PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Remedios Verzosa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maricue Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Verzosa
vs
Russel

185 cm
40
190 lbs
42 - 18 - 0

190 cm
32
200 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Olympic wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 42 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Remedios Verzosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maricue Russel!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Verzosa blocks a jab.
Verzosa throws a big counter combination but Russel scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Russel slips a jab from Verzosa.
Russel feints the counter takedown.
Remedios Verzosa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verzosa connects with a body shot that sends Russel's belly button to the back.
Verzosa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Russel tries to avoid it but Verzosa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Russel to the ground. Russel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Russel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Verzosa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Verzosa scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verzosa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Russel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Verzosa somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa lands with a straight right. Russel didn't see that one coming.
Verzosa misses with a double jab.
Verzosa lands a glancing blow to the side of Russel's head.

Russel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Verzosa is trying to defend but Russel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Verzosa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Verzosa.
Russel throws a big right hand that misses.
Verzosa controls Russel momentarily but Russel frees himself.
Russel throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa working a defensive guard here.
Russel connects with a couple of short punches.
Verzosa trying to keep a closed guard but Russel is proving a slippery customer.
Russel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verzosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Russel is in close to Verzosa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Verzosa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Verzosa holds on and takes a little breather.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verzosa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Verzosa has an active guard here but Russel has managed to pass into half guard.
Verzosa is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Verzosa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa is trying to control but can't.
Russel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Verzosa is refusing to be controlled, as Russel sits in half guard.
Verzosa is trying to control but can't.
Russel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Verzosa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Verzosa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Verzosa trying to control here.
Verzosa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Verzosa.
Russel postures up.
Russel wants to control from the top but Verzosa keeps moving.
Verzosa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Russel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Verzosa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Verzosa wants to sweep but no luck.
Verzosa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Russel postures up and lands a big shot to Verzosa's brow.
Russel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Verzosa's head.
Russel forces his way into half guard.
Verzosa wants to get back to full guard.
Russel slips a nice elbow through Verzosa's hands, connecting with Verzosa's forehead.
Verzosa is trying to get back to full guard.
Russel lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Verzosa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Russel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Verzosa is looking to control Russel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Verzosa avoid being mounted?
Russel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maricue Russel dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Russel looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Verzosa jabs Russel right on the nose. Russel blinks but takes it well.
A swing and a miss from Verzosa.
Russel lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Remedios Verzosa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russel looks for a takedown but Verzosa sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verzosa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Russel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verzosa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa throws a nice inside leg kick.
Verzosa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Russel counters with a straight right hand.
Russel shoots in for a double leg but Verzosa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Remedios Verzosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maricue Russel.
Verzosa fails to land with a series of punches.
Russel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Verzosa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Russel somewhat.
Verzosa misses with a jab to the body
and Russel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Russel dives in and grabs Verzosa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Verzosa pushes down on Russel's head and hops out.
Remedios Verzosa is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Russel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Russel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verzosa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Verzosa controls Russel momentarily but Russel frees himself.
Russel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Verzosa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Russel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Verzosa wants to sweep but no luck.
Verzosa looking to control.
Russel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Russel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Verzosa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Verzosa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Russel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verzosa keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Russel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Verzosa's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa trying to control the position here.
Verzosa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Russel advances position into side control!
Verzosa is not content to let Russel control the position.
Verzosa is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Russel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Verzosa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maricue Russel has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sloppy strikes there by Russel.
Verzosa regains half guard.
Verzosa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Russel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Russel's back!
Russel prevents Verzosa from getting a body triangle.
Russel covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Even with his hooks in, Verzosa manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Russel is keeping busy.
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 Remedios Verzosa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Verzosa does no damage.
Russel feints the counter takedown.
Verzosa throws a body shot but no joy.
Verzosa lands a jab-cross combination.
Verzosa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Verzosa swinging wildly here.
Verzosa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verzosa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Russel.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Russel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verzosa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Russel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Verzosa pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Russel back to the cage. Verzosa follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Maricue Russel has been cut.
Russel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Verzosa sprawls well. Verzosa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Russel gets slowly back to his feet.
Russel blocks a jab.
Verzosa misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice uppercut lands for Russel. That snapped Verzosa's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa lands a jab to the nose.
Verzosa tries a head kick but it misses.
Verzosa throws 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!
Russel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Russel slips a jab from Verzosa.
Verzosa lands with a hook. Russel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Russel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Verzosa was covering up waiting for the punch and Russel finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verzosa is pulling down on Russel's head to control his posture.

Verzosa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russel wants to control from the top but Verzosa keeps moving.
Verzosa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russel is one step ahead there.
Verzosa keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.

Russel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Verzosa is trying to control the position but Russel postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Russel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Russel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Verzosa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Verzosa is controlling Russel's posture.
Russel chips away with some ground and pound.
Russel wants to control from the top but Verzosa keeps moving.

Verzosa looking for a guillotine here but Russel defends easily.
Russel is in close to Verzosa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Verzosa keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Verzosa trying to keep a closed guard but Russel is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Remedios Verzosa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Verzosa 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remedios Verzosa!