PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goran Persson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Russo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Destroy Everything. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Russo
vs
Persson

179 cm
26
215 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
211 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent, Inc.™
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Russo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Goran Persson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Russo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Persson's waist but Persson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Russo off to one side.
Russo slips a straight right by Persson.
Persson loads up on a big right hand but Russo slips the punch.
Persson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Russo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice shot lands for Persson.
Russo misses with a hook. Persson ducked under it nicely.
Persson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Russo.
Russo moves out of range of the strikes.
Persson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Russo.
The crowd cheers as Russo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Persson doesn't seem phased though.
Russo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Persson throws a jab when Russo was well out of range.
Goran Persson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russo clinches.
Persson misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Russo.
Persson misses with a punch to the body.
Russo wants a takedown.
Persson prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Persson has a couple of punches blocked by Russo.
Persson misses with a punch to the body.
Persson has a couple of punches blocked by Russo.
Russo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Persson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Persson misses with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Persson.
Persson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice jab there from Russo.
Russo looks to land a combination. Persson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Persson loads up on a big right hand but Russo slips the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Persson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Persson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Russo.
Persson with a hook.
Persson tries to clinch but Russo moves out of range.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice defenses there by Russo.
Persson swings for the body but Russo moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Persson is trying to defend but Russo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Persson is not content to let Russo control the position.

Persson is defending against the submission attempts here by Russo.
Persson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russo wants to control from the top but Persson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Persson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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.
Persson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russo throws a strike but Persson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Persson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Russo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Persson is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo is in close to Persson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Russo dominated that round.
That's time! Russo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Persson misses the jab.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Persson.
Persson looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
Russo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Persson throws a lazy uppercut

and Russo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Persson's guard now.
Russo preventing the sweep.
Russo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Persson is pulling down on Russo's head to control his posture.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo thows a big elbow that misses.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Persson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo postures up and lands a big shot to Persson's brow.
Persson keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
Russo thows a big elbow that misses.
Russo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Persson has Russo pulled in close to control his posture.
Russo tries to free his leg and advance position but Persson is retaining full guard.
Russo preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo with a nice head shot there.
Persson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Persson keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.
Jimmy Russo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Russo walks into a jab.
Persson throws a lazy right hand but Russo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps 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 throws a leg kick but Persson moved away.
Persson looks to land a right hand but Russo moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Russo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Russo slips a straight right by Persson.
Persson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Russo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persson tries to clinch there but Russo circles away.
Russo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Jimmy Russo has been cut.
Persson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Russo throws a head kick but Persson moves out of range.

Russo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Persson keeps Russo under control for a moment.
Russo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Persson is avoiding damage well.
The strikes coming from Russo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Russo is trying to ground and pound but Persson uses the momentary lack of control by Russo to regain half guard.
Persson wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo trying to mount his opponent but Persson defends it.
Russo is nestled in close to Persson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Russo wants to work for an arm triangle but Persson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Persson tries to roll over but Russo keeps him under control.
Russo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Russo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Russo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Persson cracks Russo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Russo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Persson.
Goran Persson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Persson scores with a sloppy right hand. Russo should have avoided that one.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Russo, right into the meat.
A big right from Russo misses.
Persson throws a jab when Russo was well out of range.
Russo misses with a takedown attempt - Persson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Russo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Persson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Nice takedown defense from Persson. No joy for Russo on that attempt.

Russo pushes Persson up against the cage in a clinch.
Persson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persson lands with a left to the head.
Persson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Persson throws a head punch that misses.
Persson prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Russo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Persson struggles to land a body shot inside as Russo controls his hands.
Russo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Persson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Persson misses with some punches.
Russo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Persson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Russo working aggressively here.
Russo has Persson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Persson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Persson misses with a punch to the body.

Russo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Persson is trying to keep an underhook but Russo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Persson trying to control from the bottom.
Persson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Persson wants to get back to full guard.
Russo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Russo is thwarting Persson's attempts to control the position.
Russo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Persson trying to hold on to Russo's head to control him but Russo postures up.
Persson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Persson wants to control but Russo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Persson wants to get back to full guard.
Russo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Persson's head.
Russo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Russo thows a huge punch but Persson dodges it nicely.
Russo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Russo is looking to take a break and control but Persson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Persson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Russo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Russo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russo drops an elbow to the side of Persson's head.
Russo throws a strike but Persson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to control from the top but Persson keeps moving.
Persson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Goran Persson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Persson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russo landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo wants to pass the guard but Persson is keeping the position.
Persson looking for a sweep. Not yet Persson, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo throwing strikes from guard but Persson blocks nicely.
Russo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Persson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Russo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Russo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

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