PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexei Orlov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Gavin Russell's chin.

Russell
vs
Orlov

158 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
23
158 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gavin Russell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Orlov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Russell closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Russell lands in his opponent's guard.
Russell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Russell decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Russell really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
The fight stays on the outside here - Orlov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orlov has a couple of punches blocked by Russell.
Russell keeps control of Orlov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Russell is trying to push Orlov away but Orlov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Russell's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Russell successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov is looking to work some ground and pound but Russell has wrist control.
Orlov preventing the sweep.
Russell is pulling down on Orlov's head. It's preventing any offense from Orlov, at least for the moment.
Russell tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Orlov throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Orlov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Russell controlling Orlov's posture.
Russell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Orlov manages to get himself to full guard.

Russell wants to get up but he can't break Orlov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Russell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russell being controlled here momentarily.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Orlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Russell wants to stand but Orlov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Orlov wants to control the position but Russell says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell lands with a punch from half guard.
Orlov is staying active underneath Russell, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Russell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Russell stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Orlov to get to his feet.
Orlov looks winded!
Russell fails with a takedown attempt.
Russell could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Orlov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Orlov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Russell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Russell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Orlov.
Russell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Russell regains full guard. Nicely done.
Russell controlling Orlov's posture.

Russell has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Orlov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Orlov wants to stand but Russell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Russell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Russell uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Orlov.
Orlov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Orlov rushes Russell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Russell jumps guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Russell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Orlov to keep the fight standing.
Orlov is trying to push Russell away but Russell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Russell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russell manages to pull guard.
Orlov throwing strikes but missing.
Orlov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Orlov is controlling him.
Orlov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Orlov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Orlov is breathing heavily.
Russell controlling Orlov's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russell pulls Orlov in close to prevent any damage.
Orlov wants to stand and escape but instead Russell has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Russell throws a big elbow that misses.
Orlov has a closed guard, preventing Russell from standing up.
Russell trying to control the position from guard on top but Orlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Russell wants to get up but he can't break Orlov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Russell throwing strikes from guard but Orlov blocks nicely.
Russell wants to stand but Orlov is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Orlov moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Orlov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Orlov manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on Russell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Orlov scoring with punches from side control.
Russell manages to get back to half guard.
Russell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Orlov tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Russell is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Orlov pulls his head out easily.
Orlov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell keeping control of the position.
Orlov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Russell to regain full guard.
Orlov scoring with some ground and pound.
Russell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Orlov gets to his feet - Russell follows without any prompting.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Orlov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Russell's head.
Gavin Russell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Russell clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexei Orlov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Russell moves into range and clinches up with Orlov.
Russell slowing the pace effectively.

Orlov breaks the clinch.

Russell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Russell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Orlov working hard to break the clinch.
Russell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Orlov can do to turn this around?
Orlov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Russell blocks it with crossed arms.
Russell lands a shoulder strike.

Orlov manages to break the clinch.
Russell circles away from the clinch attempt.

Russell rushes Orlov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Russell jumps guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Orlov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Orlov has had enough of the clinch but Russell keeps him there for the moment.
Orlov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Russell's defenses.
Russell is trying to pull guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Russell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orlov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Russell jumps guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell tries to pull guard but Orlov won't allow it.

Orlov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Orlov feints and then cracks Russell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Russell down.

Russell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Russell jumps into guard, dragging Orlov to the mat.
Russell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Orlov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Russell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Orlov defends well.
Russell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to get to full guard but Russell has control of the leg.
Orlov wants to control but Russell is keeping busy.
Russell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Orlov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Orlov has hold of Russell's hands but Russell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Orlov is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Russell stands up and beckons Orlov to join him on the feet.

Russell darts in and clinches Orlov up against the cage.
Russell is trying to pull guard but Orlov has him pressed against the cage.

Orlov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Russell closes the distance and clinches.
Orlov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russell's face.

Orlov tightens his grip and picks Russell up, before dumping him to the ground. Russell manages to land in guard.

Russell pushes Orlov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Russell has closed the distance and engaged Orlov in a clinch.
Orlov is trying to force a seperation but Russell has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russell wants to break free but Orlov has control.

Orlov pulls guard successfully.
Orlov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russell.
Russell content to stall in guard here.
Russell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Russell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Russell works over Orlov with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin Russell showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

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