PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Raudrson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Northrop comes to the cage accompanied by Alive And Kicking. Arthur Raudrson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Northrop
vs
Raudrson

180 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 4 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arthur Raudrson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raudrson moves away from the strike by Northrop.
Raudrson throws a looping overhand right but Northrop ducks down to avoid it.
Northrop throws an overhand right that lands on Raudrson's shoulder, as Raudrson tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Raudrson does it's job there.
Northrop shoots for a double leg takedown but Raudrson sprawls well. He's pushed Northrop's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Raudrson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Northrop misses with a double jab.
Raudrson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Northrop pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Raudrson lands the left hand.
Northrop fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raudrson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Raudrson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Northrop connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Raudrson scrambles back to his feet.
Raudrson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Northrop gets tackled into the cage by Raudrson. Raudrson maintains the clinch.
Raudrson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Northrop.
I was talking to Northrop's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Northrop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raudrson looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop swings wildly with an uppercut but Raudrson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raudrson gets through Northrop's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Northrop has a couple of punches blocked by Raudrson.
Northrop wants to get back to striking at distance but Raudrson won't allow it.
Still in the clinch, Raudrson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Northrop wants to stall.
Northrop has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Raudrson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raudrson throws a head punch that misses.
Northrop is trying to push Raudrson away but Raudrson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Northrop blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Northrop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Raudrson takes a swing at Northrop's ribcage but misses.
Northrop misses with an uppercut.

Raudrson moves into the clinch successfully.
Raudrson lands a left hand.
Northrop prevents the takedown attempt.
Northrop tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Raudrson's elbow.
Raudrson blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Raudrson.
Raudrson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Northrop misses with a short punch on the inside.
Northrop lands a left hand that snaps the head of Raudrson backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Northrop misses with the head strike.

Northrop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raudrson. Northrop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raudrson defending well as Northrop loads up on a big left hand.
Northrop throws the left hand but Raudrson avoids the punch easily.
Northrop takes a swing at Raudrson's ribcage but misses.
Raudrson swings for the body but Northrop moves out of range.
Northrop ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Northrop swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd cheers as Raudrson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Northrop doesn't seem phased though.
Northrop avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Northrop connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Raudrson works the jab nicely.
Raudrson is looking to clinch.
Northrop throws an off balance right hand
and Raudrson counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Raudrson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Northrop works over Raudrson's head and body with a nice combination.
Raudrson misses with an uppercut.
Raudrson throws a hook but Northrop avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Northrop misses the target.

Northrop closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Raudrson quickly recovers to half guard.
Raudrson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Northrop has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Raudrson is looking to improve his position but Northrop isn't that keen on the idea.
Northrop tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
BOOM! Northrop connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Northrop is landing with some decent strikes but Raudrson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Northrop scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Northrop pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Raudrson regains half guard.
Northrop not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Raudrson is doing well to control the position and prevent Northrop from advancing to side control.
Northrop prevents Raudrson from improving his position.
Northrop is trying to control. Raudrson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Raudrson throws a jab when Northrop was well out of range.
Northrop scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Raudrson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Northrop wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Northrop drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Raudrson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Raudrson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Northrop throws a shot to the body.
Northrop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raudrson.
Raudrson looks to land a right hand but Northrop moved out of range.
Northrop with a lazy takedown attempt
and Raudrson counters with a nice body shot.
Northrop staying out of range there.
Northrop appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Raudrson lands a lovely overhand right.
Northrop misses with an uppercut.
Raudrson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Northrop.
Northrop misses with a hook. Raudrson ducked under it nicely.
A big left from Northrop misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raudrson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Northrop misses the target.
Northrop connects with a nice looking jab.
Northrop misses with an uppercut
and Raudrson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Raudrson slips a straight right by Northrop.
Raudrson lands a nice shot that snaps Northrop's head back.
Northrop throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Northrop misses the shot to the body.
Northrop loads up on a big right hand but Raudrson slips the punch.
Northrop missing with a left hand there. Raudrson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Raudrson misses with an uppercut.
Raudrson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Northrop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raudrson.
Raudrson misses with a left hand
and Northrop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Northrop swats away the attempt to clinch by Raudrson.
A jab from Northrop misses.
Raudrson throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Northrop to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Northrop.
Northrop was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Raudrson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Northrop throwing a counter right hand but Raudrson manages to avoid it.
Raudrson misses with a straight right.
Raudrson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Northrop moves away.
Raudrson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Northrop.
Raudrson is looking to clinch.
Northrop was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Raudrson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Northrop connects with a body shot.
Raudrson throws a big shot that misses.
Raudrson misses with a wild body shot.
Raudrson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Raudrson misses with a lunging right hand
and Northrop counters with a left to the body.
Raudrson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Northrop throws out a loose jab but Raudrson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raudrson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Northrop avoids the body shot from Raudrson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Raudrson needs to keep his hands up - Northrop had a free shot at his head there.
Northrop avoids the body shot from Raudrson.
Northrop swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Raudrson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Northrop.
Northrop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raudrson can do to turn this around?
Raudrson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Northrop throws a jab when Raudrson was well out of range.
Northrop misses with a hook to the body
and Raudrson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Raudrson fails with a takedown attempt.
Northrop is looking to counter punch.
Raudrson is looking to clinch but Northrop is avoiding it.
Raudrson misses with a wild body shot.
Northrop misses the jab.
Raudrson misses with a right hand
and Northrop cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raudrson. Northrop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Northrop keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop throws a hook but Raudrson avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raudrson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Raudrson blocks a jab.
Raudrson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Northrop.
Raudrson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Northrop misses with an uppercut
letting Raudrson counter with a right hand.
Northrop throws a big shot that misses.

Northrop shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Raudrson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Raudrson struggling a bit here.
The referee asks Northrop politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Northrop prefers to stall for the moment though.
Raudrson is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Northrop dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Raudrson loads up on a big right hand but Northrop slips the punch.
Northrop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raudrson misses with a straight left.
A big right from Northrop misses.
Northrop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Raudrson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Northrop moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Northrop is trying hard to land a takedown here. Raudrson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Northrop looks to land a left hand but Raudrson moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Raudrson misses.
Raudrson scores with a sloppy right hand. Northrop should have avoided that one.
Raudrson walks into a left hand.
Northrop throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Raudrson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Northrop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Northrop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raudrson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Northrop.
Raudrson looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Raudrson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Raudrson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Raudrson looking to pass the guard.
Northrop bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raudrson's guard.

Northrop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Northrop trying to control but Raudrson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raudrson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Northrop slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Raudrson is looking to reverse the position.
Raudrson trying to remain calm as Northrop controls from the top position.

Northrop is trying to get an arm triangle but Raudrson is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Raudrson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Northrop cracks Raudrson with a big right hand but Raudrson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raudrson is trying to get back to half guard.
Raudrson is trying to control Northrop's posture but Northrop avoids it.
Raudrson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Northrop controls the position.
Northrop trying to control the action but Raudrson is working from the bottom.
Raudrson is trying to get back to half guard.
Northrop lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop cracks Raudrson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Raudrson is looking to reverse the position.
Northrop scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Raudrson to see if he's OK.
Raudrson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Raudrson is not content to let Northrop control the position.
Raudrson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Northrop is thwarting Raudrson's attempts to control the position.
Raudrson taking some punishment here, with Northrop in his half guard.
Arthur Raudrson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northrop tries to pass the half guard into mount. Raudrson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Raudrson looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Russell Northrop.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Northrop, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Northrop!
A relieved looking Russell Northrop thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.