PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Tripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leeroy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tripper comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Land Of Confusion. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Leeroy Russo enters the cage!

Tripper
vs
Russo

192 cm
43
284 lbs
33 - 21 - 0

225 cm
36
301 lbs
30 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jack Tripper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leeroy Russo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tripper scores with a push kick.
Russo misses with a right hand
and Russo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tripper takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Russo moves out of range of the body kick.
Russo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tripper finds it's way round the side to connect with Russo's head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Russo lands an elbow inside that Tripper shrugs off.

It looks like Jack Tripper has been cut.
Russo lands a nice elbow.
Tripper wants a takedown.

Tripper has clasped his hands together around Russo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo trying to control but Tripper flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Russo is really stuck here.

Tripper is looking for a rear naked choke here but Russo reverses the position brilliantly into Tripper's guard!

Russo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tripper looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tripper looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tripper!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tripper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Russo, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tripper trying to control the action but Russo is working from the bottom.
Tripper is staying tight to Russo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Russo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Tripper presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Russo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Russo taking shots to the head.
Tripper wants to control the pace but Russo is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tripper is really struggling to control Russo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Russo manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Tripper wants to stand up but Russo is controlling the position.
Russo trying to control here.

Russo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tripper pulls his head out easily.
Tripper wants to control but Russo is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo is looking to escape.

Russo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tripper stalling away here and it's allowed Russo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tripper working some strikes from top position.
Tripper advances to half guard.

Russo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tripper pulls his head out easily.

Russo actively working from the bottom here.
Tripper controlling the pace.
Tripper is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tripper lands a nice short elbow.
Russo is looking to improve his position.
It looks like Tripper is going to stand back up.
Tripper trying to control from half guard but Russo is working away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tripper scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Russo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tripper.
Tripper prevents Russo from improving his position.
Tripper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Tripper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack Tripper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tripper.
Tripper 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.
Tripper wants to control but Russo is keeping him busy.
Tripper tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Russo gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tripper is working away from the top position though.

Russo looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripper is trying to control the action in half guard but Russo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Russo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Russo is trying to control but can't.
Russo is not content to let Tripper control the position.
Tripper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Russo actively working from the bottom here.
Tripper is looking to take a break and control but Russo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Russo actively working from the bottom here.
Russo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tripper is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Russo looks to score with a jab to the body but Tripper is just out of range.

Tripper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tripper tries to free his leg and advance position but Russo is retaining full guard.
Tripper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tripper passes Russo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tripper looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tripper working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tripper is keen to just control but Russo is a slippery customer.
Russo wants to get back to full guard.
Jack Tripper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tripper not doing much here.
Russo is looking for a sweep. Tripper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Tripper here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Tripper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Russo is looking to control Tripper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Russo avoid being mounted?
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tripper in particular looking to stall.

Russo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tripper pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tripper prevents Russo from standing back up.
Tripper seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Tripper.
Russo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Russo throws a shot from downtown. Tripper moves away and avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tripper.

Tripper has managed to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Russo.
Russo prevents a takedown attempt there.

Russo tightens his grip and picks Tripper up, before dumping him to the ground. Tripper manages to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Tripper dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jack Tripper's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Russo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Tripper misses with a lunging right hand
and Russo counters with a solid body kick.
Tripper misses with a few strikes there.
Tripper on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Russo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russo lands a head shot.
Jack Tripper is winning the standup battle so far.
Russo scores with a hook to the body. Tripper takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Russo lands a nice hook to Tripper's body. Tripper takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tripper avoids the body shot from Russo.
Nice takedown defense from Russo. No joy for Tripper on that attempt.
Russo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Tripper if he has to take too many more of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tripper takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Russo moves into the clinch.
Russo tries a body shot but Tripper blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tripper drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Russo drags the fight down to the ground.
Russo trying to control the position.

Russo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tripper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.
Russo is trying to control the position but Tripper postures up.
Leeroy Russo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Russo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tripper controls from within his opponent's guard.
Russo wants to sweep but no luck.
Tripper stands and throws Russo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tripper working away.
Russo is looking to regain half guard here but Tripper keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo wants to get back to his feet but Tripper drags him back down.
Tripper cracks Russo with a big right hand but Russo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Russo sneaks back into half guard.
Russo trying to hold on to Tripper's head to control him but Tripper postures up.

Russo actively working from the bottom here.
Russo trying to hold on to Tripper's head to control him but Tripper postures up.

Tripper is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four 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.

Tripper wants to work for an arm triangle but Russo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tripper is controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jack Tripper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tripper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Russo defends it well.
Tripper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Russo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leeroy Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tripper 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Tripper!
During a confident post fight interview, Jack Tripper thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.