PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gegardio Musasio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diego Russell acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Musasio
vs
Russell

190 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

186 cm
28
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Fight Night Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gegardio Musasio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diego Russell!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Musasio gets caught napping as Russell dives in and scores a takedown. Musasio manages to retain guard.
Russell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Musasio looking to control.
Russell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Musasio is keeping the position for now.
Musasio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russell.
Russell sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Diego Russell.
Musasio uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Russell has time to react.
Russell dives in for a single leg takedown but Musasio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Musasio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Musasio manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musasio misses with a hook. Russell ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Musasio. Russell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Russell takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Musasio gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Russell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Russell throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell throws a big elbow that misses.
Russell's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Diego Russell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Musasio lands a right hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Musasio.
Nice defenses there by Russell.
Musasio connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Musasio lands a glancing blow to the side of Russell's head.

Russell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Musasio napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Musasio managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Russell.
Musasio is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Russell wants to control but Musasio is keeping him busy.
Musasio regains half guard there - taking advantage of Russell's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russell trying to control the action but Musasio is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Diego Russell will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Musasio misses with a straight left.
Musasio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Russell moves away.
Musasio throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Musasio stuffs the takedown attempt from Russell. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Musasio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Musasio lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gegardio Musasio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russell takes one to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Musasio looks to land a left hand but Russell moved out of range nicely.
Russell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Musasio.
Musasio with a nice cross.
Russell needs to keep his hands up - Musasio had a free shot at his head there.
Musasio connects with a crisp jab.
Russell drops his hands momentarily and Musasio takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Musasio throws an overhand right that lands on Russell's shoulder, as Russell tries to avoid the shot.

Musasio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Russell to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Russell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musasio keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Russell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
My spies in Personal Training inform me that Russell has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Musasio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Musasio working a defensive guard here.
Russell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell preventing the sweep.
Russell slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Diego Russell has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Diego Russell was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Musasio jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Russell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Musasio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Russell looking to sit in guard and control but Musasio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Musasio prevents Russell from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gegardio Musasio dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Musasio scores with a jab to the jaw.
Musasio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Musasio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Russell to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Russell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Musasio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Musasio keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Musasio manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Russell manages to get himself to full guard.
Musasio slips nicely into half guard.
Musasio prevents Russell from standing back up.

Musasio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Russell has managed to free his arm - good work.

Musasio is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musasio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russell keeps working.
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
Musasio wants to pass the guard but Russell is defending well.
Russell is trying to stand up here but Musasio is controlling him well.
Musasio is looking to advance position but Russell won't allow it.
Russell is trying to stand back up but Musasio is controlling him

Musasio is looking for a kimura but Russell is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Musasio to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Musasio is taking a breather. Russell says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Russell wants to get back to his feet.
Musasio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Russell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Russell is defending against the submission attempts here by Musasio.
Musasio works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Musasio has hold of Russell's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Russell manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gegardio Musasio clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Danga de danga de dang - Musasio scores with a four punch combination!
Musasio throws the left hand but Russell avoids the punch easily.
Russell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Musasio misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russell ducks under a wild hook from Musasio.
Donk. Musasio catches Russell right on the button with a cross.
Musasio lands a slapping body shot.
Musasio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Russell circles away quickly and effectively.
Musasio scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Russell bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Russell trying to control the position but Musasio is working away.
Russell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Russell throws an elbow but Musasio slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell looks up at the clock and then as Musasio takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Russell smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Russell trying to control the position but Musasio is working away.
Musasio wants to control but Russell postures up.
Musasio dodges the ground and pound from Russell.
Russell tries to move into full mount but can't pass Musasio's legs.
Musasio wants to control but Russell postures up.

Russell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Musasio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The strikes coming from Russell are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Russell stalls from top position.
Russell tries to move to full mount but Musasio actually manages to regain half guard.
Russell is thwarting Musasio's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Musasio is staying active underneath Russell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Gegardio Musasio will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Russell changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Musasio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Russell trying to control the action but Musasio is working from the bottom.

Russell is trying to get an arm triangle but Musasio is defending well.
An elbow from Russell crashes against the mat.
Russell in side control lands a decent elbow.
Russell throws an elbow but Musasio slips to the side and avoids it well.
Russell misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Russell just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell working the body and head with strikes.
Russell trying to control the action but Musasio is working from the bottom.
Musasio wants to control but Russell postures up.
Russell is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Musasio will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Russell misses with the ground and pound.

Russell is trying to get an arm triangle but Musasio is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Musasio's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Musasio manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Musasio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Musasio is trying to control. Russell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Russell is defending against the submission attempts here by Musasio.
Russell tries to kick Musasio off but Musasio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Russell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Musasio 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Gegardio Musasio!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Gegardio Musasio!
Judge Josh West scores the fight as a draw!

Gegardio Musasio wins by majority decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Gegardio Musasio thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.