PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 157 p4p, 24 weight class) and Randy Poffo (ranked 545 p4p, 92 weight class). Northrop's entrance music is Alive And Kicking. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Northrop
vs
Poffo

180 cm
27
175 lbs
14 - 2 - 0

190 cm
28
185 lbs
13 - 6 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Project Mayhem

Fanatic Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Northrop!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Randy Poffo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poffo throws a hook but Northrop blocks it.

Poffo lands a big head kick that sends Northrop tumbling to the mat! Poffo takes a step backwards and waves Northrop back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Northrop is rocked!

It looks like Russell Northrop has been cut.
Northrop tries to clinch there but Poffo circles away.
Russell Northrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Northrop misses with a hook. Poffo ducked under it nicely.
Poffo blocks a leg kick.
Poffo throws a lazy right hand but Northrop sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Northrop looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Poffo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poffo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Poffo is looking to improve his position.

Northrop looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Northrop is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Northrop is trying to work for a kimura but Poffo is defending well.
Northrop thows a huge punch but Poffo dodges it nicely.
Northrop lands strikes from half guard.
Well, if Northrop is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Northrop lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Poffo is looking for a sweep. Northrop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Northrop seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Poffo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northrop is thwarting Poffo's attempts to control the position.
Poffo is trying to get back to full guard.
Poffo is staying active underneath Northrop, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Northrop definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Northrop throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Poffo has his hands clasped together around Northrop's back. He's all about the action.
Poffo tries to roll over but Northrop keeps him under control.
Northrop not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Northrop seems to be looking for submissions.
Poffo is looking for a sweep. Northrop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Northrop is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Poffo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Northrop lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Poffo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Poffo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Northrop.
Northrop throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Poffo wants to improve his position but Northrop is controlling well.

Northrop is looking for a kimura but Poffo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Northrop to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poffo wants to get back to full guard.
Poffo is staying active underneath Northrop, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Northrop thows a huge punch but Poffo dodges it nicely.
Poffo wants to control but Northrop is keeping busy.
Northrop thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Poffo's head.
Poffo wants to control but Northrop is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Northrop is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Poffo is looking for a sweep. Northrop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Poffo is defending against the submission attempts here by Northrop.
Poffo moves into full guard.
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.
The cut man is working on Russell Northrop's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Northrop shoots for a double leg takedown but Poffo sprawls well. He's pushed Northrop's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Poffo cracks the inside of Northrop's front leg.

Northrop clinches up against the cage.
Poffo tries to work over Northrop's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Poffo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Northrop backwards.

Poffo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Poffo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Northrop on the side of the head.
Poffo misses with a body kick.
Northrop throws a big counter combination but Poffo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Northrop looking to score a takedown here. Poffo is defending well but Northrop drives through and ends up in Poffo's guard.
Northrop makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Northrop won't allow Poffo to sweep him here.
Northrop makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
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!
Northrop postures up.
Poffo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Northrop is one step ahead there.
Northrop throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Poffo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Poffo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Northrop manages to get himself to full guard.

Northrop keeping full guard, as Poffo tries to pass.
Northrop has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Poffo scoring with some ground and pound.
Northrop is trying to control the position but Poffo postures up.
Poffo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Northrop is trying to control the position but Poffo postures up.
Poffo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Northrop is keeping the position for now.

Poffo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Northrop has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Poffo has managed to get both his arms back between Northrop's legs - danger averted.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Poffo working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Northrop isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Poffo stacks Northrop on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Poffo!
Poffo lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poffo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Northrop is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Poffo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Northrop wants to control but Poffo postures up.

Northrop sneaks out the side door and pushes Poffo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Poffo drops Northrop with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Northrop looks back up at him and smiles so Poffo waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Oh Northrop is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Northrop get stunned by a cross and takes another one on the button. Northrop stumbles backwards and tries to bounce back off the cage but Poffo runs in and jumps on him with a leaping lead hook that puts him out! Wow, that was highlight reel stuff! Awesome finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Randy Poffo!
Randy Poffo is the new welterweight champion!
Our winner, Randy Poffo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.