PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnathan Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Londinian Byzan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byzan has chosen Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Russell
vs
Byzan

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
234 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnathan Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Londinian Byzan!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byzan feints and as Russell raises his hands in defense, Byzan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Russell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Byzan's guard.
Byzan is looking to stand up but Russell isn't so interested in that idea.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Byzan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell stops Byzan from standing up.
Byzan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Byzan wants to stand and escape but Russell is having none of it.
Byzan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russell.
Byzan wants to stand and escape but Russell is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Byzan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell is really struggling to control Byzan but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Johnathan Russell just wasn't active enough.
Byzan goes for a double leg but Russell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Russell continues to drive forward.
A bit of stalling here from Byzan.
Byzan is trying to break the clinch but Russell has him pressed against the cage.

Byzan manages to break the clinch.
Byzan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Byzan circles away.
Russell fails with the takedown.
Byzan misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Johnathan Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Londinian Byzan.
Russell slaps away a takedown attempt from Byzan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Byzan fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byzan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russell.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Russell is defended easily by Byzan.
Byzan shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Byzan dives in for a single leg takedown but Russell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Byzan looks winded!
Byzan goes for a takedown attempt but Russell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Byzan shoots in looking for a takedown but Russell manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Byzan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Russell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Byzan's waist but Byzan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Russell off to one side.
Byzan keeps the fight on the outside.
Byzan misses with a takedown attempt - Russell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell looks for a takedown but Byzan sprawls well.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Byzan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Byzan throws a body kick that misses.
Russell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Byzan circles away.
Russell lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Russell is trying hard to land a takedown here. Byzan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Byzan swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Russell counters with a big head kick but Byzan shrugs it off.
Russell moves in looking to clinch but Byzan pushes him off.

Russell clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russell is pressed up against the cage. Byzan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Russell down to the mat. Russell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Russell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Byzan shoots in for a takedown but Russell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Byzan sprawls well. Byzan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russell gets slowly back to his feet.

Russell gets caught napping as Byzan dives in and scores a takedown. Russell manages to retain guard.
Byzan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Byzan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Byzan trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell is pulling down on Byzan's head to control his posture.
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 Johnathan Russell will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Russell tries to clinch but Byzan is having none of it.
Johnathan Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Byzan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Russell defends well and Byzan ends up having to push Russell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Russell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Byzan after a bit of a struggle.
Russell jumps guard but Byzan stands there with Russell around his waist. Russell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Russell is trying to pull guard but Byzan has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnathan Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russell jumps guard and drags Byzan to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Byzan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Byzan looking to sit in guard and control but Russell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russell being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell preventing the sweep.
Byzan looking to control.

Russell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Byzan wants to sweep here but Russell controlling him for the moment.
Russell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Byzan's guard.
Russell controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byzan wants to sweep here but Russell controlling him for the moment.
Byzan wants to stand up but Russell is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russell keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Londinian Byzan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byzan shoots in but Russell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Byzan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Russell sprawls well. Russell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Byzan gets slowly back to his feet.
Russell thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Byzan if he has to take too many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byzan instigates a clinch.
Russell fails to pull guard.
Russell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Russell.
Russell is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Byzan is keeping busy.
Byzan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Russell pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Byzan pulls guard effortlessly.

Russell stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Byzan tries for a takedown but Russell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnathan Russell is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Russell takes the fight into the clinch.

Russell breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Russell as Byzan shoots in.
Russell throws a right and a left that both miss.

Byzan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Russell's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Russell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byzan trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russell keeping moving, preventing Byzan from controlling successfully.
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 Johnathan Russell will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Russell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Russell wants to clinch up but Byzan keeps it at a distance.
Russell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Byzan pinned against the cage. Byzan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byzan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Russell but Russell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Byzan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Byzan defends it nicely.
Byzan misses with a two punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byzan fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnathan Russell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Londinian Byzan.
Byzan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Byzan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russell.
Nice sprawl there from Russell as Byzan shoots in.
Byzan has a takedown stuffed.
Russell throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Russell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Byzan circles away.
Byzan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Russell pinned against the cage. Russell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Russell throws a series of punches but Byzan moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell closes the distance and clinches up with Byzan, looking for a takedown. Russell pushes Byzan against the cage but Byzan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Russell shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Byzan defends it nicely.
Byzan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Byzan manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Russell on his heels. He'll look to pass Russell's guard now, I'm sure.
Russell looking for a sweep. Not yet Russell, not yet.
Russell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byzan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Londinian Byzan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Byzan controlling from the top position.
Byzan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byzan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Russell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Byzan has managed to get both his arms back between Russell's legs - danger averted.
Byzan wants to control from the top but Russell keeps moving.
Byzan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Byzan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Byzan throws a big elbow that misses.
Byzan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Byzan trying to control the position from guard on top but Russell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Byzan.
Byzan stands up over Russell, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Byzan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Byzan throws a strike but Russell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Byzan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Londinian Byzan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Byzan has his foot on Russell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Russell works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnathan Russell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Byzan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Londinian Byzan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russell has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!