PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Run Forcover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Run Forcover had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Forcover
vs
Russel

185 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
163 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Run Forcover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel throws out a loose jab but Forcover uses good head movement to avoid it.
Forcover pushes Russel away with a front kick.
Russel misses with an uppercut. Forcover saw that one coming.
Russel throws a jab when Forcover was well out of range.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown. Forcover tries to sprawl out of it but Russel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Forcover manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Forcover. Russel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Forcover is looking to score with low kicks.
Russel checks a low kick from Forcover.
Forcover tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Russel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russel dives in and grabs Forcover's left leg, looking for a takedown. Forcover pushes down on Russel's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel blocks a low kick nicely.
Forcover bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Forcover gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Russel has Forcover pressed against the cage.
Forcover slows down the pace here.
Forcover lands a good knee to the midsection. Russel won't want to take too many of those.
Russel has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Forcover after a bit of a struggle.
Run Forcover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Russel.
Russel is trying to pull guard but Forcover has him pressed against the cage.
Russel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Forcover walks away with a smile on his face. Russel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Forcover throws a sloppy head kick and Russel moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Forcover avoids it really well and circles away.
Forcover throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Forcover lands a leg kick that knocks Russel off balance momentarily.
Forcover lands with a slapping head kick.
Russel has a takedown stuffed.
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!
Russel throws a sloppy body shot

and Forcover counters by clinching up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Forcover obliges.
Forcover gets underhooks to prevent Russel's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forcover misses with a knee strike.
Russel is trying to maintain a safe position but Forcover gets an underhook and turns Russel into the cage.
Russel is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Forcover prevents the takedown attempt.
Russel is looking to take this one to the mat.
Forcover lands an elbow just above Russel 's eye.

It looks like Ben Russel has been cut.
Forcover lands a left hand that snaps the head of Russel backwards.
Russel drops down looking for an ankle pick but Forcover pulls his leg out and moves away.
Forcover lands a high kick!
Forcover bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Forcover counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Russel or perhaps it was just good defense by Forcover which made him look bad.
Forcover lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed right hand from Russel misses the target.
Russel throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Russel.
Ben Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel misses with an uppercut
and Forcover counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Forcover looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Horrible takedown by Russel or perhaps it was just good defense by Forcover which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Run Forcover dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Russel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Russel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russel is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Forcover takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Russel shoots for a double leg takedown but Forcover sprawls well. He's pushed Russel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Forcover ducks under a wild hook from Russel.
Russel loads up on a big right hand but Forcover slips the punch.
Forcover connects with a looping right hand.
Forcover is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
That kick from Forcover tenderised Russel's leg. Russel is trying to keep his angry face on.
Forcover moves out of range as Russel strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Forcover.
Russel shoots in but no luck this time.
Run Forcover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Russel.
Russel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Forcover counters with a nice body kick.
Forcover tries to land a front kick but Russel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Russel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Russel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Russel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Forcover swivels and escapes.
Russel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Russel is breathing heavily.
Forcover walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Russel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Forcover tries to clinch but Russel is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Forcover moves away.
Forcover is looking to clinch.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown but Forcover manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Forcover misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Run Forcover is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Forcover pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Russel shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Forcover pinned against the cage. Forcover gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Forcover lands a nice shot that snaps Russel's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forcover is looking to chop away at Russel's legs.
Nice shot lands for Russel.
Russel fails with the takedown.

Forcover clinches.
Russel goes for a takedown attempt but Forcover pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Russel misses with a right hand
and Forcover counters with a nice leg kick.
Russel looks for a takedown but Forcover sprawls well.
Russel closes the distance and clinches up with Forcover, looking for a takedown. Russel pushes Forcover against the cage but Forcover circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forcover cracks a nice hook into Russel's ribs.
Russel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Forcover.
Russel blocks a head kick by Forcover.
Forcover keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Forcover delivers a nice body kick.
Forcover uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russel.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russel connects with a right hand. Forcover shakes it off.
Forcover looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
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!
Forcover looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Run Forcover dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Russel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Russel feints and as Forcover raises his hands in defense, Russel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Forcover pulls Russel in close to his closed guard and prevents Russel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Russel throws a big elbow that misses.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Forcover tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Forcover is controlling Russel's posture.
Russel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Russel stays in close to Forcover's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Russel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Forcover controls Russel momentarily but Russel frees himself.
Russel is looking to work some ground and pound but Forcover has wrist control.
Russel prevents Forcover from getting back to his feet.
Russel wants to control from the top but Forcover keeps moving.
Forcover will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Forcover is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ben Russel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forcover avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Forcover looking to control.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Forcover gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Forcover has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Russel trying to keep a closed guard but Forcover is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Forcover stands and steps away. Russel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Forcover lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Russel has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Russel and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Russel misses with an uppercut
and Forcover counters with a low kick, right behind Russel 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Forcover. Forcover obviously looking to wear him down.
Russel misses with a jab to the body
and Forcover cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russel misses with a hook
and Forcover counters with a nice kick to the body.
Russel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Forcover moves away from the strike by Russel.
Russel swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Forcover counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Russel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Forcover.

Russel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Forcover's hands, connecting with Forcover's forehead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Forcover wants to get back to his feet.
Russel is thwarting Forcover's attempts to control the position.
Russel prevents Forcover from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Russel there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Russel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Forcover defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Russel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Forcover has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Run Forcover!