PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Feruno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnathan Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Feruno is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Chad Feruno has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Feruno
vs
Russell

184 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Chad Feruno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Johnathan Russell!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russell fails with a takedown attempt.
Feruno is breathing heavily.
Russell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Russell lands a head kick!
Feruno misses with a straight left.
Chad Feruno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russell just misses with a punch to the body.
Feruno throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Russell counters with a good low kick that Feruno was not able to check.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Feruno displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Russell.
Chad Feruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnathan Russell.
Russell avoids the body shot from Feruno.
Russell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Russell slips a straight right by Feruno.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.

Russell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell lands with a right hand.
Russell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Russell moves into the clinch.
Feruno lands a left hand that snaps the head of Russell backwards.
Feruno doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Feruno.
Feruno doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Russell looking for a takedown.
Russell landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Feruno stops a takedown attempt from Russell.

Russell manages to break the clinch.
Russell plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Danga de danga de dang - Russell scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Feruno's waist but Feruno gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Russell off to one side.
Feruno looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Feruno scores with the left hand. Russell knows he should have avoided that one.
Feruno connects with a nice looking jab.
Russell fails to land the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Russell is looking to take this one to the mat.
Feruno gets underhooks to prevent Russell's takedown attempt.
Feruno lands a shoulder strike.
Feruno is pressed up against the cage. Russell has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Feruno down to the mat. Feruno avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Russell shoots in looking for a takedown. Feruno tries to sprawl out of it but Russell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Feruno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab, jab by Feruno - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Russell fails to land the takedown.
Feruno throws out a loose jab but Russell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Feruno takes a kick to the side of the head.
Feruno scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Russell darts in looking for a takedown but Feruno gets double underhooks and turns Russell into the cage.
Feruno lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Feruno throws a punch but it's blocked by Russell.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Russell shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Feruno as he avoids it easily.
Russell throws a low kick but Feruno avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Feruno moves into the clinch.

Russell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Feruno gets tackled into the cage by Russell. Russell maintains the clinch.
Feruno working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Russell lands a nice elbow.
Feruno prevents a body shot from Russell.
Russell jumps guard but Feruno turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Russell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Feruno smiles and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Feruno misses with a jab, cross combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Feruno throws an off balance right hand
and Russell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Russell dives in for a single leg takedown but Feruno sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johnathan Russell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chad Feruno's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Russell takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Russell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Feruno takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Russell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Feruno defends well and Russell ends up having to push Feruno into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Russell is struggling to control the position.
Russell tries to pull guard but Feruno won't allow it.
Chad Feruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnathan Russell.

Russell breaks the clinch.
Feruno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Russell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Russell lands a head kick. Feruno smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Russell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Feruno.
Feruno slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Feruno misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Russell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Feruno is fending him off so far but Russell persists. Nope, Feruno circles away and we're back to standing.
Feruno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Feruno misses the jab.
Russell dives in and grabs Feruno's left leg, looking for a takedown. Feruno pushes down on Russell's head and hops out.
Russell takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Russell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Russell fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Russell shoots in and drives through. Feruno sprawls well.
Feruno scores with a shot to the body.

Russell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Feruno, pushing him back against the cage.
Feruno stalling in the clinch but Russell improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell can't get the takedown.

Russell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Feruno pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Russell back to the cage. Feruno follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice defenses there by Russell.
Feruno blocks a head kick by Russell.
Russell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Feruno is fending him off so far but Russell persists. Nope, Feruno circles away and we're back to standing.
Feruno thuds a left hand into Russell's body.
Russell looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Feruno misses with a double jab
and Russell counters with a nice leg kick.
Feruno bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Russell's head.
Johnathan Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Feruno throws a left and a right that both miss
and Russell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A leg kick checked by Feruno.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Feruno fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Russell on the side of the head.
Russell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Feruno swivels and escapes.
Russell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Russell darts in looking for a takedown but Feruno gets double underhooks and turns Russell into the cage.
Russell changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Feruno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Feruno takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Russell will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Feruno lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Russell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Russell turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Feruno defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Russell.
Feruno chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Russell can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell has a takedown stuffed.
Feruno tries to bum rush Russell with a series of wild strikes but Russell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Russell lands a leg kick that knocks Feruno off balance momentarily.
Russell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice shot by Feruno.
Feruno scores with a hook to the body. Russell takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Russell shoots in but no luck this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Feruno throws a poor cross that misses
and Russell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Russell shoots in looking for a takedown. Feruno tries to sprawl out of it but Russell keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Feruno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Feruno misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Johnathan Russell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Chad Feruno's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Feruno tests Russell's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Feruno throws out a loose jab but Russell uses good head movement to avoid it.

Feruno tries to keep at a distance but Russell has taken the fight into the clinch.

Russell pulls guard effortlessly.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Russell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Russell seems keen to control Feruno's posture.

Russell is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Russell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Russell throws a nice head kick!
Russell misses with a takedown attempt - Feruno sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Feruno misses with a hook. Russell ducked under it nicely.

Russell rushes Feruno and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Russell jumps into guard, dragging Feruno to the mat.
Russell is striking but Feruno is not phased and passes to half guard.
Russell wants to control but Feruno is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell is looking to improve his position.

Russell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Feruno pulls his head out easily.
Russell is looking to get back to full guard here but Feruno has managed to pass to side control instead.
Russell is trying to control Feruno's posture but Feruno avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell is looking to regain half guard here but Feruno keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Russell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Feruno fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Feruno trying to control the position but Russell is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russell is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell trying to hold on to Feruno's head to control him but Feruno postures up.
Russell is trying is best to control the position here.
Feruno wants to lay and pray for a moment but Russell keeps working.
Chad Feruno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Johnathan Russell has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Russell instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Russell leaning against his opponent.
Johnathan Russell is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Feruno misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnathan Russell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Russell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnathan Russell!