PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russell comes into the arena with LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out blaring out of the sound system. Shaun Russell has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Russell
vs
Anderson

187 cm
26
219 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

185 cm
27
215 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shaun Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Austin Anderson!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Russell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Russell gets caught flat footed, as Anderson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Russell controls Anderson momentarily but Anderson frees himself.
Anderson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Russell manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell wanted to stand there but Anderson had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russell trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Russell wants to stand and escape but instead Anderson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anderson throws a strike but Russell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Anderson is on top in guard.
Anderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anderson stopping the sweep attempt from Russell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Russell's head.
Russell has control of Anderson's left arm, preventing Anderson from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Anderson throws an elbow that misses. Russell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anderson's guard. Nice move by Russell!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson is looking to stand up but Russell isn't so interested in that idea.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson has a closed guard, preventing Russell from standing up.
Anderson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Russell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Anderson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russell looks to land a combination but Anderson avoids it well.
A right-left combo lands from Russell.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Anderson throws the left hand but Russell avoids the punch easily.

Anderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Russell is trying to defend but Anderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Austin Anderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Anderson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Russell.
Russell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Russell throws the left hand but Anderson avoids the punch easily.
Russell drops his hands momentarily and Anderson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Russell just misses with a punch to the body.
Russell scores with a hook.
Anderson defending well as Russell loads up on a big left hand.
Some wild striking there from Russell.
Anderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Russell throws out the jab.
Anderson thows a body shot but no joy.
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Russell is just out of range.
Anderson misses with a wild body shot.
Anderson throws a looping overhand right but Russell ducks down to avoid it.
Russell throws a lazy right hand but Anderson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Anderson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Anderson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
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!
Anderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Russell throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anderson gets a double leg takedown into Russell's guard.
Anderson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Russell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Anderson throwing strikes but missing.
Anderson is looking to advance position but Russell has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Russell is looking to stand but Russell has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to control the pace but Anderson is squirming around nicely.
Russell tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Anderson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Anderson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Anderson is squirming around, avoiding Russell's attempts to control the action.
Russell content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to stand up but Anderson had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
Anderson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Anderson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Anderson is looking to pass Russell's guard but actually Russell recovers to full guard.
Anderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson throws a strike but Russell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Anderson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Anderson trying to keep a closed guard but Russell is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Anderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Anderson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Anderson slips a jab from Russell.
Russell throws a hook to the side of Anderson's head but Anderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shaun Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anderson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Russell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Anderson.
Russell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Anderson blocks a jab.
Russell fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Anderson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Russell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Anderson walks into a jab.
Anderson misses the shot to the body.
Anderson misses with a looping right.
Russell throws a hook but Anderson avoids it easily.
Anderson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Russell lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russell throws out a loose jab but Anderson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Russell.
Russell moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Russell takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Russell throws a leg kick but Anderson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Anderson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Russell throws a combination that misses
and Anderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Shaun Russell is winning the standup battle so far.
Anderson moves away from the strike by Russell.
Russell cracks Anderson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Russell.
Anderson cracks Russell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Russell there as he acknowledges the shot.
Russell lunges at Anderson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Anderson's hand.
Russell looks to land a right hand but Anderson moved out of range.
Anderson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Anderson misses the shot to the body.
Russell throws the left hand but Anderson avoids the punch easily.
Shaun Russell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anderson has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Anderson there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot lands for Russell.
Russell ducks right into an uppercut from Anderson.
Russell jabs Anderson right on the nose. Anderson blinks but takes it well.
Russell swings away with a body shot that misses

and Anderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russell won't be happy with that.
The strikes coming from Anderson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Anderson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Anderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Russell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The strikes coming from Anderson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Anderson crashes against the mat.
The strikes coming from Anderson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Anderson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Shaun Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russell defending against the ground and pound.

Anderson tries for a kimura but Russell is defending well.
Anderson working the ground and pound.
Russell tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Anderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Russell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Russell is avoiding damage well.
Anderson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Anderson is putting a hurting on Russell here, landing some big shots from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An elbow from Anderson crashes against the mat.
Anderson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Russell sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anderson grinds an elbow into Russell's temple.
Russell on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Russell taking a bit of punishment here - Anderson scoring with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Anderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Anderson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Anderson!
A very excited looking Austin Anderson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.