PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Coleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ LaRussa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). TJ LaRussa looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Coleman
vs
LaRussa

185 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
183 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Coleman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, TJ LaRussa!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
LaRussa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Coleman shoots in and bounces LaRussa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Coleman won't allow LaRussa to get back to his feet.
Coleman content to stall in guard here.
LaRussa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Coleman throws a big right hand that misses.
Coleman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. LaRussa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
LaRussa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Coleman is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman landing with the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Coleman moves out of range of the leg kick from LaRussa.
Coleman shoots for a double leg takedown but LaRussa sprawls well. He's pushed Coleman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
LaRussa tries to clinch but Coleman moves out of range.
LaRussa takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Coleman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Coleman throws a sloppy head kick and LaRussa moves out of range easily.
TJ LaRussa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
LaRussa scores with a jab.

Coleman drives through with a takedown into guard.

Coleman gets to his feet - LaRussa follows without any prompting.
LaRussa looks gassed!
Coleman closes the distance and clinches up with LaRussa, looking for a takedown. Coleman pushes LaRussa against the cage but LaRussa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from LaRussa misses.
LaRussa misses with a takedown

and Coleman counters with a nice double leg into side control. LaRussa won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
LaRussa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Coleman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but LaRussa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
LaRussa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Coleman controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman wants to control but LaRussa is keeping him busy.
Coleman tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Coleman stands up and we're back to a striking position.
LaRussa swinging wilding here.

LaRussa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - LaRussa lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

LaRussa stands and steps away. Coleman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Coleman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
LaRussa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Coleman.
LaRussa misses with a body shot

and Coleman counters with a takedown into side control.
Coleman trying to control the action but LaRussa is working from the bottom.
LaRussa is trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Coleman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with LaRussa, pushing him back against the cage.
Come on Coleman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Coleman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Coleman lands an elbow inside that LaRussa shrugs off.

LaRussa manages to break the clinch.
Coleman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A thudding body kick lands there by Coleman!
LaRussa throws a head kick but Coleman moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
LaRussa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tommy Coleman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Coleman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? LaRussa is fending him off so far but Coleman persists. Nope, LaRussa circles away and we're back to standing.
LaRussa fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from LaRussa.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Coleman.
LaRussa scores with a one two! Coleman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No joy there for LaRussa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Coleman misses with a takedown attempt - LaRussa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Coleman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
LaRussa swinging wilding here.
An inside leg kick from LaRussa misses.
LaRussa misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Coleman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
LaRussa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

LaRussa scrambles and gets back to his feet.
LaRussa blocks a head kick by Coleman.
LaRussa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Coleman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Coleman connects with a high kick.
A combination from LaRussa does no damage.
LaRussa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from LaRussa does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRussa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Coleman doesn't seem bothered though.
LaRussa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Coleman shoots in but no luck this time.
LaRussa misses with a wild body shot.
LaRussa throws a series of punches but Coleman moves out of range.
LaRussa stuffs the takedown.
LaRussa falls off balance throwing a combination

and Coleman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Coleman tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. LaRussa just stands there and leans against the cage.
LaRussa pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, LaRussa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
LaRussa wants to break free but Coleman has control.
Coleman tries for a takedown. No joy.

LaRussa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
LaRussa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
LaRussa throws a sloppy head kick

and Coleman moves into the clinch.
Coleman fails to pull guard.
LaRussa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Coleman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but TJ LaRussa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

LaRussa works Coleman's body with a nice hook.
LaRussa just misses with a punch to the body.
Coleman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
LaRussa looks to score with a jab to the body but Coleman is just out of range.

Coleman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with LaRussa, pushing him back against the cage.
LaRussa is trying to break the clinch but Coleman has him pressed against the cage.

LaRussa manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from LaRussa does no damage.
Coleman doesn't manage to clinch there - LaRussa circles away.
Coleman shoots and misses
and LaRussa counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Coleman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Coleman tries for a takedown but LaRussa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Coleman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman tries to clinch but LaRussa moves away

and LaRussa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Coleman tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
LaRussa seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
LaRussa trying to control the action but Coleman is working from the bottom.

LaRussa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
LaRussa shoots for a double leg takedown but Coleman sprawls well. He's pushed LaRussa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Coleman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Coleman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Coleman stops LaRussa from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman trying to control from half guard but LaRussa is working away.
LaRussa tries to get to full guard but Coleman has control of the leg.
Coleman stalling away here and it's allowed LaRussa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaRussa wants to stand and escape but Coleman is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A cross from LaRussa lands.
LaRussa is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Coleman rather than just go for the knockout.
Some wild striking there from LaRussa.
Coleman fails with the takedown
and LaRussa counters with a thumping low kick.
LaRussa throws a right and a left that Coleman avoids nicely.

Coleman rushes LaRussa and presses him up against the cage.
Coleman stops a takedown attempt from LaRussa.
LaRussa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

LaRussa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Coleman has managed to clinch.
Coleman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Coleman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. LaRussa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
LaRussa misses with a combination

and Coleman counters with a nice double leg into side control. LaRussa won't be happy with that.
Coleman prevents LaRussa from escaping the position.
Coleman controls the position from side control.

LaRussa throws Coleman to one side and escapes!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TJ LaRussa.
I think LaRussa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ LaRussa!