PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cain Slade (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Russell has chosen Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Darren Russell will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Slade
vs
Russell

175 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
194 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cain Slade!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Russell!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Slade counters by clinching up.

Russell pulls guard successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Slade is looking to stand up but Russell won't let him.
Slade is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Slade pushing down on Russell's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Russell trying to control here.
Slade performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Slade throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Russell manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Russell pulls Slade in close to prevent any damage.

Russell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Slade avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Slade wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Slade pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russell is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slade controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Slade might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Slade pushes down on Russell's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Russell is trying to get back to full guard.
Russell wants to control but Slade is keeping busy.
Slade looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Slade wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slade is thwarting Russell's attempts to control the position.
Russell tries to roll over but Slade keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Russell fails with the takedown

and Slade decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Russell's guard.

Russell looking for a guillotine here but Slade defends easily.
Slade trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slade scoring with some ground and pound.

Russell is working an open guard so Slade takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Slade throws a nice inside leg kick.
Slade misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Russell tries for a takedown but Slade circles away easily

and Slade holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cain Slade has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Russell.
Slade scores with a shot to the side of Russell's head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell misses with a knee strike.
Russell is trying to break the clinch but Slade is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Slade dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Russell manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Slade on his heels. He'll look to pass Slade's guard now, I'm sure.
Slade trying to keep a closed guard but Russell is proving a slippery customer.
Slade tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Russell wants to stand and escape but instead Slade has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Slade trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.
Slade advances to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Slade in particular looking to stall.
Russell is trying to stand back up but Slade is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slade tries to stand and escape but Russell is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell is trying to stand.
Slade controlling the action here.
Russell is refusing to be controlled, as Slade sits in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Cain Slade just wasn't active enough.

Slade gets a takedown into half guard.
Slade stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slade trying to mount his opponent but Russell defends it.

Russell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Slade pulls his head out easily.
Slade tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Slade is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Russell trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slade tries to stand but can't do so whilst Russell controls his leg.

Russell actively working from the bottom here.
Slade is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Slade looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Slade with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell trying to control but Slade postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Slade darts in and clinches Russell up against the cage.
Russell jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Slade walks away with a smile on his face. Russell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Slade thumps Russell with a low kick.
No luck for Slade with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russell shoots and misses
and Slade counters with a three punch combo that has Russell backing up. Russell nods at Slade to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Slade dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slade scores with a takedown into Russell's guard.
Slade has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Russell isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Slade stacks Russell on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Slade!
Russell tries to control but Slade manages to take his back.

Russell is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Slade off. It looks like it's working - Slade slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Russell displaying calm under pressure there.
Slade shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Russell sprawls well. Russell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slade gets slowly back to his feet.
Slade lands a nice leg kick that just misses Russell's sensitive parts.
Russell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slade throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cain Slade is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Slade is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Russell's half guard.

Slade decides to return to a standing position.
Russell gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Slade counters with a three punch combo that has Russell backing up. Russell nods at Slade to acknowledge the strikes.
Slade pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Slade shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Russell manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slade is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Slade trying to control but Russell is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slade showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Russell working for a triangle but Slade defends it easily.
Slade is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cain Slade.
Slade fails with a takedown attempt.
Russell with a lazy takedown attempt
and Slade counters with a head kick. That will keep Russell thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Russell tries to sprawl but Slade drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Slade performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Russell has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Slade is working away from the top position though.
Russell is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Slade scores with a couple of nice shots.

Russell looking for a kimura from the bottom but Slade passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to control but Slade postures up.
Cain Slade overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Slade trying to control the position but Russell is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell is pushing Slade's head away, looking to escape. Slade manages to hold on to the position though.
Slade scoring with punches from side control.
Russell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slade controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Russell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Darren Russell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Slade is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Slade tries for a kimura but Russell is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Slade showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Slade has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Slade!