PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cody Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Russel
vs
Putin

179 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cody Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Putin!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cody Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Russel misses.
Russel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Putin.
Putin throws a series of punches but Russel avoids them all with ease.
Putin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A jab from Russel finds it's way through Putin's defenses.

Putin is rocked!
Putin lands with a kick to the temple. Russel shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Putin is still on wobbly legs! Can Russel finish him?
Russel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Russel is looking to land body kicks.
Putin thows a body kick. Russel tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Putin seems to have recovered his senses.
Putin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Russel stuffs the takedown.
A choreographed right hand from Russel misses the target.
Putin checks a leg kick nicely.
Putin shoots in but Russel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Russel thows a leg kick but Putin checks it

and Putin moves into the clinch.
Russel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Putin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Russel just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cody Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Putin.
Putin keeps control of Russel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Russel prevents Putin from breaking the clinch.

Russel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Putin moves away from the strike by Russel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Putin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Russel to the mat! Russel manages to get full guard.
Putin wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.
Russel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Russel looking for a sweep. Not yet Russel, not yet.
Putin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Putin is thwarting Russel's attempts to control the position.
Russel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Russel is working hard here to advance position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russel throws a leg kick that is checked

and Putin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Putin forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin passes to full mount!
Russel is squirming around, avoiding Putin's attempts to control the action.
Putin mounts Russel! Really nice guard pass there!
Russel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Putin looking to control but Russel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Putin has control of Russel's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Russel regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Putin looks gassed!
Russel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel is controlling an arm, preventing Putin from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Putin moves to the back position.
Russel wants to control his opponent's hands but Putin gets his hands free.
Russel tries to break free.

Putin patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Putin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Russel misses with a few strikes there.
Russel misses with a low kick.
A punch combination from Russel misses.

Putin rushes Russel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Russel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Putin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Russel is trying to break free.
Russel wants to break the clinch but can't.
Putin stalling.
Russel stops a takedown attempt from Putin.
Putin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russel doesn't manage to clinch there - Putin circles away.
A low kick from Russel is predictable there
and Putin counters with an outside leg kick.
Russel misses with a looping left.
Russel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Russel misses with a kick to the body
and Putin counters with a thumping low kick.
Russel tries to clinch but Putin is having none of it.
Putin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Russel's waist but Russel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Putin off to one side.
Putin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Putin moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Russel thows a leg kick but Putin checks it
and Putin counters with an outside leg kick.
Russel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Putin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Russel is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Putin throwing shots but Russel is blocking nicely.
Russel is looking for a sweep. Putin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Putin on the ground.
Putin works his foot free and advances to mount.

Putin working for a submission but Russel is keeping him at bay.
Putin is breathing heavily.
Russel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Putin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin wants to pass the guard but Russel is defending well.
Putin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Putin prevents Russel from improving his position.
Putin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Putin is working for a kimura but Russel is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice combo by Russel! Oh, that's hurt him - Putin falls to the canvas and Russel follows him into side control.
Russel is looking to take a break and control but Putin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russel scoring with punches from side control.
Putin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Putin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Russel throwing shots but Putin is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Cody Russel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Russel throws a leg kick that is checked

and Putin counters by moving into the clinch.
Russel prevents Putin from breaking the clinch.
Russel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Putin tries to pull guard but Russel holds him up against the cage and eventually Putin drops back down to his feet.

Russel breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russel throws a leg kick
and Putin counters with a thumping low kick.
Russel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Putin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Russel's guard.
Russel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikolai Putin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Putin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Putin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Putin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russel trying to keep a closed guard but Putin is proving a slippery customer.

Putin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Russel looking to control.
Russel throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Russel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Russel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Russel works over Putin's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel wants to land a leg kick but Putin is out of range.
Russel throws a lazy body kick
and Putin counters with an outside leg kick.
Russel scores with a three punch combo!
Russel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Putin can pounce on him.
Russel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cody Russel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some bone on bone action there as Putin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A leg kick checked by Putin.
Russel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Putin.
Russel throws a leg kick but Putin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Russel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Russel is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Putin checks a leg kick nicely.
Russel looks to throw a body kick
and Putin counters with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Putin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Putin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Russel looking to control.

Putin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Russel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Putin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Russel tries to bench press Putin off him but Putin keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Putin.

Putin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Putin wants to control but Russel is keeping him busy.
Putin moves into full mount!
Putin wants to take Russel's back here but Russel is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Putin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Putin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Putin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Putin!