PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hettie Kate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kate comes to the cage accompanied by Peanuts Theme. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kate
vs
Russo

172 cm
35
160 lbs
19 - 18 - 0

169 cm
37
165 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Tokyo United Fightwear

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 19 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hettie Kate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frankie Russo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russo misses with a series of wild punches.
Russo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kate.
Russo throws a series of punches but Kate moves out of range.
Russo looks to land a combination but Kate avoids it well.
Kate slaps away a takedown attempt from Russo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Russo.
Russo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kate swivels and escapes.
Kate looks for the body kick but Russo saw that one coming.
Kate lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Russo backs up against the cage.
Russo moves out of range as Kate throws a body kick.
Some wild striking there from Russo.
Kate looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kate throws a right and a left that Russo avoids nicely.
Kate is looking to clinch.
Kate tries to clinch up.
We've been told by Kate's head coaches at Blunt Force Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kate leaves Russo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hettie Kate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Russo.
Kate throws a sloppy head kick and Russo moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kate throws a series of strikes that have Russo backpedaling.
Russo throws a series of punches but Kate avoids them all with ease.
Kate connects with a body shot that sends Russo's belly button to the back.

Kate clinches up with Russo and pushes him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Kate.
Kate throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Russo blocks it with crossed arms.
Kate tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Russo avoids it.
Kate taking a breather.
Kate landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kate lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kate creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russo's defenses.

It looks like Frankie Russo has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Russo's elbow.
Russo looking for a takedown.
Kate stalls.
Russo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kate with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kate lands a knee to the body.
Russo avoids a wild elbow strike from Kate.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kate gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kate lands with a short shot to the head.
Russo's coach down at United Gym (PM for invitation) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Russo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kate misses with a hook to the ribs.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kate can't find room to land a body shot as Russo controls the action.
Kate throws a punch but it's blocked by Russo.
Kate looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Russo is looking for a takedown.
Kate lands an elbow inside.
Kate trying to stall but Russo improves his position.
Nice elbow from Kate.
A right handed body shot lands from Kate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo is working for takedown but Kate is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kate with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Russo goes for a takedown attempt but Kate pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Russo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russo keeps the fight on the outside.
Kate connects with a solid leg kick.
Russo takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russo misses the jab.
Kate throws a body kick that misses.
Hettie Kate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russo misses with a straight left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Kate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russo dodges the punch combination from Kate.
Kate throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hettie Kate dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Russo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Kate.
Russo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kate counters with a low kick, right behind Russo 's knee.
Kate throws the kick towards the body but Russo avoids it.
Kate tries a head kick but it misses.
Kate tries a head kick but it misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kate struggles to land a body shot inside as Russo controls his hands.
Russo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kate has Russo pushed against the cage.
Russo is working for takedown but Kate is calmly controlling the position for now.
Russo wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kate misses with a body punch.
Russo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Russo tries to break free but Kate pushes him back against the cage.
Kate lands a right hand that snaps the head of Russo backwards.

That has opened up Frankie Russo's cut even more.
Russo blocks a body shot from Kate.
Kate pushes off an throws an elbow but Russo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Russo goes for a takedown attempt but Kate pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hettie Kate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Russo.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kate shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Russo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Russo blocks a head kick by Kate.
Russo moves out of range of the strikes.
Kate throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kate scores with a leg kick.
Hettie Kate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kate fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kate thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Russo if he has to take too many more of those.
Russo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A left and a right from Russo both land. Nice combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kate scores with a decent looking hook.
Kate scores with a shot to the body.
Russo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kate keeps Russo at a distance using the push kick.
A solid body kick from Kate.
Kate throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kate bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Russo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Russo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from Kate.
Russo moves out of range as Kate throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Russo misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kate. Russo shrugs it off though.
No luck for Russo with that takedown attempt.
Hettie Kate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo is breathing heavily.
Kate pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hettie Kate is winning the standup battle so far.
Kate swinging wildly here.
Russo has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kate.
Russo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Russo lands with a cross.
Kate dodges the punch combination from Russo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kate.
Kate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Russo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kate. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kate tries a head kick but it misses.
Kate goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Russo takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Russo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Russo lands with a nice combination. Kate backs away looking to recover.
Russo tries to bum rush Kate with a series of wild strikes but Kate uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kate pushes Russo away with a front kick.
Kate scores with a one two! Russo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kate lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Kate closes the distance and clinches.
Kate tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Russo avoids it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russo is trying to break free.
Kate tries a knee to the head but Russo blocks it.
Kate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Russo's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hettie Kate dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Russo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kate dodges the punch combination from Russo.
Kate darts in trying to clinch
and Russo counters with a two punch combo.
Russo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Russo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kate lands a leg kick that knocks Russo off balance momentarily.
Kate throws a head kick but Russo moves out of range.
Russo misses the shot to the body.
Russo wants to land a leg kick but Kate is out of range.
Kate looks to land a body kick but Russo moved away.
Nice body kick from Kate.
Kate throws a jab but it's blocked by Russo.
Kate lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kate slips a jab from Russo.
Kate looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kate misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kate lands a head kick. Russo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kate throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kate moves in looking to clinch but Russo pushes him off.
Russo throws a nice looking combination but Kate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kate throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Russo counters with a series of strikes. Kate will be more careful next time no doubt.
Russo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kate misses with a head kick.
Russo has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kate.
Kate tries to close the distance and clinch but Russo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Kate scores with a four punch combination!
Kate throws a body kick that misses.
Russo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kate sprawls well. Kate wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russo gets slowly back to his feet.
Russo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kate misses with a series of wild punches.
Kate jabs Russo right on the nose. Russo blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kate looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Russo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kate defends it nicely.
Kate is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Russo can do to turn this around?
Russo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kates jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kate moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kate fails to land with a series of punches.
Kate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kate avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Kate moves into range and clinches up with Russo.
Russo tries for a takedown but Kate manages to get underhooks.
Hettie Kate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Russo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kate lands a nice elbow.
Russo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kate creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russo's defenses.
Kate misses with a knee strike.
Russo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Russo managing to block the knees to the body from Kate.
Hettie Kate has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kate with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Russo lands a takedown into guard.
Kate wants to get back to his feet but Russo passes into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kate is trying to stand.
Russo winds up and cracks Kate with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kate is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Russo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Russo not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kate is looking to escape.
Frankie Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kate is not content to let Russo control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russo drops an elbow to the side of Kate's head.
Kate is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Russo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kate trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russo wants to take a breather but Kate is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kate tries to get to full guard but Russo has control of the leg.
Hettie Kate is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Russo is looking for a kimura here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hettie Kate.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kate, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hettie Kate!
During a confident post fight interview, Hettie Kate thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.