PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jim Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Storm comes to the cage accompanied by ThunderStruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Storm
vs
Russo

172 cm
34
162 lbs
20 - 19 - 0

169 cm
37
165 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 20 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Storm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Frankie Russo!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Storm slips a jab and a cross from Russo.
Russo throws a right hand that Storm ducks under and follows up with a left that Storm also avoids with ease.
Russo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Storm moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Storm scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Storm swings around for an armbar but Russo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Storm's guard.

Russo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Storm has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Russo has managed to get both his arms back between Storm's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Storm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Russo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russo is in close to Storm's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Russo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Storm working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russo.

Storm throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Russo wants to control from the top but Storm keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Storm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Storm had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russo defends it easily.

Storm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Russo defends well.
Russo stands up over Storm, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Russo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Russo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Storm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Russo content to stall in guard here.
Russo postures up in Storm's guard and throws a big left but Storm blocks it.
Storm keeping moving, preventing Russo from controlling successfully.

Storm is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Storm isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Russo stacks Storm 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 Russo!
Russo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Storm is trying to improve his position.
Storm manages to get back to half guard.

Storm looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Russo there.

Storm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Storm actively working from the bottom here.
Russo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Storm taking some punishment here, with Russo in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm has hold of Russo's hands but Russo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Storm looking for submissions off his back.
Russo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Storm is looking to improve his position but Russo isn't that keen on the idea.
Russo lands a big shot there that rocks Storm but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Storm bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Storm drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Russo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Storm has Russo in his guard.

Storm throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Storm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Storm has his foot on Russo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russo works his way back into a safe position though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Storm throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Storm is breathing heavily.

Storm looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Russo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Storm is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Storm had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russo defends it easily.
Russo passes Storm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Storm is staying active underneath Russo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Storm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Storm has hold of Russo's hands but Russo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jim Storm will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Russo misses with the combination.
Nice straight punches there by Russo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Russo.
Storm fails with a takedown attempt.
Russo throws a series of punches but Storm moves out of range.
Storm tries for a takedown but Russo circles away easily
enabling Russo to counter with a crisp jab.
Storm dives in and grabs Russo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Russo pushes down on Storm's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Storm. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russo stuffs the takedown.
Russo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Storm tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Russo defends well and Storm ends up having to push Russo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russo has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Storm regains guard immediately.
Russo passes into half guard.
Russo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Russo there.
Storm moves into full guard.
Russo works over Storm with some ground and pound from guard.

Storm is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Russo defends well.

Storm is looking for a triangle but Russo pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Russo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Storm is rocked!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Russo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Oh Storm is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Russo passes into half guard.
Russo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Russo lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Storm! More strikes land and this one is all over! Russo jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Frankie Russo!