PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bosco Iwoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Northrop comes into the arena with Alive And Kicking blaring out of the sound system. Iwoba comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Hercules* kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Russell Northrop could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bosco Iwoba's chin.

Northrop
vs
Iwoba

180 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
184 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

King of Fists
KnockOut

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 5 - 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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bosco Iwoba!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Northrop punishes Iwoba's body with a nice straight punch.
Northrop on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Iwoba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Northrop.
Iwoba swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Iwoba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Northrop throws out the jab.
A big right from Iwoba misses.
Northrop swings away with a body shot that misses

and Iwoba counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Iwoba lands a left hand.
Iwoba blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Iwoba fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Northrop pulls guard.
Northrop lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Iwoba controlling the position.
Iwoba manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Northrop manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Iwoba lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Northrop had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iwoba defends it easily.
Northrop keeping moving, preventing Iwoba from controlling successfully.
Iwoba's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Iwoba trying to control but Northrop is working from the bottom.

Northrop looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Iwoba sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Northrop manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Iwoba manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwoba has his hands on Northrop's head, controlling the position.
Iwoba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Northrop throws a strike but Iwoba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Northrop trying to control the position.

Northrop has his foot on Iwoba's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iwoba works his way back into a safe position though.
Northrop wants to sweep here but Iwoba controlling him for the moment.
Northrop being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwoba postures up.
Iwoba cracks Northrop with a solid left hand.
Iwoba is stalling in the full guard.
Iwoba works over Northrop with some ground and pound from guard.
Northrop preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Northrop trying to control the position.
Northrop is pulling down on Iwoba's head. It's preventing any offense from Iwoba, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Northrop is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Northrop pulls Iwoba in close to his closed guard and prevents Iwoba from doing any damage or advancing position.
Northrop looking to hit a scissor sweep but Iwoba is one step ahead there.
Northrop is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northrop scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice body punch from Northrop.
Bosco Iwoba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice defenses there by Iwoba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Russell Northrop will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Northrop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It seemed like Iwoba was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Northrop punishes Iwoba's body with a nice straight punch.
Iwoba ducks under a wild hook from Northrop.
Northrop looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Northrop connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Northrop is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Iwoba.
Iwoba takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Iwoba motions for Northrop to come forward. Iwoba throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Iwoba throws a body punch but Northrop moves out of range.
Northrop throwing a counter right hand but Iwoba manages to avoid it.
Northrop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Northrop lands a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Northrop throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Iwoba raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A slow jab from Northrop misses its intended target.
Iwoba cracks Northrop with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Iwoba doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Northrop checks a leg kick.
Northrop misses with a left hand
and Iwoba counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Iwoba takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Iwoba is looking to clinch.
Northrop throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Iwoba on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Northrop throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Iwoba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Northrop misses with a looping left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Iwoba. Northrop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Northrop misses with a few strikes there.
Iwoba throws the left hand but Northrop avoids the punch easily.
Iwoba slips under a jab from Northrop.
Iwoba doesn't manage to clinch there - Northrop circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Northrop throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Iwoba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Northrop.
Iwoba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Northrop.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Iwoba.
A quick step to the side and Northrop tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Iwoba.
Iwoba is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Northrop with a body shot.
Iwoba takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice defenses there by Northrop.
A little feinted left hand from Northrop on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Iwoba misses with a body kick.
Northrop thuds a left hand into Iwoba's body.
Northrop lands with a good body shot.
Northrop comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Northrop uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Iwoba has time to react.
Iwoba misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwoba takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Iwoba jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Northrop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Iwoba can do to turn this around?
Northrop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Iwoba was well out of range. Poor timing from Northrop.
Northrop misses with a hook. Iwoba ducked under it nicely.
Russell Northrop is winning the standup battle so far.

Northrop throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Iwoba was covering up waiting for the punch and Northrop finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Northrop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Iwoba seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Northrop throws a strike but Iwoba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northrop looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Iwoba trying to control the position from guard on top but Northrop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Northrop can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Iwoba controls the pace.
Iwoba trying to control but Northrop is working from the bottom.
Iwoba tries to free his leg and advance position but Northrop is retaining full guard.

Iwoba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Iwoba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Northrop dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Northrop swings widly with a right hand
and Iwoba counters with a nice leg kick.
Iwoba fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Northrop on the side of the head.
Northrop misses with a hook.
Northrop displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Iwoba throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Iwoba.
Iwoba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Northrop just misses with a punch to the body.
Northrop throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Iwoba counters with a left to the body.
Northrop throws a lazy right hand but Iwoba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Iwoba misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Northrop.
A little jabbing left from Iwoba on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big left from Northrop misses.
Iwoba drops his hands momentarily and Northrop takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Iwoba misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop throws the left hand but Iwoba avoids the punch easily.

Northrop closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Iwoba's guard.
Northrop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Northrop stopping the sweep attempt from Iwoba.
Iwoba pulls Northrop in close to prevent any damage.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Northrop looking to pass the guard.
Iwoba bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Northrop's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Northrop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bosco Iwoba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Iwoba loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Northrop lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Iwoba wants to sweep here but Northrop controlling him for the moment.
Iwoba is controlling Northrop's posture.
Northrop slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwoba seems keen to control Northrop's posture.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Northrop preventing the sweep.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Northrop throwing strikes but missing.
Iwoba pulls Northrop in close to prevent any damage.

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.

Iwoba is looking for a triangle but Northrop pushes his legs off easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Northrop works the jab nicely.

Northrop gets the takedown into side control.
Iwoba manages to get back to half guard.
Northrop prevents Iwoba from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Northrop is trying to control the action in half guard but Iwoba is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Northrop is nestled in close to Iwoba, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Northrop showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Northrop!
Russell Northrop seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.