PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Pickett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marty Russ (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Marty Russ was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Pickett
vs
Russ

153 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johnny Pickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marty Russ!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickett pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pickett throws a left and a right that both miss

and Russ counters by moving into the clinch.
Pickett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Russ gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pickett tries to pull guard but Russ forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pickett taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Russ as Pickett tries to tie him up.
Russ tries for a takedown. No joy.
Russ has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pickett is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Russ can't fight it off and eventually Pickett manages to take the fight to the floor. Russ looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pickett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russ is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Russ has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Russ not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Russ bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pickett's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pickett trying to keep a closed guard but Russ is proving a slippery customer.

Pickett working for a triangle but Russ defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pickett is looking for a triangle but Russ pushes his legs off easily.
Pickett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Russ manages to get himself to full guard.
Russ avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russ bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pickett's guard.
Russ wants to control from the top but Pickett keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pickett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Russ's guard.
Pickett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russ is pulling down on Pickett's head to control his posture.
Pickett stopping the sweep attempt from Russ.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russ working a defensive guard here.
Pickett working some strikes from top position.
Pickett landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pickett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Russ's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Pickett dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pickett avoids the head kick by Russ.
Pickett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Russ.
Pickett really is a fat lump.
Russ misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Pickett scores with a takedown into Russ's guard.
Johnny Pickett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pickett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Russ is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pickett stopping the sweep attempt from Russ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russ is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pickett looking for submissions off his back.
Pickett is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett manages to get to full guard.
Russ is looking to work some ground and pound but Pickett has wrist control.
Russ engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickett had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Russ defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russ with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Russ gets to his feet - Pickett follows without any prompting.
Russ shoots in for a double leg but Pickett sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Johnny Pickett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marty Russ.
Nice takedown defense from Pickett. No joy for Russ on that attempt.
Russ is breathing heavily.
Russ tries to clinch but Pickett moves out of range.
Russ looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pickett misses with the combination.
Russ will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johnny Pickett will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pickett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Russ paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pickett throws a right and a left that Russ avoids nicely.
Marty Russ seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russ fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pickett is out of range.

Pickett throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Russ was covering up waiting for the punch and Pickett finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Russ pulls Pickett in close to prevent any damage.

Russ had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pickett defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russ avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pickett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Russ wants to stand up but Pickett is controlling him.

Russ is working an open guard so Pickett takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Russ takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Russ shoots in but Pickett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Russ looks to clinch

and Pickett counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pickett.
Pickett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Russ avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pickett goes for a takedown attempt but Russ pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pickett.
Russ tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pickett wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pickett working away.
Russ really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pickett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Russ regains half guard.
Russ is trying to maintain the position but Pickett is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickett is working for a submission of some sort.
Pickett throwing shots but Russ is blocking nicely.

Pickett 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russ trying to control here.

Pickett is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Russ sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Pickett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pickett 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Pickett!