PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donato Russo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Hughs's chin.

Russo
vs
Hughs

172 cm
28
157 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

178 cm
25
167 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Donato Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Hughs!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hughs throws a shot from downtown. Russo moves away and avoids it.
Hughs throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hughs cracks Russo with a good jab.
Russo looks to land a body kick but Hughs moved away.
Hughs dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hughs connects with a jab.
Russo avoids a kick to the body.
Russo walks into a straight right hand from Hughs.
Russo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Hughs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Russo doesn't seem phased though.
Donato Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughs has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Russo.
Russo wants to land a leg kick but Hughs is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Russo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hughs throws a looping overhand right but Russo ducks down to avoid it.
Joe Hughs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Russo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Russo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hughs takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughs. That's going to slow Russo down.
Russo lands with a nice body kick.
Russo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughs. That's going to slow Russo down.
Hughs throws a low kick but Russo avoids it.
Hughs goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Russo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Russo misses with an uppercut. Hughs saw that one coming.
Russo blocks a head kick by Hughs.
Russo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Russo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hughs avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Russo misses with a low kick.
Russo lands with a slapping head kick.
Russo lands with a shot to the body.
Russo misses with the body kick
and Hughs counters with a good low kick that Russo was not able to check.
Hughs throws a front kick aimed at Russo's knee but Russo avoids it well.
Russo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice uppercut there from Russo.
Russo tries a low kick but Hughs avoids it.
Russo throws a low kick, looking for Hughs's leg but Hughs calmly moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo blocks a head kick by Hughs.
Hughs throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Russo counters with a thumping low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hughs.
Russo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hughs as he avoids it easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Russo misses with a low kick.
Hughs connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A head kick misses from Russo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo checks the leg kick.
Russo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Russo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donato Russo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hughs blocks a head kick by Russo.
Russo throws the kick towards the body but Hughs avoids it.
Hughs throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Russo.
Hughs pushes Russo away with a front kick.
Hughs's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Russo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Russo moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice jab there from Russo.
Russo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo misses with a low kick.
Russo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Russo fails with the takedown.
Hughs throws a leg kick that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hughs lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Russo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Russo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Russo throws a head kick but Hughs moves out of range.
Russo misses with a body kick.
Russo tries to land a front kick but Hughs steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Crunch! Hughs slams his shin into Russo's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with a low kick as Hughs jumps back.
Russo blocks a head kick by Hughs.
Hughs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russo moves away.
Hughs throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.
Hughs throws a low kick but Russo avoids it.
Russo avoids the head kick by Hughs.
Hughs stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Russo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Russo.
Hughs scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Hughs misses.
Hughs stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hughs wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donato Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hughs.
Russo fails with the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Hughs.
Russo lands a nice looking body kick.
Hughs blocks a leg kick.
Russo misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Russo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hughs.
Hughs checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hughs throws the kick towards the body but Russo avoids it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Russo.
Hughs lands with a slapping head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughs throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughs connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hughs connects with an inside leg kick.
Hughs leaves Russo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Hughs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Hughs counters with a nice uppercut.
Russo looks for the body kick but Hughs saw that one coming.
Hughs misses with a head kick.
Russo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hughs as he jumps to the side.
Crunch! Russo slams his shin into Hughs's torso.
A low kick from Hughs is predictable there
and Russo counters with a leg kick.
Russo throws a leg kick which misses Hughs's front leg but catches the back leg as Hughs tries to avoid it.
A low kick from Russo is predictable there
and Hughs makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hughs fakes the leg kick and cracks Russo in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hughs goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Russo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hughs's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hughs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Russo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hughs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Russo 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.
Hughs is trying to control the position but Russo postures up.
Russo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hughs's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo is nestled in close to Hughs, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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 is looking to take a break and control but Hughs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hughs is looking for a sweep. Russo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russo moves nicely into side control.
Hughs managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Russo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lull in the action here.

Russo is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Hughs is trying to escape and Russo transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Hughs is forced to tap! Nice work there by Russo! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Donato Russo!