PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Zamana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Northrop might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Alive And Kicking. Zamana has chosen Modestep - Show Me A Sign as his entrance music. Rafal Zamana is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Northrop
vs
Zamana

180 cm
21
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
181 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Conquer

Max Octane Fight Wear

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Northrop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rafal Zamana!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zamana closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Northrop is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zamana's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zamana trying to control the action but Northrop is working from the bottom.
Northrop trying to control but Zamana postures up.
Northrop desperately trying to maintain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamana wants to lay and pray for a moment but Northrop keeps working.

Zamana is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Northrop sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Northrop manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Zamana trying to control but Northrop is working from the bottom.
Northrop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zamana is one step ahead there.
Zamana must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Northrop managing to control the position.
Northrop seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Northrop has his foot on Zamana's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Zamana works his way back into a safe position though.

Northrop has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zamana can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Northrop is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Northrop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Northrop bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zamana's guard.

Northrop sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Northrop postures up.
Northrop forces his way into half guard.
Northrop is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Zamana!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zamana is looking to escape.
Northrop controlling from the full mount.
Zamana is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Northrop has taken his back.
Northrop trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Zamana doesn't escape.

Northrop is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Zamana is defending well though. Northrop let's go of the attempt for now.

Northrop looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zamana is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Northrop gets his hands free as Zamana looks to control.

Northrop is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Zamana has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Northrop looking for the RNC.
Northrop really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Zamana.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Northrop is looking for the choke from the back position but Zamana is controlling his hands well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Northrop dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zamana doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zamana drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Northrop ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Northrop lands a jab to Zamana's midsection.
Nice cross by Northrop.

Northrop drives through and clinches with Zamana against the cage.
Northrop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zamana can do to turn this around?
Zamana goes for a takedown attempt but Northrop pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Northrop darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Northrop scores with a nice right hand.
Zamana moves forwards but Northrop connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zamana shoots for a takedown but Northrop saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Northrop on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Russell Northrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Northrop drops his shoulder and cracks Zamana with a huge uppercut! Zamana goes down! Can Northrop finish him?

Zamana is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zamana is breathing heavily.
Northrop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zamana is still in real trouble! Can Northrop finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zamana seems to have recovered his senses.

Northrop has hold of Zamana's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Zamana seems comfortable defending it but Northrop has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Zamana is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Zamana is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Northrop couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Russell Northrop!
After winning the bout, Russell Northrop thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.