PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Dellaria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Russel
vs
Dellaria

170 cm
30
153 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

165 cm
33
156 lbs
8 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Milwaukee's Best 160
Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Greg Dellaria!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dellaria looking for subs off his back but Russel has passed one foot through into half guard.
Russel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dellaria is looking for a sweep. Russel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Russel thows a huge punch but Dellaria dodges it nicely.
Russel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dellaria does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Dellaria looking for submissions off his back.
Dellaria is refusing to be controlled, as Russel sits in half guard.
Russel is really struggling to control Dellaria but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dellaria pushes Russel off looking to stand but Russel dives back in and keeps control.
Dellaria is trying to get back to full guard.
Russel is thwarting Dellaria's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dellaria looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dellaria gets full guard.
Russel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Russel wants to pass the guard but Dellaria is keeping the position.
Russel slips nicely into half guard.
Dellaria tries to roll over but Russel keeps him under control.
Dellaria felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dellaria keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dellaria taking some punishment here, with Russel in his half guard.
Russel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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!
Dellaria on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dellaria is staying active underneath Russel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dellaria is looking to control Russel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dellaria avoid being mounted?
Dellaria wants to get back to full guard.
Russel is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Russel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dellaria is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russel pulls his head out easily.
Russel winds up and cracks Dellaria with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Russel there.
Dellaria keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Russel wants to take a breather but Dellaria is having none of it.
Russel misses with a head shot. Dellaria uses the momentum to regain guard.
Russel slips nicely into half guard.
Russel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Russel is working for a kimura but Dellaria is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dellaria looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russel trying to control the pace.
Dellaria connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Dellaria is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Russel lands a nice short elbow.
Russel prevents Dellaria from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Russel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Dellaria.

Russel gets the takedown into side control.
Russel working the body and head with strikes.
Dellaria is not content to let Russel control the position.
Russel remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Russel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dellaria keeps working.
Ben Russel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Dellaria is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Russel off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Russel is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Dellaria controls the action.
Russel is keeping busy.
Dellaria is hanging on to Russel's back as he tries to escape.
Russel trying to control but not successfully.
Russel rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Russel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dellaria is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Russel is not content to let Dellaria control the position.
Russel works his way to full guard. Good work.
Russel wants to improve his position but instead Dellaria has moved into half guard.
Russel tries to get to full guard but Dellaria has control of the leg.
Dellaria trying to control from half guard but Russel is working away.
Russel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Russel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Russel is striking off his back. Dellaria thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel wants to get back to full guard.
Russel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dellaria with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Russel is pressing down on Dellaria's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dellaria tries to free his leg and advance position but Russel is retaining full guard.
Russel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dellaria is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Russel wants to improve his position but instead Dellaria has moved into half guard.
Russel wants to control but Dellaria is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel is pressing down on Dellaria's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dellaria postures up.
Dellaria postures up and lands a big shot to Russel's brow.
Dellaria won't allow Russel to sweep him here.
Russel is trying to control the position but Dellaria postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dellaria wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.
Russel wants to sweep but no luck.
Dellaria trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Greg Dellaria.
Dellaria fails with a takedown attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Russel. Dellaria does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Russel dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Russel as Dellaria shoots in.
Russel lands with an overhand left.
Dellaria slips under a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Russel misses the target.
Russel misses with a hook. Dellaria ducked under it nicely.
Russel missing with a left hand there. Dellaria was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dellaria uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Russel.
Dellaria has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Russel finds it's way round the side to connect with Dellaria's head.
Dellaria tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Russel defends well and Dellaria ends up having to push Russel into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Dellaria escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Russel throws an overhand right that lands on Dellaria's shoulder, as Dellaria tries to avoid the shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Russel.
Russel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dellaria circles away.
Dellaria looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel with a hook.
Dellaria moves out of range of the strikes.
Russel throws a right hand that misses

and Dellaria counters with a single leg into guard. Russel didn't expect that.
Russel keeping full guard, as Dellaria tries to pass.
Dellaria preventing the sweep.
Russel keeping full guard, as Dellaria tries to pass.
Russel 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.
Dellaria wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.
Russel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Russel unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russel is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dellaria is working to get back to half guard.
Russel with shots to the head and body - Dellaria looks very uncomfortable down there.
Russel with good strikes from the mount here!
Dellaria bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Dellaria trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.
Russel punching from the bottom.
Russel working a defensive guard here.
Dellaria wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel wants to hit a switch here but Dellaria passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Russel there!
Russel can't escape the position.
Dellaria can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Russel is looking to escape.
Dellaria is trying to control here but Russel has managed to regain half guard.
Russel is pressing down on Dellaria's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel looking for a sweep. Not yet Russel, not yet.

Dellaria lying in Russel's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Russel decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Dellaria taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ben Russel!
After the big win, Ben Russel made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Fight Night Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
Greg Dellaria was interviewed post fight and said 'Thanks to all the fans in the audience tonight...I'll be back!'.