wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Austin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Russell is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Russell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Austin is one step ahead there.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Russell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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.
Russell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Austin manages to get to full guard.
Austin wants to sweep but no luck.
Russell wants to pass the guard but Austin is keeping the position.
Austin wants to sweep here but Russell controlling him for the moment.
Russell wants to control from the top but Austin keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Austin holds on and takes a little breather.
Russell stands and throws Austin's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Russell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Austin, who protects the arm well.
Russell working the ground and pound but Austin is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to advance to mount but Austin denies him.
Russell working the ground and pound.
Russell tries to stand but Austin is controlling his head.
Austin is looking to reverse the position.
Steve Austin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russell is looking to take a break and control but Austin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russell tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Russell trying to control the position but Austin is working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Austin tries to clinch there but Russell circles away.
Austin tries to bum rush Russell with a series of wild strikes but Russell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Russell looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Austin!

Russell get's back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Austin scores a takedown into full mount!
Austin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Austin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Russell hang on?
Russell is looking to improve his position but Austin isn't that keen on the idea.
Austin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Russell is looking to escape.
Russell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Russell tries to hold on but Austin pushes him away.
Russell is trying to escape the mount.
Austin landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Austin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Austin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Russell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Austin thuds his shin into the meat of Russell's side.
Russell takes a kick to the side of the head.
Russell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Austin counters with a nice uppercut.

Austin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Russell!
A nice elbow there by Austin.
Austin lands a heavy elbow.
Austin unloading with bombs!
Austin controlling his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russell takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Austin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Austin working the ground and pound effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Austin lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Austin lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Russell wants to control but Austin is having none of it.
Austin landing strikes from the mount and Russell is in trouble!
Austin controlling from the full mount.
Russell bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Austin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Russell trying to control but Austin is working from the bottom.
Austin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mike Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Austin moves nicely into side control.
Russell tries to improve position but can't.
Russell prevents Austin from moving into mount.
Russell manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Austin wants to control but Russell is keeping busy.
Austin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Austin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Austin.
Austin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Russell won't allow Austin to sweep him here.
Austin keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
Austin has his hands on Russell's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to pass the guard but Austin is keeping the position.
Austin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Russell preventing the sweep.
Austin managing to control the position.

Russell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Russell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Austin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Russell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Austin is keeping the position for now.
Austin has control of Russell's left arm, preventing Russell from doing any damage.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Steve Austin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Austin lands the left hand.
Russell has his takedown stuffed
and Russell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Russell on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Russell fails with the takedown

and Austin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Steve Austin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Russell.
Russell is looking to escape.

Russell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Austin blocks the strikes from Russell.

Russell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Austin stops Russell from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell tries to get to full guard but Austin has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Austin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Austin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Steve Austin!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Steve Austin!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Steve Austin!

Steve Austin wins by unanimous decision!