PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Colton Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Braga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Braga comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Run This Town kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Miguel Braga is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Russell
vs
Braga

190 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Colton Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Miguel Braga!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Braga clinches up with Russell and pushes him back against the cage.
Braga lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Russell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Braga keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Russell's efforts to push away.
Russell has had enough of the clinch but Braga keeps him there for the moment.

Braga breaks from the clinch.
Colton Russell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Braga shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Russell defends it nicely.
Braga throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Russell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Braga, pushing him back against the cage.

Braga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russell throws a series of strikes that have Braga backpedaling.

Braga sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Russell to the ground! Braga dives into full mount looking to finish!

Russell is rocked!

It looks like Colton Russell has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Braga content just to control the position here.
Oh Russell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Russell tries to lock up and control but Braga gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Braga looking to ground and pound but Russell is blocking nicely.
Braga avoids the attempt from Russell to control.
Braga controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell tries to reverse the position but Braga maintains control.
Russell seems to have got his legs back now.
Russell is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Braga controlling from mount.
Let's hope that Braga has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Russell wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Braga content just to control the position here.
Braga won't let Russell get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell blocking the ground and pound.
Russell is trying desperately to improve position.
Russell wants to hold on but Braga pushes him away.
Braga sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell wants to hold on but Braga pushes him away.

Braga working for a submission but Russell is keeping him at bay.
Braga controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Russell is working to get back to half guard.
Braga controlling from the full mount.
Braga can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Russell is looking to escape.
Braga tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Russell is looking to improve his position but Braga isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braga looking to control and managing it successfully.
Braga thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Russell really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Braga thowing shots but they're missing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Russell is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Russell is looking to improve his position but Braga isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Braga dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Colton Russell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russell wants it to stay on the feet.

Russell has managed to clinch.
Russell is trying to push Braga away but Braga has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Russell is trying to break free.
Braga has Russell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Russell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Russell misses with some punches.
Russell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Braga drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russell gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Colton Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Braga.

Braga jumps guard and drags Russell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Russell passes Braga's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Braga tries to kick Russell off but Russell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Russell is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Braga is refusing to be controlled, as Russell sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga manages to get to full guard.
Russell is looking to stand up but Braga won't let him.
Russell looking to pass the guard.

Braga manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Braga slips a straight right by Russell.
Russell lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Russell has Braga up against the cage in a clinch.
Russell is trying to force a seperation but Braga has the dominant position.
Braga tries to pull guard but Russell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Russell swings wildly with an uppercut but Braga uses good head movement to avoid it.

Braga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell misses with an uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Russell. Those never looked like landing.
Colton Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell scores with a jab to the jaw.

Russell has Braga up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Russell working aggressively here.

Braga breaks the clinch.
Russell misses with a double jab

and Braga holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Braga breaks from the clinch.
Russell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Braga.
Russell loads up on a big right hand but Braga slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga looks for a takedown but Russell sprawls well.
Braga is breathing heavily.
Braga takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Russell moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Braga.

Braga breaks from the clinch.

Russell takes the fight into the clinch.
Braga landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Braga manages to break the clinch.
Braga shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russell misses with a body shot.
Russell misses with a wild combination.
Braga shoots in and drives through. Russell sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Braga.
Russell throws a hook to the side of Braga's head but Braga sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russell scores with a crisp jab that stopped Braga in his tracks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russell works over Braga's head and body with a nice combination.
Russell moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Russell throws a right and a left that Braga avoids nicely.
Miguel Braga seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
Russell wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.
Russell misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell has a couple of punches blocked by Braga.
Russell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Braga keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Russell's efforts to push away.
Braga lands a left hand that snaps the head of Russell backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colton Russell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Colton Russell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Russell stuffs the takedown attempt from Braga. Braga gets slowly back to his feet.
Russell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Braga.
Russell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russell misses with a few strikes there.

Braga clinches up against the cage.

Braga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Russell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Braga.
Braga throws a quick inside leg kick.
Braga misses with a head kick.
Russell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Braga circles away quickly and effectively.
Russell tries to bum rush Braga with a series of wild strikes but Braga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Russell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Braga.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Braga misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Colton Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Braga.
Russell throws a lazy right hand but Braga sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braga looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Russell is fending him off so far but Braga persists. Nope, Russell circles away and we're back to standing.

Braga clinches up with Russell and pushes him back against the cage.
Russell wants to break the clinch but can't.

Braga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Russell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Russell.

Russell has Braga up against the cage in a clinch.
Braga tries for a takedown but Russell manages to get underhooks.
Russell wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Russell is trying to break free.
Russell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.

Braga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Braga forces Russell back against the cage and clinches.
Russell misses with some punches.
A bit of stalling here from Braga.
A frustrated look appears on Russell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Braga drags the fight down to the ground.

Russell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Braga, up you get!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Braga misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russell. Braga does a little dance to reset his feet.

Braga darts in and clinches Russell up against the cage.
Russell is pressed up against the cage. Braga has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russell down to the mat. Russell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Braga on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Braga slips a jab and a cross from Russell.
Braga dodges the punch combination from Russell.
Braga throws a head kick but Russell moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Braga shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Russell misses with a two punch combination.

Russell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Russell working hard to break the clinch.
Russell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Braga.

Braga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Russell misses with a body shot.
Braga shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense.
Russell misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Braga.
Braga pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Braga walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Russell rushes Braga and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Russell wants to get back to striking at distance but Braga won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Braga breaks from the clinch.
Russell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Russell wants it to stay on the feet.
Russell fails to land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by Russell there.
Russell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Braga tries to keep at a distance but Russell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Russell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Braga has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Braga is pushing Russell up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from Russell fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell is looking to break free of the clinch but Braga has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colton Russell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Russell 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colton Russell!