PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wiremu Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Lynch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lynch comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Psychosocial kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! This should be a great matchup!

Russell
vs
Lynch

175 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Fuel

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wiremu Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Lynch!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell moves away from the strike by Lynch.
Russell blocks a jab.
A left lands for Lynch.
Lynch cracks Russell with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lynch throws a big shot that misses.

Russell gets the takedown into side control.
Russell is working Lynch over with some ground and pound from side control.
Lynch manages to work his way to half guard, despite Russell's best efforts.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lynch has managed to free his arm - good work.
Russell wants to free his trapped foot but Lynch is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lynch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lynch controls Russell momentarily but Russell frees himself.
Russell stopping the sweep attempt from Lynch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lynch is trying to control the position but Russell postures up.
Russell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Russell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lynch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lynch gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Russell with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Lynch is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Lynch wants to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
Russell punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lynch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Russell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Russell is breathing heavily.
Russell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lynch can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Russell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Russell's back!
I would not like to be Russell right now.
Russell 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.
Russell breaks Lynch's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lynch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Russell!
Lynch landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lynch unloading with bombs!
Russell can't escape the position.
Lynch raining down shots from the mount!
Lynch lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell can't escape the position.
Lynch with good strikes from the mount here!
Lynch with the ground and pound from mount.
Lynch dominating with strikes here.
Russell is trying desperately to improve position.
Lynch breaks from Russell's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Russell is looking to improve his position but Lynch isn't that keen on the idea.
Lynch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Russell can't escape the position.

Lynch working for a guillotine from mount but Russell is in no mood to give up.
Lynch wants to control the pace but Russell is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lynch lands a nice shot to the head.
Lynch lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Russell hang on?
Lynch with a couple of short strikes.
Russell is looking to get to half guard.

Lynch looking to secure an arm triangle but Russell defends it well.
Lynch prevents Russell from getting the reversal.
Lynch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lynch takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Lynch 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 slips a straight right by Lynch.
Russell showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lynch.

Russell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lynch sprawls well initially but Russell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Russell is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lynch is just riding it out for now. Russell eventually gives up the hold.

Lynch kicks off Russell and gets to his feet.
Lynch throws a lazy right hand but Russell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Russell slips under a jab from Lynch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lynch sizes up Russell with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Lynch scores with a hook to the body. Russell takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lynch tries to clinch up.
Lynch throws a shot from downtown. Russell moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lynch.
Lynch fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Russell on the side of the head.
Lynch works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Wiremu Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lynch swinging wilding here.
Lynch misses with a straight right.
Russell closes the distance and clinches up with Lynch, looking for a takedown. Russell pushes Lynch against the cage but Lynch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lynch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lynch cracks Russell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lynch scores with a punch to the head.
Lynch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lynch lands with a shot to the body.
Lynch lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Matt Lynch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lynch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russell tries to clinch but Lynch moves away
and Lynch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lynch throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Lynch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Russell wants to clinch.
Lynch misses with an uppercut.
Lynch stuffs the takedown.
Russell has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lynch finds it's way round the side to connect with Russell's head.
Lynch misses with a straight right.
Lynch tries to score with a low kick but Russell moves his leg out of the way.
Lynch lands a jab to the nose.
Lynch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russell moves away.
Lynch throws a leg kick but Russell sees it coming and moves out of range.
Russell tries for a takedown but Lynch circles away easily
and Lynch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiremu Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lynch looks to land a combination but Russell avoids it well.

Russell feints and as Lynch raises his hands in defense, Russell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lynch striking off his back but it's not causing Russell any problems.
Russell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lynch is keeping the position for now.
Russell forces his way into half guard.

Russell is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Lynch has managed to free his arm - good work.
Russell uses his free foot to push down on Lynch's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lynch.
Lynch is looking to get to half guard.
Russell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Russell landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Russell.

Lynch is rocked!
Russell landing strikes from the mount.
Lynch is still in real trouble! Can Russell finish him?
Russell lands a big shot there that rocks Lynch but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Russell loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Lynch scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Russell land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Russell stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wiremu Russell!