PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ritsuko Asuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeb Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritsuko Asuke had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Asuke
vs
Russell

163 cm
23
170 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

167 cm
28
163 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ritsuko Asuke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jeb Russell!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell scores with a punch to the head.
Russell misses with a body punch
letting Asuke counter with a right hand.
Asuke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Russell throws out the jab.
Asuke tries to land a front kick but Russell steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Decent striking displayed by Russell there.
Russell steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Asuke. That one must have hurt.
Russell fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Asuke thows a body shot but no joy.
Russell ducks under a wild hook from Asuke.
Asuke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Russell fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Asuke is out of range.
Russell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asuke was well out of range. Poor timing from Russell.
Russell takes a swing at Asuke's ribcage but misses.
Russell thows a body shot but no joy.
Asuke throws a right hand that misses
and Asuke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asuke connects with a jab.
Asuke moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Russell misses with a body shot.
Asuke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Russell blocks the body kick.
Asuke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russell manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Russell.
Asuke misses with a hook. Russell ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russell. Asuke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Russell connects with a good right hand that stumbles Asuke. Asuke circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Russell misses with a leg kick.
Asuke misses with a looping right.
Russell wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Russell throws the left hand but Asuke avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell misses with a body shot.
Russell throws a head kick but Asuke moves out of range.
Russell throws a right and a left that Asuke avoids nicely.
Russell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asuke.
Asuke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Russell circles away quickly and effectively.
Russell misses with a body punch
and Asuke counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asuke manages to avoid it.
Nice cross by Asuke.
Russell misses with a wild body shot.
That kick from Russell tenderised Asuke's leg. Asuke is trying to keep his angry face on.
Russell misses the jab.
Russell throws a looping overhand right but Asuke ducks down to avoid it.
Russell is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Asuke rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Russell connects with a leg kick. Asuke looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Russell swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Asuke fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Russell to the ground. Asuke is now in Russell's guard.
Asuke looking to pass the guard.
Asuke trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Asuke throws a hook but Russell avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell lands a nice hook to Asuke's body. Asuke takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Russell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asuke manages to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Russell. Those never looked like landing.
Russell scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Asuke.
Asuke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jeb Russell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russell ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Asuke.
Asuke throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell thumps Asuke with a low kick.
Russell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Asuke at a distance.
Russell blocks a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeb Russell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russell misses with a wild body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Russell. That's going to slow Asuke down.
Russell digs a good body shot into Asuke's ribs.
Russell's corner calls for a 1-2. Russell obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Asuke doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Russell counters with a nice leg kick.
Asuke throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Russell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asuke.
Russell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Asuke throws a poor cross that misses
and Russell counters with an outside leg kick.
Asuke takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Russell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Asuke manages to avoid it.
Russell thows a body shot but no joy.
Asuke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russell. Asuke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Russell.
Asuke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Asuke is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Russell misses with a straight left.
Russell throws a combination. Asuke tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Ritsuko Asuke has been cut.
Russell is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Asuke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jeb Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Russell lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Russell moves away from the strike by Asuke.
Asuke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell thows a body shot but no joy.
Russell wants to slow Asuke down by chopping away at his legs.
Asuke takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Russell lands with a good body shot.
Asuke throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russell swings for the body but Asuke moves out of range.
A big left from Russell misses.
Asuke lands with a shot to the body.
Russell scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Asuke is rocked!
Russell drops Asuke with a naaaaasty hook - Asuke is in real trouble here! Russell dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jeb Russell!
Jeb Russell managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, BLKOUT CLothing 93% Laundry, into his post fight interview.