PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kooistra De Ridder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angelo Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Russo's choice of entrance music: The Gambler. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

De Ridder
vs
Russo

185 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
196 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kooistra De Ridder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Angelo Russo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Ridder 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Russo has his foot on De Ridder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. De Ridder works his way back into a safe position though.

De Ridder is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Russo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. De Ridder is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Russo.
Russo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
De Ridder tries to pass to full mount but Russo defends it.
Russo wants to improve his position but De Ridder is controlling well.
It looks like De Ridder is going to stand back up.
Russo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
De Ridder keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russo gets back to full guard.
De Ridder trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Russo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. De Ridder defends it easily.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
De Ridder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
De Ridder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russo on the ground.
De Ridder trying to control the position from guard on top but Russo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russo looking to control.

Russo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

De Ridder got a little sloppy there for a moment and Russo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, De Ridder has managed to get both his arms back between Russo's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Ridder won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Ridder sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Russo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Ridder gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
De Ridder looking to sit in guard and control but Russo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
De Ridder is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Russo controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
De Ridder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russo.
Russo wants to control from the top but De Ridder keeps moving.
De Ridder not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
De Ridder is looking to stand up but Russo isn't so interested in that idea.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but De Ridder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Angelo Russo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

De Ridder scores a takedown into full mount!
Russo is wriggling around trying to escape.
De Ridder looking to control but Russo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Russo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
De Ridder raining down shots from the mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Ridder thowing shots but they're missing.
De Ridder looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Angelo Russo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

De Ridder closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Russo did well to prevent De Ridder getting side control.
Russo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Russo.

Russo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. De Ridder is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Russo.
Russo is trying to improve his position.
Russo is not content to let De Ridder control the position.
You can see the frustration on Russo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Russo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Ridder thows a huge punch but Russo dodges it nicely.

Russo looking for submissions off his back.
Russo is holding on to half guard well.
De Ridder works his way into full mount!
Russo working to try and regain half guard.
De Ridder cracks Russo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
De Ridder looking to control but Russo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Ridder looking to ground and pound but Russo is blocking nicely.
Russo wants to control but De Ridder is having none of it.
De Ridder landing strikes from the mount and Russo is in trouble!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Russo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Russo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Russo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Russo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but De Ridder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Russo keeping moving, preventing De Ridder from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Ridder in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Russo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. De Ridder gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Russo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
De Ridder won't allow Russo to sweep him here.
De Ridder wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

Russo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
De Ridder pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. De Ridder is aware though and is defending well.
De Ridder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Russo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
De Ridder trying to control but Russo is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Ridder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
De Ridder wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Kooistra De Ridder wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Russo lands a nice looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Ridder throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Russo counters by clinching up.

Russo has De Ridder pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Russo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending De Ridder tumbling to the mat - Russo dives into De Ridder's guard.
Russo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Angelo Russo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! De Ridder's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fight stays on the outside here - De Ridder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
De Ridder throws a looping overhand right but Russo ducks down to avoid it.

De Ridder decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
De Ridder trying to mount his opponent but Russo defends it.
Russo trying to hold on to De Ridder's head to control him but De Ridder postures up.
De Ridder seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Russo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
De Ridder wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Ridder avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Russo is looking for a triangle but De Ridder pushes his legs off easily.
Russo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Russo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. De Ridder can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
De Ridder wants to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Russo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to control the pace but De Ridder is squirming around nicely.
De Ridder is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Russo unloading with bombs!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Russo looking to secure an arm triangle but De Ridder defends it well.
Russo looking to finish De Ridder with some ground and pound. This is bad for De Ridder!
De Ridder wants to control but Russo is having none of it.
Russo trying to control but De Ridder is having none of it.
Angelo Russo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Ridder is desperately trying to improve his position but Russo has a good base and remains in mount.
Russo looking to control and managing it successfully.
De Ridder really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Russo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
De Ridder is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Ridder is trying to stand up.
De Ridder is in a horrible position here. Russo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Russo looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angelo Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Russo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

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