PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Doi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Doi
vs
Russo

170 cm
26
155 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

169 cm
32
165 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yoshi Doi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frankie Russo!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Doi pinned against the cage. Doi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Russo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Doi counters with a leg kick.
Russo misses with the combination.
Doi throws a body punch but Russo moves out of range.
Russo shoots in looking for a takedown but Doi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Doi.

Doi clinches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Doi obliges.

Doi pulls guard successfully.
Doi working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russo chips away with some ground and pound.

Doi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo working some strikes from top position.
Russo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russo wants to control from the top but Doi keeps moving.
Russo lands a couple of digs.
Russo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Russo scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Russo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Doi working for submissions but it's allowed Russo to get to half guard.
Doi is looking for a sweep. Russo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Doi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Doi gets back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Doi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Russo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Russo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Doi is looking for a triangle here but Russo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Russo trying to control the action but Doi is working from the bottom.
Russo scoring with punches from side control.

Russo is trying to get an arm triangle but Doi is defending well.
Doi is looking to reverse the position.
Doi struggling a bit here.
Doi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doi is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Russo off and has taken his back!
Russo rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo is holding on to half guard well.

Doi is trying to work for a kimura but Russo is defending well.
Doi is looking to stall here but Russo recovers full guard.
Doi forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doi is thwarting Russo's attempts to control the position.
Doi drops an elbow to the side of Russo's head.

Doi is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Russo defends it well.

Doi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Russo sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frankie Russo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Doi just misses with a punch to the body.
Doi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Doi - that will leave a mark!
Doi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russo throws a right and a left that Doi avoids nicely.
Russo shoots in looking for a takedown. Doi tries to sprawl out of it but Russo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Doi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Russo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Doi counters with a good low kick that Russo was not able to check.
Yoshi Doi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Russo.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Frankie Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo slaps away a takedown attempt from Doi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Doi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Russo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Russo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Doi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Doi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Russo tries to keep at a distance but Doi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Doi throws a head punch that misses.
Doi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Russo wants a takedown but no success here.
Doi misses with an elbow strike.
Doi is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo avoids the elbow strike from Doi, against the cage.
Doi misses with a knee strike.
Doi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Russo is defending well.
Doi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Russo avoids the elbow strike from Doi, against the cage.
Doi wants to take the fight to the mat but Russo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Doi lands a damaging elbow.
Doi misses with an elbow strike.
Russo managing to block the knees to the body from Doi.
Doi gets underhooks to prevent Russo's takedown attempt.
Doi lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Doi fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Russo as Doi tries to tie him up.
Doi lands a nice elbow.
Russo can't get the takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Doi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Doi misses with a knee to the head.
Doi wants to get back to striking at distance but Russo won't allow it.
Doi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Doi prevents the takedown attempt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Russo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Doi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Russo is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Doi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Russo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Doi is defending well.
Russo goes for a takedown attempt but Doi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Doi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Doi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Doi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Doi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Russo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Doi but great work by Russo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshi Doi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Doi throws a lazy uppercut
and Russo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Doi lands a head kick. Russo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Doi has closed the distance and engaged Russo in a clinch.

Russo is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Doi can't fight it off and eventually Russo manages to take the fight to the floor. Doi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Doi working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Russo has passed into half guard!
Russo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Russo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Russo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Doi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russo pulls his head out easily.
Doi is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Doi trying to control here.
Russo lands with a punch from half guard.
Russo throwing shots but Doi is blocking nicely.
Russo slips a nice elbow through Doi's hands, connecting with Doi's forehead.
Russo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Russo trying to control the action but Doi is working from the bottom.

Doi actively working from the bottom here.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Doi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Doi.
Russo trying to control the position from guard on top but Doi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Doi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Doi looking for a guillotine here but Russo defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russo lands a couple of digs.
Russo throwing strikes but missing.
Russo landing some decent shots from guard.
Russo throwing strikes from guard but Doi blocks nicely.

Doi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Russo is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo advances to half guard.
Russo drops an elbow to the side of Doi's head.
Doi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Russo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Doi!
Doi is bucking up trying to escape but Russo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Russo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Doi is rocked!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Russo! Doi is hurt baaadly! Russo is firing away with more strikes - Doi is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frankie Russo!