PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Diego Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Agnar Gorm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Russell
vs
Gorm

186 cm
29
205 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

182 cm
26
210 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Knox Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diego Russell!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Agnar Gorm!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gorm shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Gorm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Russell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorm.
Diego Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Agnar Gorm.

Russell rushes Gorm and presses him up against the cage.

Russell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gorm can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Russell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russell is thwarting Gorm's attempts to control the position.
Gorm controlling the position well.
Russell wants to take a breather but Gorm is having none of it.
Russell is pressing down on Gorm's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gorm is holding on for now.
Russell is thwarting Gorm's attempts to control the position.
Gorm has hold of Russell's hands but Russell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Russell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gorm is not content to let Russell control the position.

Russell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gorm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Russell.
Gorm is concentrating on defense, preventing Russell from advancing position.
Gorm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Russell is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gorm doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Russell.
Russell is keen to just control but Gorm is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorm wants to improve his position but Russell is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gorm is not content to let Russell control the position.

Russell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gorm manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Russell won't allow Gorm to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorm keeping moving, preventing Russell from controlling successfully.
Gorm looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Russell throwing strikes but missing.
Russell wants to control from the top but Gorm keeps moving.
Gorm trying to control the position.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Gorm is retaining full guard.
Russell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gorm swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russell scoring with some ground and pound.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gorm swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorm pulls Russell in to control the position.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Gorm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gorm goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gorm will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gorm stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gorm wants it to stay on the feet.
Gorm shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
Gorm looking for a takedown.

Russell tightens his grip and picks Gorm up, before dumping him to the ground. Gorm manages to land in guard.
Russell tries to free his leg and advance position but Gorm is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Russell drops back looking for a leg! Gorm is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gorm manages to kick Russell off! Russell jumps back into Gorm's guard.

Gorm is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Russell dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorm is defended easily by Russell.
Russell has been working on his balance at 11th Planet Fitness ($300/wk), so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Gorm.
Russell is looking to clinch but Gorm is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Russell. No joy for Gorm on that attempt.
Gorm shoots in and drives through. Russell sprawls well.
Diego Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Agnar Gorm.
Russell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorm.
Russell looks for a takedown but Gorm sprawls well.
Gorm shoots in but no luck this time.
Gorm shoots for a double leg takedown but Russell sprawls well. He's pushed Gorm's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Russell stuffs the takedown attempt from Gorm. Gorm gets slowly back to his feet.

Russell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Russell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gorm is looking for a sweep.

Russell looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Russell wants to control but Gorm is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell working the head and body with strikes.
Gorm tries to improve position but can't.

Russell is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gorm knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Russell landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gorm prevents Russell from moving into mount.
Russell sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gorm is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gorm manages to work his way to half guard, despite Russell's best efforts.
Russell passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gorm!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gorm can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gorm tries to hold on but Russell postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Russell looking to finish Gorm with some ground and pound. This is bad for Gorm!

Russell moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Gorm has worked his arm free - good work by Gorm!
Gorm wants to control but Russell postures up.
Gorm takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Russell laying and praying for a moment but Gorm takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorm manages to get to full guard.
Gorm is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gorm is trying to keep Russell in close.
Gorm trying to control the position here.
Gorm looking for a sweep. Not yet Gorm, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Agnar Gorm hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Russell drives through with a takedown into guard.
Russell passes Gorm's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gorm trying to control from the bottom.
Russell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gorm's head.

Russell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gorm defends it well.
Gorm is trying to maintain the position but Russell is very close to passing his half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell is keen to just control but Gorm is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorm gets full guard.
Russell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Russell dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gorm feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Russell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gorm is controlling him.
Gorm throws an elbow that misses. Russell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gorm's guard. Nice move by Russell!
Russell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Russell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Russell throws a big elbow that misses.
Gorm keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
Russell working some strikes from top position.
Gorm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Russell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gorm swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gorm trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Russell trying to control but Gorm is working from the bottom.
Gorm is pulling down on Russell's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Russell scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gorm is refusing to be controlled, as Russell sits in half guard.
Russell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell trying to mount his opponent but Gorm defends it.
Gorm tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Russell content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Russell is trying to control. Gorm wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Gorm is defending against the submission attempts here by Russell.

Gorm is defending against the submission attempts here by Russell.
Gorm tries to get to full guard but Russell has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorm is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Russell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gorm has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Russell is working away from the top position though.

Gorm is defending against the submission attempts here by Russell.
Gorm trying to control from the bottom.
Russell trying to control from half guard but Gorm is working away.
Gorm is looking to control Russell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gorm avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorm is controlling Russell's trapped leg to prevent Russell from advancing to side control.
Gorm tries to roll over but Russell keeps him under control.
Russell trying to control from half guard but Gorm is working away.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Agnar Gorm hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gorm sprawls well. Gorm wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.
Gorm fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gorm shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Gorm gets a double leg takedown into Russell's guard.
Gorm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russell wants to get back to his feet but Gorm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gorm makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Russell clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Russell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Russell shoots in and gets a takedown into Gorm's guard.
Russell slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Gorm.
Gorm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Russell wants to work for an arm triangle but Gorm is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gorm is refusing to be controlled, as Russell sits in half guard.

Russell seems to be looking for submissions.
Gorm keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gorm has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Russell is working away from the top position though.
Gorm gets back to full guard.
Russell advances to half guard.
Russell trying to control the action but Gorm is working from the bottom.
Gorm wants to control but Russell is keeping busy.
Diego Russell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gorm is looking to improve his position.
Gorm is trying to control but can't.
Russell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gorm knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is trying to control the action in half guard but Gorm is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gorm shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gorm fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Russell avoids it really well and circles away.
Gorm is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Russell closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gorm did well to prevent Russell getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russell is keen to just control but Gorm is a slippery customer.
Ground and pound from Russell.
Well, if Russell is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Russell is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gorm wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to pass to mount but Gorm is defending the position.
Russell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gorm is in trouble now - Russell has advanced to mount!
Russell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Russell controlling his opponent.
Gorm is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gorm is looking to escape.
Russell wants to control the action but instead Gorm gets a body lock and reverses into Russell's guard! Nice work!
Gorm controlling from the top position.
Gorm stands and throws Russell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Gorm works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gorm asserts his dominance and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Russell had his way with Agnar Gorm in 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. This is the final round!

Gorm shoots in and gets a takedown into Russell's guard.
Gorm stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Russell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Russell is looking to stand up but Gorm isn't so interested in that idea.
Russell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gorm postures up in Russell's guard and throws a big left but Russell blocks it.
Gorm trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gorm won't allow Russell to get back to his feet.
Gorm passes Russell's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is trying to stand back up but Gorm is controlling him
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gorm lands strikes from half guard.

Russell has one foot on Gorm's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Russell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gorm defends it nicely.
Russell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gorm changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Russell tries to avoid it but Gorm manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Russell to the ground. Russell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gorm lands with a nice body punch.
Gorm shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Russell as he avoids it easily.
Russell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gorm defends well and Russell ends up having to push Gorm into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russell goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gorm prevents it.
Gorm drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russell gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gorm gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Russell regains guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gorm is looking to work some ground and pound but Russell has wrist control.
Russell wants to get back to his feet but Gorm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gorm looking to pass the guard.
Gorm wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Agnar Gorm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gorm wants to pass the guard but Russell is keeping the position.
Gorm scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gorm prevents Russell from getting back to his feet.
Gorm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Gorm working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Russell is looking to stand up but Gorm isn't so interested in that idea.
Russell keeping full guard, as Gorm tries to pass.
Russell wants to stand but Gorm is controlling the position.
Gorm stands up over Russell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Russell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gorm.
Russell is looking to stand up but Gorm isn't so interested in that idea.
Russell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gorm.
Gorm postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Russell wants to stand but Gorm is controlling the position.
Gorm postures up in Russell's guard and throws a big left but Russell blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell keeping full guard, as Gorm tries to pass.
Gorm working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Agnar Gorm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russell 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 49:46
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 49:46
Judge George Francis scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Russell!
Diego Russell retains his light heavyweight title!
Agnar Gorm was interviewed post fight and said '"Sergio!! Water!! Sergio!!! I'm sorry I couldn't perform better today,nothing but respect for my opponent, he was on tonight. I think it's time for me to hang up the gloves. Thank you to my friends, family, coaches and fans, I hope you respect my decision, I can't keep losing like this. Th'.