PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Geisbert (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!

Russell
vs
Geisbert

176 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stephen Geisbert!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Geisbert tries to close the distance and clinch up but Russell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Geisbert with that takedown attempt.
Russell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Geisbert shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense.
Geisbert lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A thudding body kick lands there by Russell!
Russell tries to clinch but Geisbert is having none of it.

Russell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Geisbert was covering up waiting for the punch and Russell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
Geisbert being controlled here, momentarily.

Russell stands up from Geisbert's guard - Russell perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geisbert shoots in but no luck this time.
James Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Geisbert.
Russell throws a combination that misses
and Geisbert counters with a nice kick to the body.
Russell misses with a kick to the body

and Geisbert counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Russell!
Russell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Geisbert with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Russell is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is trying to stand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Geisbert throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Russell is squirming around, avoiding Geisbert's attempts to control the action.

Geisbert jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Russell manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Russell is trying to control Geisbert's posture but Geisbert avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is not content to let Geisbert control the position.
Russell is looking for a sweep.
Russell is working hard here to advance position.

Geisbert stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt - Geisbert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Geisbert circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geisbert throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Russell.
Geisbert tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Geisbert pushes Russell up against the cage in a clinch.
Geisbert tries to pull guard but Russell holds him up against the cage and eventually Geisbert drops back down to his feet.
Geisbert is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The referee is keeping an eye on Russell - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Russell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt - Geisbert sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Geisbert fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen Geisbert will probably get the nod.
That's time! Russell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Russell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Geisbert was covering up waiting for the punch and Russell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Russell wants to control from the top but Geisbert keeps moving.
Geisbert is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Geisbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

James Russell has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Russell shoots in and drives through. Geisbert sprawls well.
Russell smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Geisbert fails with a takedown attempt.
Geisbert with a nice cross.
Geisbert shoots in and drives through. Russell sprawls well.
Geisbert shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
James Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Geisbert.
Geisbert stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Geisbert wants it to stay on the feet.
Geisbert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Russell as he jumps to the side.
Geisbert fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Geisbert is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Geisbert ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Geisbert lands a two punch combo.
Geisbert fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Geisbert shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Geisbert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Russell gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Geisbert to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Russell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is pulling down on Geisbert's head. It's preventing any offense from Geisbert, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russell trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Russell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Geisbert doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Geisbert manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Russell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Russell trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to sweep here but Geisbert controlling him for the moment.
Geisbert postures up in Russell's guard and throws a big left but Russell blocks it.
Geisbert trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Geisbert wants to stand but Russell is controlling his posture from full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Russell shoots in but Geisbert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Geisbert shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Russell sprawls well. Russell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Geisbert gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Geisbert will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Geisbert, as that shot connected.
Russell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Russell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Geisbert regains full guard. Nicely done.
Russell wants to control from the top but Geisbert keeps moving.
Russell has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Russell is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Geisbert is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Russell looking to sit in guard and control but Geisbert gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geisbert throwing strikes from guard but Russell blocks nicely.
Russell trying to control the position.
Russell wants to sweep but no luck.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Russell trying to control the position.
Geisbert pushes down on Russell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Geisbert wants to pass to mount but Russell is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Geisbert seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Russell manages to get to full guard.

Russell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Geisbert can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell being controlled here, momentarily.
Russell keeping full guard, as Geisbert tries to pass.
James Russell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Russell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Geisbert can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Geisbert sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Geisbert pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geisbert wants to stand and escape but instead Russell has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Geisbert wants to sweep but no luck.
Geisbert keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Russell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Russell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Russell.
I think Geisbert 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!